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Spending My Time

{{Short description|1991 song by Roxette}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Spending My Time

| cover = Spending My Time (musical composition).jpg

| alt =

| border = yes

| type = single

| artist = Roxette

| album = Joyride

| B-side = The Sweet Hello, The Sad Goodbye

| released = {{Start date|1991|10|14|df=yes}}

| recorded = July 1990

| studio = EMI (Stockholm, Sweden)

| genre = Pop rock

| length = 4:39

| label = EMI

| writer = {{hlist|Per Gessle|Mats Persson}}

| producer = Clarence Öfwerman

| prev_title = The Big L.

| prev_year = 1991

| next_title = Church of Your Heart

| next_year = 1992

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|eG0IYV6G0I0|"Spending My Time"}}}}

}}

"Spending My Time" is a song by Swedish duo Roxette, released as the fourth single from their third studio album, Joyride (1991). It was written by Per Gessle and Mats Persson, and produced by Clarence Öfwerman. The single attained moderate success, reaching the top 10 in Germany, Canada and Italy, and the top 20 in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Finland, Sweden and Switzerland, while peaking at number 22 on the UK Singles Chart and 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. Its music video was directed by Wayne Isham.

A remix was created by M.C. King Carli and Dr. Renault (pseudonyms used by Öfwerman & Anders) at EMI Studios in Stockholm, Sweden, in July 1991, and was included on the single. A Spanish version of the song, titled "Un Día Sin Ti" ("A Day Without You"), was released in 1996 as the lead single from the duo's Spanish-language compilation album Baladas en Español.

Critical reception

AllMusic editor Bryan Buss noted "the quiet desperation" of the song in his review of Joyride.{{cite web|first=Bryan|last=Buss|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/joyride-mw0000181011|title=Roxette - Joyride|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=16 February 2020}} Larry Flick from Billboard described it as an "acoustic-anchored pop/rock ballad", noting further that the "memorable melody and throaty vocals by Marie Fredriksson are [the] track's true highlights."{{cite magazine|first=Larry|last=Flick|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1991/BB-1991-10-19.pdf|title=Single Reviews|magazine=Billboard|date=19 October 1991|access-date=13 February 2020|page=77|author-link=Larry Flick}} Swedish Expressen named it a "high-pitched melancholy ballad"."Roxette: Joyride". Expressen (in Swedish). 26 March 1991. Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report wrote, "In a Top 40 world starved for pop music, Per and Marie can be considered a delicacy. No matter what the tempo, all their songs contain melodies that win listeners over immediately. Hearing this latest release makes it easy to understand why they've established such a large and loyal international following."{{cite magazine|first= Dave |last= Sholin |title= Gavin Picks > Singles |magazine= Gavin Report |issue= 1877 |date= 11 October 1991 |page= 60 |access-date= 17 April 2018 |url= http://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Gavin-Report/90/91/Gavin-1991-10-11.pdf}}

A reviewer from Göteborgsposten complimented the song for its "strong" chorus."Roxette Joyride". Göteborgsposten (in Swedish). 26 March 1991. Kim Såtvedt from Norwegian Laagendalsposten also complimented Roxette for their "beautiful ballads" like "Spending My Time", praising it as "enthralling".{{cite news|first= Kim |last= Såtvedt |title= Plater |newspaper= Laagendalsposten |issue= 105 |date= 6 June 1991 |page= 7 |access-date= 8 April 2020 |url= https://www.nb.no/items/42d5c4be61544f66a810d45d509dcdd3 |language= no}} Pan-European magazine Music & Media described it as a "melancholic ballad".{{cite magazine|title= Spotlight: Roxette |magazine= Music & Media |date= 30 March 1991 |page= 13 |access-date= 20 October 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1991/MM-1991-03-30.pdf}} Brendon Veevers from Renowned for Sound called it "the greatest musical creation of all time" in 2013, adding the song as "such an emotional charged and exquisitely delivered song".{{cite web|url=http://renownedforsound.com/index.php/top-10-roxette-ballads/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315173311/http://renownedforsound.com/index.php/top-10-roxette-ballads/|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 March 2015|last=Veevers|first=Brendon|title=Top 10 Roxette Ballads|website=Renowned for Sound|date=12 December 2013|access-date=21 April 2020}} J.D. Considine of Rolling Stone remarked Fredriksson's "vocal fire-work" on the song.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/166160/review/5941707/joyride|title=Roxette: Joyride: Music Review|author=J.D. Considine|author-link=J.D. Considine|magazine=Rolling Stone|publisher=Wenner Media|date=27 June 1991|access-date=25 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080325011655/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/166160/review/5941707/joyride|archive-date=25 March 2008|url-status=dead}} Miranda Sawyer from Smash Hits commented, "Yes, it's a hankies-up ballad with a thumping Swedish beat."{{cite magazine|first= Miranda |last= Sawyer |title= Review: Singles |magazine= Smash Hits |date= 16 October 1991 |page= 41 |access-date= 20 October 2020 |url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/57779449@N02/39955360293/in/album-72157704768044531/|author-link=Miranda Sawyer}}

