Swedish export Roxette was more popular in the US than ABBA was. Whereas ABBA were purveyors of pure pop, Roxette specialised in big power ballads, tinged with pseudo-heavy metal – none more so than their 1990 hit It Must Have Been Love.
Originally a Swedish Christmas hit in 1988 it was partly rewritten by guitarist Per Gessle to omit the Christmas references. Featured in the Richard Gere/Julia Roberts movie Pretty Woman (1990), the success of the single revived interest in their Look Sharp album.
Marie Fredriksson was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2002 and underwent surgery. The tumour was malignant and she endured months of chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
While she returned to recording and occasional live performances, the ordeal left her blind in her right eye and unable to read and write.
Fredriksson died on 9 December 2019 following a 17-year battle with cancer. She was 61.
Marie Fredriksson
Vocals
Per Gessle
Guitar
