Spending My Time
View on Wikipedia| "Spending My Time" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Roxette | ||||
| from the album Joyride | ||||
| B-side | "The Sweet Hello, The Sad Goodbye" | |||
| Released | 14 October 1991 | |||
| Recorded | July 1990 | |||
| Studio | EMI (Stockholm, Sweden) | |||
| Genre | Pop rock | |||
| Length | 4:39 | |||
| Label | EMI | |||
| Songwriters |
| |||
| Producer | Clarence Öfwerman | |||
| Roxette singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Spending My Time" on YouTube | ||||
"Spending My Time" is a song by Swedish duo Roxette, released in October 1991, by EMI Records, 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, as well as number 22 on the UK Singles Chart and number 32 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The accompanying 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
[edit]AllMusic editor Bryan Buss noted "the quiet desperation" of the song in his review of Joyride.[1] Larry Flick from Billboard magazine 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."[2] Swedish Expressen named it a "high-pitched melancholy ballad".[3] 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."[4]
A reviewer from Göteborgsposten complimented the song for its "strong" chorus.[5] Kim Såtvedt from Norwegian Laagendalsposten also complimented Roxette for their "beautiful ballads" like "Spending My Time", praising it as "enthralling".[6] Pan-European magazine Music & Media described it as a "melancholic ballad".[7] 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".[8] J.D. Considine of Rolling Stone remarked Fredriksson's "vocal fire-work" on the song.[9] Miranda Sawyer from Smash Hits commented, "Yes, it's a hankies-up ballad with a thumping Swedish beat."[10]
Commercial performance
[edit]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.[11] 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."[12] 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.[13] The song also peaked at number nine in Canada.[14]
Music video
[edit]The 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.[15]
Track listings
[edit]All songs were written by Per Gessle and Mats Persson except "The Sweet Hello, the Sad Goodbye", written by Gessle.
- "Spending My Time" – 4:39
- "The Sweet Hello, The Sad Goodbye" – 4:49
- UK 7-inch single[20]
- "Spending My Time" – 4:39
- "Listen to Your Heart" (Swedish Single Version) – 5:10
- 12-inch single[21]
- "Spending My Time" (Electric Dance Remix) – 5:27
- "Spending My Time" – 4:39
- "The Sweet Hello, The Sad Goodbye" – 4:49
- CD single[22]
- "Spending My Time" – 4:39
- "The Sweet Hello, The Sad Goodbye" – 4:49
- "Spending My Time" (Electric Dance Remix) – 5:27
- "Spending My Time" (Electric Dance Remix/Instrumental) – 5:27
- UK CD single[23]
- "Spending My Time" – 4:39
- "The Sweet Hello, The Sad Goodbye" – 4:49
- "Spending My Time" (Electric Dance Remix) – 5:27
- "Listen to Your Heart" (7-inch Edit) – 4:06
Credits and personnel
[edit]Credits are adapted from the liner notes of The Ballad Hits.[24]
Studios
Musicians
- Marie Fredriksson – lead and background vocals
- Per Gessle – background vocals, mixing
- Anders Herrlin – programming and engineering
- Jonas Isaacson – acoustic and electric guitars
- Clarence Öfwerman – keyboards, programming and production
- Alar Suurna – mixing, engineering
- Clarence Öfwerman – mixing
Charts
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
|
Year-end charts[edit]
|
Certifications
[edit]| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[53] | Gold | 45,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Release history
[edit]| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 14 October 1991 | Radio airplay | EMI | [54] |
| Sweden | 30 October 1991 | 7-inch vinyl | [40] | |
| United Kingdom | 11 November 1991 |
|
[55] | |
| Australia | 18 November 1991 |
|
[56] |
"Un Día Sin Ti" (1996)
[edit]| "Un Día Sin Ti" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Roxette | ||||
| from the album Baladas en Español | ||||
| B-side | "Timida" | |||
| Released | 29 October 1996 | |||
| Label | EMI | |||
| Songwriters |
| |||
| Producer | Clarence Öfwerman | |||
| Roxette singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Un día sin ti" on YouTube | ||||
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 Gómez-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
[edit]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.[15]
Track listings
[edit]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
- "Un Día Sin Ti" ("Spending My Time") – 4:39
- "Tímida" ("Vulnerable") – 4:44
Charts
[edit]| Chart (1997) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Spain (AFYVE)[39] | 20 |
References
[edit]- ^ Buss, Bryan. "Roxette - Joyride". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
- ^ Flick, Larry (19 October 1991). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 77. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
- ^ "Roxette: Joyride". Expressen (in Swedish). 26 March 1991.