Commercial performance

The song was not as commercially successful as the duo's preceding singles. It peaked at number thirty-two on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US, ending a run of five consecutive top two singles on the chart. In the liner notes of their 1995 greatest hits compilation Don't Bore Us, Get to the Chorus!, Per Gessle said he believed that "Spending My Time" was "going to be our biggest hit ever, which might have happened if not our American record company had fired a lot of... ah, never mind."{{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}} At the end of 1991, EMI merged with other record companies to form EMI Records Group North America. The merger resulted in the new company firing over a hundred members of staff, and saw Roxette receiving little support from the new label.{{cite web |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/emi-sets-us-release-new-176163 |title=EMI Sets U.S. Release for New Roxette Album |author=Charlie Amter |work=The Hollywood Reporter |publisher=Prometheus Global Media |date=4 July 2011 |access-date=3 January 2017}} The song also peaked at number nine in Canada.

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Spending My Time" was directed by American director Wayne Isham and depicts singer Marie Fredriksson at multiple places in a house, such as sitting by a window, lying in bed, sitting on a couch and at a table. Gessle also appears occasionally playing the guitar.{{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}}

Track listings

All songs were written by Per Gessle and Mats Persson except "The Sweet Hello, the Sad Goodbye", written by Gessle.

  • Cassette and 7-inch single{{cite AV media notes |title="Spending My Time" |type=Swedish 7" single |others=Roxette |publisher=EMI |year=1991 |id=1364117}}{{cite AV media notes |title="Spending My Time" |type=German 7" single |others=Roxette |publisher=EMI |year=1991 |id=1C 006-13 6411 7}}{{cite AV media notes |title="Spending My Time" |type=US cassette single |others=Roxette |publisher=EMI |year=1991 |id=4KM-50366}}{{cite AV media notes |title="Spending My Time" |type=Canadian cassette single |others=Roxette |publisher=Capitol Records |year=1991 |id=4KM 73169}}
  1. "Spending My Time" – 4:39
  2. "The Sweet Hello, The Sad Goodbye" – 4:49
  • UK 7-inch single{{cite AV media notes |title="Spending My Time" |type=UK 7" single |others=Roxette |publisher=EMI |year=1991 |id=EM 215}}
  1. "Spending My Time" – 4:39
  2. "Listen to Your Heart" (Swedish Single Version) – 5:10
  • 12-inch single{{cite AV media notes |title="Spending My Time" |type=12" single |others=Roxette |publisher=EMI |year=1991 |id=1364116}}
  1. "Spending My Time" (Electric Dance Remix) – 5:27
  2. "Spending My Time" – 4:39
  3. "The Sweet Hello, The Sad Goodbye" – 4:49
  • CD single{{cite AV media notes |title="Spending My Time" |type=European CD maxi single |others=Roxette |publisher=EMI |year=1991 |id=1364112}}
  1. "Spending My Time" – 4:39
  2. "The Sweet Hello, The Sad Goodbye" – 4:49
  3. "Spending My Time" (Electric Dance Remix) – 5:27
  4. "Spending My Time" (Electric Dance Remix/Instrumental) – 5:27
  • UK CD single{{cite AV media notes |title="Spending My Time" |type=UK CD maxi single |others=Roxette |publisher=EMI |year=1991 |id=CDEM 215}}
  1. "Spending My Time" – 4:39
  2. "The Sweet Hello, The Sad Goodbye" – 4:49
  3. "Spending My Time" (Electric Dance Remix) – 5:27
  4. "Listen to Your Heart" (7-inch Edit) – 4:06

