She's Got Nothing On (But the Radio)

"She's Got Nothing On (But the Radio)" is a song by Swedish pop music duo Roxette, released on 10 January 2011 as the lead single from their eighth studio album, Charm School. An uptempo rock and electropop song, the track received a mixed response from both fans and critics. Despite this, it went on to become a substantial hit for the duo throughout mainland Europe. It was their most successful single since 1992's "How Do You Do!" in territories such as Austria and Germany, and also peaked within the top thirty of numerous airplay charts: including Billboard's Adult Contemporary Chart. This made Roxette the only duo who have appeared on that chart during each of the last four consecutive decades.

"She's Got Nothing On (But the Radio)"
Single by Roxette
from the album Charm School
Released10 January 2011
RecordedAugust 2009 – September 2010
Studio
Various
Genre
Length3:34
Label
Songwriter(s)Per Gessle
Producer(s)
Roxette singles chronology
"Reveal"
(2007)
"She's Got Nothing On (But the Radio)"
(2011)
"Speak to Me"
(2011)
Music video
"She's Got Nothing On (But the Radio)" on YouTube

Composition and style

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"She's Got Nothing On (But the Radio)" was written by Per Gessle,[1] and produced by the songwriter alongside Christoffer Lundquist and Clarence Öfwerman. Its backing track was recorded in The Aerosol Grey Machine, Lundquist's converted barn studio in Vallarum, Scania; Marie Fredriksson's vocals were recorded in Atlantis Studios in Stockholm.[2] The song runs for a duration of three minutes and 34 seconds.[3] According to Ultimate Guitar, it is a rock and electropop song with a tempo of 132 beats per minute. Each verse consists of two repetitions of an A–A–G–D–A sequence, followed by a chorus composed of DmB♭–F–C–Dm–B♭–F–C–B♭–Dm, while the bridge is made up of three short progressions of Dm–C.[4]

The title is a reference to a 1952 quote by Marilyn Monroe regarding her nude photographs for a calendar: "It's not true I had nothing on. I had the radio on."[5] The band Pantera used the same phrase for the title of their song "Nothin' On (But the Radio)" on their 1983 debut album Metal Magic. In 2004, country music artist Gary Allan released "Nothing On but the Radio". It was reported in 2010 that Lady Gaga had recorded an unreleased song under the title "Nothing On (But the Radio)".[6]

The track received a mixed response from both fans and critics.[2] Gessle argued: "I've been writing songs for more than 35 years. If I should listen to the A&R guys, the reporters or the fans, I might as well give up. I have to trust my personal instincts and beliefs and do it my own way. With [Charm School], we've tried to re-create the classic [Roxette] sound, without being too nostalgic. There are certain interesting things happening when Marie and I start to sing together. We love that. But we don't want to repeat ourselves too much."[2]

Release and promotion

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The song was released as a one-track digital single from 10 January 2011.[7] The music video was uploaded onto Vevo two days later. It was directed by Mats Udd, and consists of footage of Fredriksson and Gessle performing the song during its chorus, with footage of a party accompanying the verses and the outro. As of 2018, the video has received over 2.5 million views on YouTube.[8] A two-track CD single followed from 15 February, featuring a live version of "Wish I Could Fly" as the b-side.[9] This live version of the b-side was taken from the band's performance on 12 September 2010 at the Saint Petersburg Ice Palace in Russia, and is the same version of the song which appeared as a bonus track on deluxe editions of Charm School.[10] A maxi single containing five remixed versions of "She's Got Nothing On (But the Radio)" by Adrian Lux and Adam Rickfors was released from 25 February.[11] In the United Kingdom, the song was A-listed on BBC Radio 2 for the week commencing 5 March,[12] and remained there until 2 April.[13] In the United States, it was serviced to adult contemporary radio formats from 20 June.[14]

Commercial performance

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The track became a substantial hit in central Europe. It entered the top ten and spent a total of 21 weeks on the German Singles Chart,[15] becoming both their highest-peaking and longest-charting single there since 1992's "How Do You Do!".[16] It also peaked at number 6 on the German Airplay Chart.[17] The song reached number 9 and spent fifteen weeks on the Ö3 Austria Top 40, and was the duo's highest-peaking single there since "Sleeping in My Car" in 1994, and their longest-charting since "How Do You Do!".[18] It peaked at number 19 on the Swiss Hitparade, making it their first top twenty hit in Switzerland since "Wish I Could Fly" in 1999.[19] The song also became a top forty hit on the Flemish edition of the Belgian Ultratop 50 chart.[20]

"She's Got Nothing On (But the Radio)" also performed well on numerous airplay charts. It peaked within the top ten of the Hungarian Airplay Chart,[21] and reached number 26 on the UK Airplay Chart.[22] The song spent 39 weeks on the Czech Republic's Hot 100 Airplay Chart, peaking at number 30.[23] It also peaked at number 30 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Chart.[24] This made Roxette the only duo who have appeared on that chart during each of the last four consecutive decades.[25]

Formats and track listings

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All songs written by Per Gessle.