- ^ Sholin, Dave (11 October 1991). "Gavin Picks > Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. No. 1877. p. 60. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ^ "Roxette Joyride". Göteborgsposten (in Swedish). 26 March 1991.
- ^ Såtvedt, Kim (6 June 1991). "Plater". Laagendalsposten (in Norwegian). No. 105. p. 7. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
- ^ "Spotlight: Roxette" (PDF). Music & Media. 30 March 1991. p. 13. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
- ^ Veevers, Brendon (12 December 2013). "Top 10 Roxette Ballads". Renowned for Sound. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
- ^ J.D. Considine (27 June 1991). "Roxette: Joyride: Music Review". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Archived from the original on 25 March 2008. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
- ^ Sawyer, Miranda (16 October 1991). "Review: Singles". Smash Hits. p. 41. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
- ^ a b "Roxette Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
- ^ "Digital booklet". Don't Bore Us, Get to the Chorus (liner notes). Stockholm, Sweden: EMI Records. 1995. 7243 836203 2 6.
- ^ Charlie Amter (4 July 2011). "EMI Sets U.S. Release for New Roxette Album". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
- ^ a b "Top RPM Singles: Image 2036". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
- ^ a b Ballad & Pop Hits - The Complete Video Collection (DVD liner notes). EMI. 2003. 7243 4 90946 9 7.
- ^ "Spending My Time" (Swedish 7" single). EMI. 1991. 1364117.
- ^ "Spending My Time" (German 7" single). EMI. 1991. 1C 006-13 6411 7.
- ^ "Spending My Time" (US cassette single). EMI. 1991. 4KM-50366.
- ^ "Spending My Time" (Canadian cassette single). Capitol Records. 1991. 4KM 73169.
- ^ "Spending My Time" (UK 7" single). EMI. 1991. EM 215.
- ^ "Spending My Time" (12" single). EMI. 1991. 1364116.
- ^ "Spending My Time" (European CD maxi single). EMI. 1991. 1364112.
- ^ "Spending My Time" (UK CD maxi single). EMI. 1991. CDEM 215.
- ^ Lindström, Sven (2002). The Ballad Hits (CD liner notes). Capitol Records. 72435 42798-2 9.
- ^ "Roxette – Spending My Time". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
- ^ "Roxette – Spending My Time" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
- ^ "Roxette – Spending My Time" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
- ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Image 2049". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 49. 7 December 1991. p. 33. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
- ^ "European Hit Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 50. 14 December 1991. p. 39. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
- ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
- ^ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Spending My Time". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
- ^ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 21 July 2022. Select "Singoli" in the "Tipo" field, type "Spending my time" in the "Titolo" field and press "cerca".
- ^ Radio Luxembourg Singles. 24 November 1991.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 48, 1991" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
- ^ "Roxette – Spending My Time" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
- ^ "Roxette – Spending My Time". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
- ^ a b Salaverrie, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- ^ a b "Roxette – Spending My Time". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
- ^ "Roxette – Spending My Time". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
- ^ "Roxette Songs and Albums | Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- ^ "Top 50 Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week. 7 December 1991. p. 16. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
- ^ "Roxette Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
- ^ "Top 100 Pop Singles". Cash Box. Vol. LV, no. 20. New York, NY. December 28, 1991. p. 4. ISSN 0008-7289.
- ^ "the Gavin Report – Adult Contemporary". Gavin Report. No. 1889. January 24, 1992. p. 24. See LW column.
- ^ "the Gavin Report – Top 40". Gavin Report. No. 1885. December 13, 1991. p. 10.
- ^ "R&R The Back Page – National Airplay Overview: January 10, 1992 – Adult Contemporary". Radio & Records. No. 923. Los Angeles. January 10, 1992. p. 86. ISSN 0277-4860.