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of The Ballad Hits.{{cite AV media notes|title=The Ballad Hits|title-link=The Ballad Hits|others=Roxette|year=2002|first=Sven|last=Lindström|type=CD liner notes|publisher=Capitol Records|id=72435 42798-2 9}}

Studios

  • Recorded in July 1990 at EMI Studios (Stockholm, Sweden)
  • Mixed at EMI Studios

Musicians

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Weekly chart performance for "Spending My Time"

! scope="col"| Chart (1991–1992)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

{{single chart|Australia|16|artist=Roxette|song=Spending My Time|rowheader=true|access-date=4 September 2016}}
{{single chart|Austria|16|artist=Roxette|song=Spending My Time|rowheader=true|access-date=4 September 2016}}
{{single chart|Flanders|11|artist=Roxette|song=Spending My Time|rowheader=true|access-date=15 June 2014}}
{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|9|chartid=2036|rowheader=true|access-date=4 September 2016|refname="Canada"}}
{{single chart|Canadaadultcontemporary|10|chartid=2049|rowheader=true|access-date=4 September 2016}}
scope="row"| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles){{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/90s/91/MM-1991-12-07-OCR-Page-0033.pdf |title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles |magazine=Music & Media |volume=8 |issue=49 |date=7 December 1991 |page=33 |oclc=29800226 |via=World Radio History}}

| 16

scope="row"| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista){{cite book |last=Pennanen |first=Timo |title=Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 |language=fi |edition=1st |location=Helsinki |publisher=Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava |year=2006 |isbn=978-951-1-21053-5}}

| 18

{{single chart|Germany|9|songid=2344|artist=Roxette|song=Spending My Time|rowheader=true|access-date=4 September 2016}}
{{single chart|Ireland2|23|song=Spending My Time|rowheader=true|access-date=4 September 2016}}
scope="row"| Italy (Musica e dischi){{cite web |url=http://www.musicaedischi.it/classifiche_archivio.php |title=Classifiche |work=Musica e dischi |language=it |access-date=21 July 2022}} Select "Singoli" in the "Tipo" field, type "Spending my time" in the "Titolo" field and press "cerca".

| 25

{{single chart|Dutch40|29|year=1991|week=48|rowheader=true|access-date=4 September 2016}}
{{single chart|Dutch100|26|artist=Roxette|song=Spending My Time|rowheader=true|access-date=4 September 2016}}
{{single chart|New Zealand|31|artist=Roxette|song=Spending My Time|rowheader=true|access-date=4 September 2016}}
scope="row"| Spain (AFYVE){{cite book |last=Salaverrie |first=Fernando |title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 |language=es |edition=1st |location=Madrid |publisher=Fundación Autor/SGAE |date=September 2005 |isbn=84-8048-639-2}}

| 34

{{single chart|Sweden|11|artist=Roxette|song=Spending My Time|rowheader=true|access-date=4 September 2016|refname="swe"}}
{{single chart|Switzerland|15|artist=Roxette|song=Spending My Time|rowheader=true|access-date=4 September 2016}}
{{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|22|artist=Roxette|artistid=25349|rowheader=true|access-date=4 June 2019}}
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|32|artist=Roxette|rowheader=true|access-date=4 September 2016|refname="US"}}
{{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|20|artist=Roxette|rowheader=true|access-date=4 September 2016}}
scope="row"|US Cash Box Top 100{{cite magazine|title=Top 100 Pop Singles|magazine=Cash Box|page=4|date=December 28, 1991|issn=0008-7289|location=New York, NY|volume=LV|issue=20}}

| 14

scope="row"|US Adult Contemporary (Gavin Report){{cite magazine|title=the Gavin Report – Adult Contemporary|magazine=Gavin Report|page=24|date=January 24, 1992|issue=1889}} See LW column.

| 11

scope="row"|US Top 40 (Gavin Report){{cite magazine|title=the Gavin Report – Top 40|magazine=Gavin Report|page=10|date=December 13, 1991|issue=1885}}

| 10

scope="row"|US Adult Contemporary (Radio & Records){{cite magazine|title=R&R The Back Page – National Airplay Overview: January 10, 1992 – Adult Contemporary|magazine=Radio & Records|page=86|date=January 10, 1992|issn=0277-4860|issue=923|location=Los Angeles, CA}}

| 19

scope="row"|US Contemporary Hit Radio (Radio & Records){{cite magazine|title=R&R The Back Page – National Airplay Overview: December 13, 1991 – CHR|magazine=Radio & Records|page=104|date=December 13, 1991|issn=0277-4860|issue=920|location=Los Angeles, CA}}

| 14

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Year-end chart performance for "Spending My Time"

