The Final Countdown (song)

"The Final Countdown"
Single by Europe
from the album The Final Countdown
B-side "On Broken Wings"
Released 1986
Format
Genre
Length
Label Epic
Writer(s) Joey Tempest
Producer(s) Kevin Elson
Europe singles chronology
"Rock the Night"
(1985)		 "The Final Countdown"
(1986)		 "Love Chaser"
(1986)
Music video
"The Final Countdown" on YouTube
Music sample
"The Final Countdown"

"The Final Countdown" is a song by Swedish rock band Europe, released in 1986. Written by Joey Tempest, it was the first single from the band's third studio album which was also named The Final Countdown. The song reached No. 1 in 25 countries,[4] including the United Kingdom, and was certified gold in the United Kingdom in 1986.[5] In the United States the song peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at No. 18 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart.

Origin and recording

The song was based on a keyboard riff which Joey Tempest had written, as early as 1981 or 1982,[6] on a Korg Polysix keyboard which he had borrowed from keyboardist Mic Michaeli.[7][8] In 1985, bassist John Levén suggested that Tempest should write a song based on that riff.[6] Tempest recorded a demo version of the song and played it for the other band members.[9] At first the members expressed mixed reactions to it, including guitarist John Norum: "When I first heard the synth intro to 'The Final Countdown', my reaction was: 'No, this is nuts. We just can't use this.' Thank God they didn't listen to me."[10] Tempest described their uncertainty: "Some of the guys in the band thought it was too different for a rock band. But in the end I fought hard to make sure it got used."[10]

The song's lyrics were inspired by David Bowie's song "Space Oddity".[10] The sound of the keyboard riff used in the recording was achieved by using a Yamaha TX-816 rack unit and a Roland JX-8P synthesizer,[11] as described by Michaeli: "I made a brassy sound from the JX-8P and used a factory sound from the Yamaha, and just layered them together."[11]

When it was time to choose the first single from the album The Final Countdown, Tempest suggested the song "The Final Countdown".[9] The band had not originally planned to release the song as a single, and some members wanted "Rock the Night" to be the first single.[9][10] "The Final Countdown" was written to be an opening song for concerts, and they never thought it would be a hit.[9] When their record company Epic Records suggested, however, that it should be the first single, the band decided to release it.[12]

As Tempest stated:

"It's always a nice feeling. Sometimes you hear it on the streets or someone has it on their mobile phone or something… it's a nice feeling! Actually, I did an interview about a year ago with a newspaper from America and they talked about how much it's been used in sports in America… which I didn't know so much about. Apparently it has been used a lot and it was nice to hear. The ironic thing, though, is that the song was actually written for the fans. It was over six minutes long and was never meant to be a hit or anything like that. It was meant to be an opening for the 'live' show. We were putting out our third album and we wanted a really 'grand' opening for the show. So, I had that 'riff' tucked away in a drawer since my college years and I took it out, found a tempo for it, wrote lyrics, and it turned out to be a great opening for that album and for the show, as well. Nowadays, we don't rehearse it, but when we play it live, it is still just so amazing! It does communicate so well with the audience and we really love playing it."[13]

Release and reception

"The Final Countdown" was released in the spring of 1986 and became the most successful song from The Final Countdown on the American rock charts as well as the band's most recognizable and popular song.[14] It appeared on Billboard magazine's Billboard Hot 100 chart, reaching the top 10. The following week it debuted on the Album Rock Tracks, where it peaked at No. 18 in its eighth week and remained on the chart until its 20th week. The band's next hit was "Superstitious," which achieved a higher chart position on the Album Rock Tracks.

In Canada, the song reached the top ten on the Canadian Singles Chart, peaking at number five and becoming the band's highest charting song in that country. "The Final Countdown" reached number three in the UK, eventually spending two weeks at the top of the UK Singles Chart in December, and was the only single from the album that charted in the UK top 10. "The Final Countdown" reached number 1 in 25 countries,[4] including France, Germany, Ireland, Sweden and Italy.

Music video

A still from the music video for "The Final Countdown".

