WhereIsAtlas · Music

Roxette

The Swedish pop duo behind "It Must Have Been Love" — and the 2019 death of singer Marie Fredriksson

Concluded — Roxette was a Swedish pop duo of Marie Fredriksson and Per Gessle, one of the biggest acts of the 1980s and 1990s. Fredriksson died in 2019, ending the duo; Gessle has continued solo.

Roxette was formed in 1986 in Sweden by singer Marie Fredriksson and guitarist-songwriter Per Gessle. After a slow start in their home country, the pair exploded onto the international scene in 1989 with the single "The Look," which topped charts around the world. For the next several years they were among the most successful pop acts on the planet.

Their blend of catchy melodies, soaring choruses and a touch of melancholia produced a run of hits, including "Listen to Your Heart," "Joyride" and the global smash "It Must Have Been Love," which reached number one in the United States. The duo sold tens of millions of records and toured internationally, carrying Swedish pop to every corner of the world.

The story took a tragic turn when Fredriksson was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2002. She recovered and returned to touring in the 2010s, but her health worsened, and she died in December 2019 at the age of 61. Roxette thus came to an end, though Gessle has continued performing and recording under the name PG Roxette.

Quick facts

Formed

1986, Sweden

Members

Marie Fredriksson & Per Gessle

Breakthrough

The Look (1989)

Signature hit

It Must Have Been Love

Fredriksson died

2019

Genre

Swedish pop

Sources

1. Roxette - Wikipedia — Wikipedia (2026-09-05)
2. Roxette singer Marie Fredriksson dies aged 61 — BBC News (2026-09-05)

Related: kenny g · bryan adams · journey · cher