- ^ "R&R The Back Page – National Airplay Overview: December 13, 1991 – CHR". Radio & Records. No. 920. Los Angeles. December 13, 1991. p. 104. ISSN 0277-4860.
- ^ "Årstopplistan 1991, Singlar" (in Swedish). Grammotex. Archived from the original on 25 February 2001. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
- ^ "The RPM Top 100 Adult Contemporary tracks of 1992". RPM. Vol. 56, no. 25. 19 December 1992. ISSN 0033-7064 – via Library and Archives Canada.
- ^ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts – 1992" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
- ^ "Danish single certifications – Roxette – Spending My Time". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
- ^ ""Spending My Time", The New Single". Radio & Records. No. 911. Los Angeles. 11 October 1991. p. 13. ISSN 0277-4860.
ON RADIO EVERYWHERE, OCTOBER 14TH.
- ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 9 November 1991. p. 21.
- ^ "New Release Summary – Product Available from : 18/11/91: Singles". The ARIA Report. No. 95. 17 November 1991. p. 21.
Spending My Time
View on GrokipediaBackground and writing
Development and inspiration
"Spending My Time" was co-written by Per Gessle and Mats "MP" Persson, Gessle's longtime collaborator and former bandmate from Gyllene Tider. The pair crafted the song during the early stages of Roxette's third album sessions, drawing on their established creative partnership that had previously yielded tracks for the band. Gessle has described the composition process as collaborative, with Persson's input helping shape the song's structure amid the upbeat energy of the Joyride project. The song was co-written on the same day Gessle wrote the album's title track "Joyride," around May 1990, emphasizing the spontaneous yet polished nature of its creation.[13][14][15][16] An initial demo of the track was recorded on May 24, 1990, at T&A Studios in Halmstad, Sweden, where Gessle captured an early acoustic version. Gessle later recalled playing the demo for friend and colleague Sven Lindström, who enthusiastically predicted it would become a major hit, despite Gessle's own reservations about the rough quality. This early iteration highlighted the song's potential as a heartfelt ballad, setting the foundation before further refinement.[14] The song's inspiration stems from a melancholic breakup narrative, centering on the anguish of time squandered in futile longing after a relationship ends. Gessle's songwriting frequently incorporates personal emotional experiences, infusing his lyrics with introspective depth that resonates universally in themes of heartbreak and reflection. As a slower, emotive piece, it provided a poignant contrast to the predominantly upbeat, optimistic tone of the Joyride album, which followed the global breakthrough of Roxette's 1988 release Look Sharp!. Production on Joyride began in early 1990, allowing space for such varied emotional explorations within the record's vibrant pop framework.[17][4][16]Composition
"Spending My Time" follows a conventional verse-chorus structure with an intervening bridge, clocking in at 4:36 in length, set in the key of F♯ minor with a tempo of 171 beats per minute.[18][19] The arrangement opens as an acoustic guitar-driven ballad, anchored by Jonas Isacsson's acoustic and electric guitar work alongside Clarence Öfwerman's keyboards, which provide subtle piano accents.[20] It gradually builds into a richer pop-rock texture through the incorporation of strings, arranged by Öfwerman and Mats Holmquist, enhancing the song's emotional swell without overpowering its intimate core.[20] Lyrically, the track delves into post-breakup isolation and the relentless passage of time, capturing a sense of emotional paralysis through imagery like the opening line, "What's the time? Seems it's already morning," which evokes a night spent in futile reflection.[21][21] Marie Fredriksson's lead vocals convey raw emotion with her distinctive throaty timbre, while Per Gessle's layered harmonies add contrast and depth, underscoring the duo's complementary vocal interplay.[22]Recording and production
Studio sessions