The music video, directed by Nick Morris, contains footage from two concerts the band did at Solnahallen in Solna, Sweden on 26 and 27 May 1986, as well as some extra footage filmed at the sound checks for those concerts.[9]

Live performances

The song has been a regular in Europe concerts ever since its live debut on the premiere of their Final Countdown Tour in April 1986. One of the most memorable performances of the song took place in Stockholm, Sweden on 31 December 1999, as part of the Millennium celebrations, as it was the first, and to date only, Europe performance with both of the band's lead guitarists, the original guitarist John Norum and his replacement, Kee Marcello.[15][16]

Personnel

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (1986–87) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[17] 2
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[18] 1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[19] 1
Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)[20] 1
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[21] 5
Europe (Pan-European Charts)[22] 1
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[23] 1
France (SNEP)[24] 1
Germany (Official German Charts)[25] 1
Ireland (IRMA)[26] 1
Italy (FIMI)[27] 1
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[28] 1
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[29] 1
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[30] 12
Norway (VG-lista)[31] 4
Poland (LP3)[32] 1
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[33] 1
Spain (AFYVE)[34] 1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[35] 1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[36] 1
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[37] 1
US Billboard Album Rock Tracks[38] 18
US Billboard Hot 100[38] 8
US Cash Box[39] 10
Chart (2016) Peak
position
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[40] 60

Year-end charts

Chart (1986) Position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[41] 28
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[42] 4
France (SNEP)[43] 3
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[44] 2
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[45] 1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[46] 13
Chart (1987) Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[47] 10
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[48] 18
Canada (RPM Top 100 Singles)[49] 46
Italy (FIMI)[50] 2
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[51] 7

Certifications and sales

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
Canada (Music Canada)[52] Gold 50,000^
France (SNEP)[53] Platinum 903,000[54]
United Kingdom (BPI)[55] Gold 500,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

Order of precedence
Preceded by
"Papa Chico" by Tony Esposito		 Austrian number-one single
1 December 1986 – 15 December 1986 (3 weeks) 		Succeeded by
"You Want Love (Maria, Maria)" by Mixed Emotions
Preceded by
"The Lady in Red" by Chris de Burgh		 Belgian Ultratop 50 Flanders number-one single
11 October 1986 – 25 October 1986 (3 weeks) 		Succeeded by
"Take My Breath Away" by Berlin
Belgian VRT Top 30 Flanders number-one single
11 October 1986 – 25 October 1986 (3 weeks)
Preceded by
"The Way It Is" by Bruce Hornsby and the Range		 Dutch Top 40 number-one single
27 September 1986 – 18 October 1986 (4 weeks)
Preceded by
"True Blue" by Madonna		 European number-one single (first run)
25 October 1986 (1 week)
Preceded by
"Take My Breath Away" by Berlin		 European number-one single (second run)
29 November 1986 – 31 January 1987 (10 weeks) 		Succeeded by
"Is This Love?" by Alison Moyet
Irish Singles Chart number-one single
27 November 1986 – 4 December 1986 (2 weeks) 		Succeeded by
"Caravan of Love" by The Housemartins
UK Singles Chart number-one single
6 December 1986 – 13 December 1986 (2 weeks)
Preceded by
"Ève lève-toi" by Julie Pietri		 French number-one single
8 November 1986 – 27 December 1986 (8 weeks) 		Succeeded by
"T'en va pas" by Elsa Lunghini
Preceded by
"Rage Hard" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood		 German number-one single
13 October 1986 – 3 November 1986 (4 weeks) 		Succeeded by
"Coming Home (Jeanny Part 2, ein Jahr danach)" by Falco
Preceded by
"Notorious" by Duran Duran		 Italian number-one single
13 December 1986 – 7 February 1987 (9 weeks) 		Succeeded by
"Si può dare di più" by Gianni Morandi, Enrico Ruggeri and Umberto Tozzi
Preceded by
"Sing Our Own Song" by UB40		 Single Top 100 number-one single
6 September 1986 – 11 October 1986 (6 weeks) 		Succeeded by
"Don't Leave Me This Way" by The Communards with Sarah Jane Morris
Preceded by
"Holiday Rap" by MC Miker G & DJ Sven		 Swiss number-one single
5 October 1986 – 16 November 1986 (7 weeks) 		Succeeded by
"In the Army Now" by Status Quo
Preceded by
"Suburbia" by Pet Shop Boys		 Polish number-one single (first run)
6 December 1986 – 20 December 1986 (3 weeks)
Preceded by
"In the Army Now" by Status Quo		 Polish number-one single (second run)
3 January 1987 – 17 January 1987 (3 weeks) 		Succeeded by
"Ulica miasta" by Aya RL
Preceded by
"Krew Boga" by Kult		 Polish number-one single (third run)
7 February 1987 – 14 February 1987 (2 weeks) 		Succeeded by
"Rock the Night" by Europe
Preceded by
"Everybody Have Fun Tonight" by Wang Chung		 South African number-one single
7 March 1987 – 4 April 1987 (5 weeks) 		Succeeded by
"Boom Boom (Let's Go Back to My Room)" by Paul Lekakis
Preceded by
"Geronimo's Cadillac" by Modern Talking		 Spanish number-one single
31 January 1987 – 4 April 1987 (10 weeks) 		Succeeded by
"Shake You Down" by Gregory Abbott
Preceded by
"Dover–Calais" by Style		 Swedish number-one single
28 May 1986 – 25 June 1986 (3 weeks) 		Succeeded by
"Touch Me (I Want Your Body)" by Samantha Fox
Preceded by
"We Are the World" by USA for Africa
1985		 Single Top 100 best-selling single of the year
1986 		Succeeded by
"Sailin' Home" by Piet Veerman
1987

