![]() ![]() In the studio, with John Norum attempting to channel Deep Purple’s Lazy in his guitar solo, the band vetoed Journey producer Kevin Elson’s suggestion of ditching its intentionally British-style beat for an American-sounding one – more of a four-on-the-floor thing. ![]() It’s hypnotic and quite cool.”įinally, Europe decided that it was time to, in Tempest’s words, “stick our head above the parapet and do something a little different”. Only later in life did I realise that’s how many classical composers work. “The voice stays in one monotonous line throughout, with the chords moving underneath. “After that it all came together quite quickly,” he says. “ Inspired by his love of UFO, Tempest laid down its galloping beat with the help of a drum machine, and after the word ‘countdown’ popped into his head wrote a set of lyrics that mention of ‘leaving together’ and ‘heading for Venus’. It is clear that Europe still love the song and, though it experienced some blowback and resistance prior to it being unleashed into the world, the joy it brings to fans all of these years later is palpable and not to be taken lightly I just want to finish up with a feature from Louder Sound, where the thirtieth anniversary of the song was marked (in 2016). Often, when I hear The Final Countdown mentioned, people feel a bit reserved and think of it as a guilty pleasure. It is a great song that is not necessarily looking to be taken all that seriously, so I think there are a lot of Rock purists that turn their noses up. I think AllMusic have it right regarding The Final Countdown as a track and the fact it is throwaway, bombastic and silly. You could live without The Final Countdown, but why?”. The quintet's big-boy Epic inaugural, The Final Countdown deftly combines the Valhalla victory of Europe's heroic debut with the American poodle pomposity that devoured the band. This is the story this is the legend told by Teutonic guitars and predictable keyboards ringing pure and hurtling through each and every convention perfectly. In fact, the lofty ambition of "Danger on the Track," "Ninja," and "Cherokee" (each as tasty as its title) combines with heated drive and hot delivery to meld The Final Countdown into a unique portrait of propulsive prog and a worthy addition to any hard rock collection. Meanwhile, the rest of the disc packs so much power that Swedish superheroes Europe get away with all the processed pretension. But the full-tilt follow-up "Rock the Night" rules also: "You know it ain't easy/Running out of thrills." "Carrie" comes off a consummate butane ballad. “ One of the most glorious launches in history, the title track for the thrice-platinum The Final Countdown is so bombastically brilliant, such glorious garbage, that this nuclear hair assault could only spew from the vacuous '80s. The Final Countdown appeared on Europe’s third album of the same name and, whilst that album has received some negative reviews and is not often talked about, AllMusic saw positives: Tempest won out and he was a bit nervous that the song was a bit different and soft for a Rock band. Bassist John Levén suggested making that into a track and, when it was presented to the band, there was mixed reaction. Written by the band’s keyboardist, Joey Tempest in 1981, he initially came up with a riff and that was it. One can definitely not argue with its chart position but, as I say with many of the songs featured in this piece, only certain radio stations are likely to willingly spin Europe’s The Final Countdown – in the U.K., probably BBC Radio 2. I really love the song, as it is pure fun and gets you in a good mood. Reaching number-one in twenty-five countries, The Final Countdown became an instant smash! I can appreciate why the song did so well: it has a big chorus and it is easy to sing along to it is catchy and, if you are not looking for too much out of it, the track definitely delivers. The Swedish band were inspired, apparently, by David Bowie’s Space Oddity in the lyrics, and there was originally no intention to include it on any album – it would be a good song to open their sets. Like so many songs that are considered dated and a bit cheesy down the line, in 1986, The Final Countdown did really well. To many, the video and song represents the very worst of Glam Metal/Hair Band it does not really have much bite or weight, and the lyrics do not seem to mean too much! One might find this song on a collection of the best driving Rock anthems, and there is this feeling that the song is a guilty pleasure and not one you’re really meant to love. For my next instalment but, thinking of when I included Boston’s More Than a Feeling a few weeks back in this feature, I think another song from a similar sonic field that gets an even worst rap is Europe’s The Final Countdown. ![]()
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