The recording sessions for "Spending My Time" occurred during the 1990 production of Roxette's third studio album, Joyride, which spanned January to November 1990 across EMI Studios in Stockholm, Sweden, and Tits & Ass Studio in Halmstad.[23] Following a demo recorded on May 24, 1990, at Tits & Ass Studio, the track was developed at EMI Studios under producer Clarence Öfwerman, who layered multiple guitar parts (electric, acoustic, mandolin, and slide), bass, drums, keyboards, and programming to build the song's arrangement from its initial demo form.[24][14] The demo version featured a simple acoustic setup that captured the song's intimate ballad structure in C major, but the EMI sessions transformed it into a polished pop production through Öfwerman's orchestration and the addition of dynamic elements like Hammond organ and rhythmic programming. Mixing took place at the same EMI Studios facility, handled primarily by Öfwerman alongside engineers Alar Suurna and Anders Herrlin, who refined the balance of instrumentation to enhance clarity and emotional depth.[23] One key challenge during the sessions involved reconciling the song's inherent ballad intimacy with Roxette's characteristic energetic pop edge, a recurring discussion among Per Gessle, Marie Fredriksson, and Öfwerman about defining the band's sound as "power pop" while incorporating more nuanced, sensitive layers.[16] This tension was addressed through iterative layering and adjustments, ensuring the final track maintained emotional vulnerability without sacrificing the duo's vibrant style.[16]Personnel
"Spending My Time" was written by Per Gessle, who composed the lyrics, and Mats "MP" Persson, who contributed the music.[2] The track was produced by Clarence Öfwerman.[25] Lead vocals were provided by Marie Fredriksson, with Per Gessle on backing vocals and additional backing vocals by Staffan Öfwerman.[25] The instrumentation featured electric guitars performed by Per Gessle and Jonas Isacsson, with additional guitars by Mats "MP" Persson; electric bass by Anders Herrlin; drums by Pelle Alsing; and keyboards, Hammond organ, and Synclavier synthesizer by Clarence Öfwerman.[26] The recording took place at EMI Studios in Stockholm, Sweden.[25] Technical contributions included engineering and mixing by Alar Suurna, assisted by Anders Herrlin and Lennart Haglund, with mastering handled by George Marino at Sterling Sound in New York.[25]Release
Formats and track listings
"Spending My Time" was issued as a single in various physical formats, including 7-inch and 12-inch vinyl records, CD singles, and cassettes, primarily through EMI labels in late 1991. These releases were distributed across regions such as Europe, North America, Australia, and South America, with catalog numbers varying by market. For instance, the Swedish 7-inch vinyl edition carried the catalog number EMI 1364117.[1][27] The core track listing across most standard formats featured the album version of "Spending My Time" at 4:39, paired as a B-side with "The Sweet Hello, The Sad Goodbye" at 4:49. Maxi formats and 12-inch vinyl editions expanded this with remixes, such as the Electric Dance Remix running 5:27, produced by Dr. Renault and M.C. King Carli. The European CD maxi-single, under catalog number 1364112, included these tracks. In the US, promotional CD singles (catalog DPRO-04802) offered specialized mixes tailored for radio, including the LP Mix at 4:39 and the AC Mix at 4:09.[28] Cassette singles mirrored the 7-inch vinyl listings and were released in markets including the US (catalog 4KM-50366), Canada (catalog 4KM 73169), and Australia.[29][30]| Format | Region/Catalog | Track Listing |
|---|---|---|
| 7-inch Vinyl | Sweden (EMI 1364117) | A: "Spending My Time" – 4:39 B: "The Sweet Hello, The Sad Goodbye" – 4:49 |
| 12-inch Vinyl | Europe (1364116) | A1: "Spending My Time" (Electric Dance Remix) – 5:27 B1: "Spending My Time" (Album Version) – 4:39 B2: "The Sweet Hello, The Sad Goodbye" – 4:49 |
| CD Maxi-Single | Europe (1364112) | 1: "Spending My Time" (Album Version) – 4:39 2: "The Sweet Hello, The Sad Goodbye" – 4:49 3: "Spending My Time" (Electric Dance Remix) – 5:27 |
| CD Promo | US (DPRO-04802) | 1: "Spending My Time" (LP Mix) – 4:39 2: "Spending My Time" (AC Mix) – 4:09 |
| Cassette Single | US (4KM-50366) | Side A: "Spending My Time" – 4:39 Side B: "The Sweet Hello, The Sad Goodbye" – 4:49 |