"The Final Countdown 2000"

"The Final Countdown 2000"
Single by Europe
from the album 1982–2000
B-side "The Final Countdown" (Original Radio Edit)
Released 7 December 1999
Format
Length 3:47
Label Epic
Writer(s) Joey Tempest
Producer(s)
Europe singles chronology
"Sweet Love Child"
(1993)		 "The Final Countdown 2000"
(1999)		 "Got to Have Faith"
(2004)

In 1999, the dance remix "The Final Countdown 2000" was released. It was produced by Brian Rawling, who had previously had success with "Believe" by Cher. The band's reaction to the remix was less than enthusiastic. "That remix was a disaster," drummer Ian Haugland said, "I wouldn't pass water on it if it was on fire!"[56]

Chart positions

Chart (1999–2000) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[57] 33
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[58] 12
Germany (Media Control Charts)[59] 35
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[60] 60
Norway (VG-lista)[61] 12
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[62] 6
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[63] 33
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[64] 36

Legacy

The song is a favorite at sporting events, often being played to rally crowds. It has also become a staple of high school and college pep bands for the same purpose.[13]

Blender listed it as the 27th worst song ever,[2] and both VH1 and Blender included it at 16 on the list of the "Most Awesomely Bad Songs...Ever".[65] However, VH1 later ranked it at number 66 on their list of the best hard rock songs of all time.[3]

The song and band Europe appeared in a 2015 USA television commercial for GEICO insurance, playing in a lunchroom as a microwave oven's timer is counting down toward zero seconds; the script touts the intrinsic activity of the band, saying if you're Europe, "you love a final countdown: it's what you do."[66]

Cover versions

A performance of the song by a band named Deep Sunshine was captured on video and later became a variation of a Rickroll on Fark.com, receiving over 1 million views on YouTube. The video has been labeled the "worst cover ever", its success stemming from its lack of artistic value.[67][68]

Slovenian avant-garde music group Laibach released a cover in 1994 on their NATO album.[69]

"The Final Countdown" is a particular favourite of guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, who incorporated elements of it into "Gone with the Wind", his 1999 reimagining of Lev Knipper's "Polyushko-polye".[70][71]

Swedish metal band Sabaton has "The Final Countdown" playing to the crowd just before they enter the stage at their concerts.[72]

American banjo players Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn performed a version of the song in May 2015 for The A.V. Club's A.V. Undercover series.[73]

