How Do You Do!
Roxette
The Enigma of Attraction in Roxette's 'How Do You Do!'
Roxette's 'How Do You Do!' is a song that captures the dizzying and often inexplicable nature of attraction and infatuation. The lyrics convey a sense of wonder and bewilderment at the actions and presence of the object of the singer's affection. The repeated question 'How do you do?' serves as a playful inquiry into the other person's ability to captivate and enchant so effortlessly.
The song's verses describe moments of intimate observation and interaction, highlighting the physical and emotional responses the singer experiences. From the initial greeting and a grin that sets the singer's head spinning to the admiration of the other person's appearance and the desire to be close to them, the lyrics paint a picture of someone deeply smitten. The mention of 'laughing in a dream' and waiting outside someone's house suggests a youthful, almost obsessive quality to the singer's feelings, reminiscent of high school crushes and celebrity idolization.
The chorus emphasizes the singer's admiration for the other person's unique qualities and the inability of anyone else to 'keep up' with them. This could imply a sense of competition or simply an acknowledgment of the other person's exceptional nature. The repeated line 'Did it ever make sense to you to say: Bye, bye, bye?' might indicate the singer's confusion over the fleeting nature of encounters and the pain of parting ways, which contrasts with the joy of being in the other person's presence. Overall, the song is a celebration of the thrilling, yet often perplexing, experience of being drawn to someone.