  • Digital download (CDPRO–4439 · 50999 072004–2 7)
  1. "She's Got Nothing On (But the Radio)" – 3:34
  • CD single (50999 072005–2 6)
  1. "She's Got Nothing On (But the Radio)" – 3:34
  2. "Wish I Could Fly" (Live at the Ice Palace in Saint Petersburg, Russia on 12 September 2010) – 4:51
  • Maxi single − Remixes
  1. "She's Got Nothing On (But the Radio)" (Adrian Lux Remix) (Original Version) – 5:34
  2. "She's Got Nothing On (But the Radio)" (Adrian Lux Remix) (Radio Edit) – 2:41
  3. "She's Got Nothing On (But the Radio)" (Adam Rickfors Remix) (Radio Edit) – 3:36
  4. "She's Got Nothing On (But the Radio)" (Adam Rickfors Remix) (Dub Edit) – 7:23
  5. "She's Got Nothing On (But the Radio)" (Adam Rickfors Remix) (Power Edit) – 3:29

Personnel

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Credits adapted from the liner notes of Charm School Revisited.[1]

  • Demo recorded at Tits & Ass Studio in Halmstad, Sweden on 7 August 2009
  • Backing track and Per Gessle's vocals recorded at The Aerosol Grey Machine in Vallarum, Sweden in February 2010
  • Marie Fredriksson's vocals recorded at Atlantis Studio in Stockholm, Sweden in September 2010

Musicians

Charts

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Release history

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Region Date Format Ref.
Europe 10 January 2011 1-track single [7]
15 February 2011 2-track single [9]
25 February 2011 Maxi single [11]
United States 20 June 2011 Airplay [14]

References

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  1. ^ a b Charm School Revisited (CD liner notes). Roxette. Capitol Records. 2011. 50999 091594–2 6.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ^ a b c Charlie Amter (4 July 2011). "EMI Sets U.S. Release for New Roxette Album". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 22 January 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  3. ^ "She's Got Nothing On (But the Radio) - Roxette | Song Info". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  4. ^ "She's Got Nothing On (But the Radio) by Roxette". Ultimate-Guitar.com. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  5. ^ Shorey Andrews (1 June 2014). "Celebrating Marilyn Monroe's Birthday by looking back at her best fashion and beauty wisdom". Bustle. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  6. ^ Daniel Kreps (14 October 2010). "R.E.M.'s new album, 'Collapse Into Now'; New Lady Gaga song leaks?". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  7. ^ a b "She's Got Nothing On (But The Radio) by Roxette on Amazon Music". Amazon Music. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  8. ^ "Roxette - She's Got Nothing On (But the Radio)". Vevo. YouTube. 12 January 2012. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  9. ^ a b "She's Got Nothing On (But The Radio)". Amazon. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  10. ^ Charm School (CD liner notes). Roxette. Capitol Records. 2011. 50999 071427-2 7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ a b "She's Got Nothing On (But The Radio) [Adrian Lux / Adam Rickfors Remixes] by Roxette on Amazon Music". Amazon Music. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  12. ^ "BBC - Radio 2 - Playlist". BBC Radio 2. BBC. Archived from the original on 10 March 2011. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  13. ^ "BBC - Radio 2 - Playlist". BBC Radio 2. BBC. Archived from the original on 7 April 2011. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  14. ^ a b "FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Arbitron Ratings, Music News and more!". FMQB. 20 June 2011. Archived from the original on 7 August 2011. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  15. ^ a b "Roxette – She's Got Nothing On (But The Radio)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  16. ^ "Die ganze musik im internet: Charts, Neuerscheinungen, Tickets, Genres, Genresuche" [All the music on the internet: charts, new releases, tickets, genres, genre search]. Phononet GmbH (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  17. ^ a b "German Airplay Charts | Woche 20/2011". Nielsen Company. Hung Medien. 11 May 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  18. ^ a b "Roxette – She's Got Nothing On (But The Radio)" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  19. ^ a b "Roxette – She's Got Nothing On (But The Radio)". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  20. ^ a b "Roxette – She's Got Nothing On (But The Radio)" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  21. ^ a b "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  22. ^ a b "The UK Radio Airplay Chart". Official Charts Company. Radio Monitor. 20 March 2011. Archived from the original on 1 March 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  23. ^ "Czech Radio Chart". IFPI CZ. Retrieved 2012-01-22.
  24. ^ "Chart Highlights: Rodney Atkins Takes 'Back Road' To No. 1 On Country Songs". Billboard. 19 September 2011. Archived from the original on 28 July 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
  25. ^ "The Hot Box | Chart Beat | Adult Contemporary". Billboard. Vol. 123, no. 35. Nielsen Holdings PLC. 1 October 2011. p. 33. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on 11 January 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  26. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 17. týden 2011 in the date selector. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  27. ^ "ZPAV :: Bestsellery i wyróżnienia - AirPlays | 05.02–11.02.2011". Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. 11 February 2011. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  28. ^ "Roxette - She's Got Nothing On (But the Radio)". TopHit (in Russian). Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  29. ^ "Roxette – She's Got Nothing On" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  30. ^ "Roxette Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  31. ^ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  32. ^ "Éves összesített listák | Archívum | Rádiós Top 100 | 2011" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 23 February 2018.