References

  1. ↑ Burgess, Mick (9 March 2015). "Review: Europe and Black Star Riders at the O2 Academy Newcastle". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  2. 1 2 The 50 Worst Songs Ever! Watch, Listen and Cringe! at the Wayback Machine (archived 26 December 2010). Blender. 4 January 2009.
  3. 1 2 Winistorfer, Andrew (5 January 2009). "VH1's 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs list only slightly less annoying than their hip-hop list". VH1. Prefix Magazine. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Rock group Europe plan comeback". BBC News Online. 3 October 2003. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
  5. ↑ "Certificatied Award". BPI. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  6. 1 2 1982–1992 (CD booklet). Europe. Epic Records. 1993. EPC 473589-1.
  7. ↑ Tengner, Anders; Michael Johansson (1987). Europe – den stora rockdrömmen (in Swedish). Wiken. ISBN 91-7024-408-1.
  8. ↑ Europe (18 November 2005). Live from the Dark (DVD). Warner Bros. Entertainment.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Europe (4 October 2006). The Final Countdown Tour 1986: Live in Sweden – 20th Anniversary Edition (DVD). Warner Bros. Entertainment.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Ling, Dave (January 2005). "Counting Down Again". Classic Rock (75): 60–67.
  11. 1 2 "Europe: This Is Definitely Not Their Final Countdown". MusicPlayers.com. Retrieved 23 December 2007.
  12. ↑ Thompson, Erik (October–November 2005). "Hårdrockens Historia 1986". Sweden Rock Magazine (31): 102.
  13. 1 2 Felix, David (14 April 2005). "Interview with Joey Tempest (Lead Vocals – Europe)". Rock Eyez. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
  14. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1989). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits. Billboard Books. ISBN 0-85112-389-9.
  15. ↑ Issue 17: Marcello – Phil Ashcroft at the Wayback Machine (archived 13 April 2009). RATHOLE.com.
  16. ↑ Issue 18: Europe – Dave Cockett at the Wayback Machine (archived 14 December 2007). RATHOLE.com.
  17. ↑ "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989, part 2". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  18. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Europe – The Final Countdown" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  19. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Europe – The Final Countdown" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  20. ↑ "Radio2 top 30: 11 oktober 1986" (in Dutch). Top 30. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  21. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0793." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  22. ↑ "Hits of the World". Billboard. 98 (50): 56. 13 December 1986. ISSN 0006-2510.
  23. ↑ Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
  24. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Europe – The Final Countdown" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
  25. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Europe – The Final Countdown". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  26. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Final Countdown". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
  27. ↑ "SINGOLI – I NUMERI UNO (1959-2006) (parte 3: 1980-1990)" (in Italian). It-charts.150m.com. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  28. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Europe - The Final Countdown search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  29. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Europe – The Final Countdown" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  30. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Europe – The Final Countdown". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  31. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Europe – The Final Countdown". VG-lista. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
  32. ↑ "THE FINAL COUNTDOWN – Europe" (in Polish). LP3. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  33. ↑ "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (E)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  34. ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  35. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Europe – The Final Countdown". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
  36. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Europe – The Final Countdown". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
  37. ↑ "Archive Chart: 1986-12-06" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  38. 1 2 "Europe – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  39. ↑ CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending MARCH 28, 1987 at the Wayback Machine (archived 13 September 2012). Cash Box magazine.
  40. ↑ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  41. ↑ "Jahreshitparade 1986" (in German). Austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  42. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1986" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  43. ↑ "TOP – 1986" (in French). Top-france.fr. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  44. ↑ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1986" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  45. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1986" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  46. ↑ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1986" (in German). Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  47. ↑ "Forum - ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts – 1980s". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  48. ↑ "Jahreshitparade 1987" (in German). Austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  49. ↑ "Top Singles – Volume 47, No. 12, December 26, 1987". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  50. ↑ "I singoli più venduti del 1987" (in Italian). Hit Parade Italia. Creative Commons. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  51. ↑ "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1987". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  52. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Europe – The Final Countdown". Music Canada.
  53. ↑ "French single certifications – Europe – The Final Countdown" (in French). InfoDisc. Select EUROPE and click OK
  54. ↑ "Les Singles de Platine" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  55. ↑ "British single certifications – Europe – The Final Countdown". British Phonographic Industry. Enter The Final Countdown in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search
  56. ↑ "Classic Track – The Final Countdown". Rhythm. February 2010.
  57. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Europe – The Final Countdown 2000". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  58. ↑ "Europe: Final Countdown 2000" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  59. ↑ "Europe – The Final Countdown 2000" (in German). Officialcharts.de. GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  60. ↑ "dutchcharts.nl – Europe – The Final Countdown 2000" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  61. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Europe – The Final Countdown 2000". VG-lista. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  62. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Europe – The Final Countdown 2000". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  63. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Europe – The Final Countdown 2000". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  64. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2000-01-08" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  65. ↑ Pugh, Clifford (21 April 2004). "Songs so so bad they're on a list all their own". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  66. ↑ Rutherford, Kevin (22 October 2015). "Europe Enjoys First No. 1 on a Billboard Chart Thanks to GEICO Ad". Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  67. ↑ McCarthy, Caroline (27 July 2009). "The top 10 songs the Web brought back". CNET. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  68. ↑ "It's The Final Countdown Covers". Up Venue. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  69. ↑ Raggett, Ned. "Laibach – NATO". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  70. ↑ Watson Davies, Roy (June 1999). "Under a Violet Moon – Album Review". Darker than Blue. No. 52. Deep Purple Appreciation Society. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  71. ↑ Bloom, Jerry (2006). Black Knight: Ritchie Blackmore. Omnibus Press. pp. 336–37. ISBN 978-1-84609-266-4.
  72. ↑ Carlsson, Martin (24 May 2013). "Eldigt, Sabaton". Expressen. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  73. ↑ Modell, Josh (19 May 2015). "Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn cover "The Final Countdown"". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
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