! scope="col"| Chart (1991)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| Sweden (Topplistan){{cite web|url=http://www.grammotex.se/topp91singlar.htm|title=Årstopplistan 1991, Singlar|publisher=Grammotex|language=sv|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010225020647/http://www.grammotex.se/topp91singlar.htm|archive-date=25 February 2001|access-date=7 April 2025}}

| 71

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

! scope="col"| Chart (1992)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM){{cite magazine |url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.1824&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.1824.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.1824 |title=The RPM Top 100 Adult Contemporary tracks of 1992 |magazine=RPM |volume=56 |issue=25 |date=19 December 1992 |issn=0033-7064 |via=Library and Archives Canada}}

| 81

scope="row"| Germany (Media Control){{cite web |url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1992 |title=Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts – 1992 |language=de |publisher=GfK Entertainment |access-date=4 September 2016}}

| 76

{{col-end}}

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+ Release dates and formats for "Spending My Time"

!scope="col"|Region

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Format(s)

!scope="col"|Label(s)

!scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row"| United States

|14 October 1991

|Radio airplay

| rowspan="3" |EMI

|{{Cite news |date=11 October 1991 |title="Spending My Time", The New Single. |work=Radio & Records |location=Los Angeles, CA |page=13 |issue=911 |issn=0277-4860 |quote=ON RADIO EVERYWHERE, OCTOBER 14TH.}}

scope="row" |Sweden

|30 October 1991

|7-inch vinyl

|

scope="row" |United Kingdom

|11 November 1991

|{{hlist|7-inch vinyl|CD|cassette}}

|{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=21|date=9 November 1991}}

"Un Día Sin Ti" (1996)

{{Infobox song

| name = Un Día Sin Ti

| cover = Roxette Un Dia Sin Ti.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Roxette

| album = Baladas en Español

| B-side = "Timida" ("Vulnerable")

| released = {{Start date|1996|10|29|df=yes}}

| format =

| recorded =

| studio =

| genre =

| length =

| label = EMI

| writer = {{hlist|Per Gessle|Mats Persson|Luis G. Escolar}}

| producer = Clarence Öfwerman

| prev_title = She Doesn't Live Here Anymore

| prev_year = 1996

| next_title = No Sé Si Es Amor

| next_year = 1997

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|MB7ZmnG3q3w|"Un día sin ti"}}}}

}}

Roxette released a Spanish-language compilation album, Baladas en Español, in 1996. It consisted of twelve of their down-tempo singles and album tracks, which were translated by Spanish songwriter Luis Gomez-Escolar. This album was only released in Spanish and Portuguese-speaking territories. A translated version of "Spending My Time", titled "Un Día Sin Ti" ("A Day Without You"), was released in November 1996 as the album's lead single.

=Music video=

A new music video was filmed for this version of the song. It was created by Jonas Åkerlund, who would go on to direct a total of twelve music videos for the duo. It features close-up shots of Marie singing and Per playing guitar, interspersed with clips of a woman descending into alcoholism, and suggestively sniffing a table counter.

=Track listings=

All music was composed by Per Gessle and Mats Persson. Lyrics were written by Gessle. Spanish lyrics were written by Luis G. Escolar.

  • CD single (EU 8652672)
  1. "Un Día Sin Ti" ("Spending My Time") – 4:39
  2. "Tímida" ("Vulnerable") – 4:44

=Charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Chart performance for "Un Día Sin Ti"

! scope="col"| Chart (1996–1997)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| Spain (AFYVE)

| 20

{{single chart|Billboardlatinpopsongs|10|artist=Roxette|rowheader=true|access-date=21 July 2022}}

{{Clear}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Roxette}}

{{Roxette singles}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1990s ballads

Category:1991 singles

Category:1991 songs

Category:EMI Records singles

Category:Music videos directed by Wayne Isham

Category:Pop ballads

Category:Rock ballads

Category:Roxette songs

Category:Songs about heartache

Category:Songs written by Mats Persson (musician)

Category:Songs written by Per Gessle

Category:Song recordings produced by Clarence Öfwerman

Category:Torch songs