Dressed for Success

The recording of the song was marked by a dispute between the band members, but this apparently contributed to the strength of Marie's performance.

"I was so mad when I did it. Everything about that session went wrong, we argued about the arrangement, we changed the key, I was dead tired of the song when I went in to do a guide vocal. Did it in one blast and suddenly realized, 'hmm... this is it'."

— Marie Fredriksson, Don't Bore Us, Get to the Chorus! liner notes.{{cite AV media notes |title=Don't Bore Us, Get to the Chorus |title-link=Don't Bore Us, Get to the Chorus! |type=liner notes |chapter=Digital booklet |others=Roxette |publisher=EMI Records |year=1995 |id=7243 836203 2 6 |location=Stockholm, Sweden}}

The song was not without controversy after its release in the US in October of 1989. The song was famously banned from Minneapolis based Christian contemporary radio radio station KTIS-FM 98.5 FM after radio producers Freddy Nefler and Annie Herman claimed the lyrics were salaciously suggestive. In an October 1989 interview with New York City based Reader's Digest, Ms. Herman claimed the female lead singer Marie Fredriksson "intentionally used her Swedish accent to lead the listener down a path of sin". In the interview, Mr. Nefler suggests that "Ms. Fredriksson tells the story of a young girl dressing up for success on the streets rather than in preparation for the love of any man." Both radio producers later recanted their story after an angry fan mailed the radio station a copy of Roxette's album Look Sharp and the lyric sheet revealed that Ms. Frederikson was actually singing "Dressed for Success" and not "Dressed for Some Sex".

In an ironic review of 15 July 1989 the Johnny Dee, observer of British music newspaper Record Mirror, placed it into "thumbs-down section" but expressed regret by saying that "isn't all that bad". As per him song has "a nifty beat".{{cite magazine|last1=Dee|first1=Johnny|authorlink=|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/80s/89/Record-Mirror-1989-07-15-OCR.pdf|title=Review: Roxette — Dressed for Success|magazine=Record Mirror|date=15 July 1989|access-date=27 January 2022|page=28|location=London|publisher=Spotlight Publications Ltd.|via=World Radio History|issn=0144-5804|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006165943/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/80s/89/Record-Mirror-1989-07-15-OCR.pdf|archive-date=6 October 2021}} Bryan Buss from AllMusic described the song as "punchy" and "hopeful".{{cite web|first=Bryan|last=Buss|title=Roxette – Dressed for Success |publisher=AllMusic|access-date=4 November 2020|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/look-sharp%21-mw0000204292}} Music & Media commented, "Another relentless pop song from the Swedish duo. Reminiscent of The Look but this time the emphasis is more on Marie Frederiksson's vocals".{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1989/M&M-1989-07-01.pdf|title=Previews: Singles|magazine=Music & Media|date=1 July 1989|page=16|access-date=25 September 2020}}

The music video for the song mostly revolves around the duo performing together in "nightclub ruins" (similar to those featured in their previous video, "The Look", also directed by Peter Heath) as several dancers and groups of party-goers sway to the song.{{cite AV media notes |title=Ballad & Pop Hits - The Complete Video Collection |type=DVD liner notes |others=Roxette |publisher=EMI |year=2003 |id=7243 4 90946 9 7}}

All songs were written and composed by Per Gessle.

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• US 7-inch and cassette single (50204; 4JM-50204)

1. "Dressed for Success" – 4:19
2. "The Look" (album version) – 4:11

• Swedish and UK 7-inch single (1363207; EM96)
• UK cassette single (TCEM96)

1. "Dressed for Success" – 4:19
2. "The Voice" – 4:16

• Swedish 12-inch single (1363216)

1. "Dressed for Success" (The Look Sharp! remix) – 7:50
2. "Dressed for Success" (instrumental) – 4:13
3. "Dressed for Success" (7-inch version) – 4:13
4. "The Voice" – 4:16

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• UK 12-inch single (12EM96)

1. "Dressed for Success" (remix) – 6:30
2. "The Look" (Big Red mix) – 7:32
3. "The Voice" – 4:16

• US CD single (DPRO-04295)

1. "Dressed for Success" (7-inch version) – 4:16
2. "Dressed for Success" (Look Sharp! mix) – 4:52

• UK CD single (CDEM96)

1. "Dressed for Success" (7-inch version) – 4:13
2. "The Look" (7-inch version) – 3:57
3. "Dressed for Success" (remix) – 6:30
4. "The Voice" – 4:16

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Credits are adapted from the liner notes of The Rox Box/Roxette 86–06.{{cite AV media notes |title=The Rox Box/Roxette 86–06 |title-link=The Rox Box/Roxette 86–06 |type=liner notes |chapter=Booklet |others=Roxette |publisher=Roxette Recordings and Capitol Records |year=2006 |id=9463 67972–2 9|location=Stockholm, Sweden}}

• Recorded between May and June 1988 at EMI Studios, Stockholm, Sweden
• Mixed at EMI Studios, Stockholm
• Single version mixed at The Grey Room, Los Angeles

Musicians

• Marie Fredriksson – lead and background vocals
• Per Gessle – lead and background vocals, mixing
• Anders Herrlin – programming, engineering
• Jonas Isacsson – electric and acoustic guitars
• Clarence Öfwerman – keyboards, programming, production, mixing
• Alar Suurna – mixing, engineering
• Chris Lord-Alge – mixing (single version)

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{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=1989|certref=}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|title=Dressed for Success|artist=Roxette|award=Gold|relyear=1989|certyear=1989|access-date=15 November 2016}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|type=single|title=Dressed for Success|artist=Roxette|award=Gold|relyear=1989|certyear=1989|access-date=15 November 2016}}

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{{Reflist}}

{{Roxette singles}}

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Category:1988 songs

Category:1988 singles

Category:EMI Records singles

Category:Roxette songs

Category:Songs written by Per Gessle

Category:Song recordings produced by Clarence Öfwerman