The Final Countdown - Europe (1986)

Historical Context

"The Final Countdown" was released on May 26, 1986 as the lead single from Swedish band Europe's third album. Written by vocalist Joey Tempest, who created the original keyboard riff in 1981-1982 using a Korg Polysix synthesizer. The lyrics were inspired by David Bowie's "Space Oddity".

1986 was a key year for melodic rock and glam metal, dominated by Bon Jovi, Def Leppard and Motley Crue. The song reached number 1 in 25 countries, including the UK, and number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Musical Characteristics

The song is in F# minor, with a tempo of 118 BPM in 4/4 time. The iconic synth riff sound was achieved by combining a Yamaha TX-816 rack with a Roland JX-8P synthesizer. Kevin Elson's production (known for Journey) elevated keyboards and vocals above the rhythm guitars.

The structure combines an ascending synth intro (arguably the most recognizable riff in 80s rock), a "galloping" beat inspired by UFO, distorted electric guitars and a melodic guitar solo that John Norum recorded in just 15 minutes.

Trivia

• John Norum hated the song and left the band. The guitarist reacted to the synth intro saying: "No, this is crazy." He hated the band's pop direction, bubblegum image and spandex pants. His last performance was October 31, 1986 in Amsterdam.
• It almost wasn't a single. The band wanted "Rock the Night" as the first single. It was Epic Records who insisted on releasing "The Final Countdown" — one of the decade's greatest commercial decisions.
• Over one billion YouTube views. The music video surpassed one billion views in June 2022, making Europe one of the few classic rock bands to reach that milestone.

Videos

Official Video

Keyboard Tutorial