How Do You Do!


"How Do You Do!" is a song by Swedish pop duo Roxette. It was released as the lead single from their fourth studio album Tourism on 3 July 1992 by EMI Records. The track, written by Per Gessle and produced by Clarence Öfwerman, was a commercial success upon release, topping the Norwegian Singles Chart and peaking at number two in several countries, including Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland. The single was backed by several remixes created by Swedish production duo BomKrash, which consisted of Jacob Hellner and Carl-Michael Herlöfsson.

Composition and style

According to Ultimate Guitar, "How Do You Do!" is an uptempo pop rock song written in common time with a tempo of 121 beats per minute. It utilises a common trait found in Roxette compositions of the verse using a different key signature than the chorus. The verse is composed in C, and consists of three repetitions of a basic C–F–G–F sequence, followed by one shortened sequence of C–F–G. The pre-chorus makes use of a power chord structure, and consists of a sequence of Am–G–F–C–Em, which is then amended to Am–G–F–G. Following a brief pause, Marie Fredriksson takes over lead vocals for the song's chorus, which moves up from the verses by two keys to E♭. The chorus is composed almost entirely of sharp notes, and follows a sequence of D♯–A♯–D♯–G♯–A♯–Cm–G♯–A♯–Cm–G♯–A♯. The bridge consists of four short repetitions of Cm–A♯, played as power chords. The last chorus and outro are in F, following the transposed sequence F-C-F-B♭-C-Dm-B♭-C-Dm-B♭-C. American musician Tiny Tim is referenced in the song's lyrics.

Critical reception

In his review of Tourism, AllMusic editor Bryan Buss wrote that "How Do You Do!" is a "perfectly presented pop ditty, bright and sunny as summer". Larry Flick from Billboard magazine described the song as a "peppy, guitar-anchored pop/rocker." He noted that "bopping pogo beats and Per Gessle's highly attitudinal lead vocal are strongest points in luring radio programmers." Gavin Report called it a "fun track" that "starts off with a froggy-voiced Per Gessle posing the most asked question in the English language."

Formats and track listings

Cassette and 7-inch single
  1. "How Do You Do!" – 3:09
  2. "Fading Like a Flower (Every Time You Leave)" – 4:0912-inch single
  3. "How Do You Do!" – 3:12
  4. "Knockin' on Every Door" – 3:51
  5. "How Do You Do!" – 5:43CD single
  6. "How Do You Do!" – 3:12
  7. "Fading Like a Flower " – 4:09
  8. "Knockin' on Every Door" – 6:05
  9. "How Do You Do!" – 5:43US CD single
  10. "How Do You Do!" – 3:12
  11. "How Do You Do!" – 3:11
  12. "Fading Like a Flower " – 4:09

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of The Rox Box/Roxette 86–06.
Studios
Musicians

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart Peak
position

Cascada version

In 2005, a cover of the song by German dance act Cascada was released as the third single from their debut album, Everytime We Touch. This version charted in the top fifty of the Ö3 Austria Top 40, but failed to chart elsewhere.

Formats and track listings

CD maxi
  1. "How Do You Do!" – 3:16
  2. "How Do You Do!" – 2:51
  3. "How Do You Do!" – 3:29
  4. "How Do You Do!" – 5:05
  5. "How Do You Do!" – 5:31
  6. "How Do You Do!" – 7:05
  7. "How Do You Do!" – 5:30
  8. "How Do You Do!" – 6:00
  9. "How Do You Do!" – 5:57Digital download
  10. "How Do You Do!" – 3:16
  11. "How Do You Do!" – 3:55
  12. "How Do You Do!" – 5:04
  13. "How Do You Do!" – 7:05