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1986 Europe Number Ones

Europe – The Final Countdown

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Story Behind The Song

“The Final Countdown” is the sweeping, operatic anthem that propelled Swedish rock band Europe into global superstardom. Released in 1986 as the lead single from their third studio album of the same name, the track is instantly recognizable by its bombastic, brass-like keyboard riff. Frontman Joey Tempest wrote the iconic hook on a borrowed synthesizer years before turning it into a full song inspired by David Bowie’s “Space Oddity.”
Musically, the track perfectly fuses heavy metal energy with polished pop production, featuring driving drums and a blistering guitar solo by John Norum. Tempest’s soaring, theatrical vocals narrate a dramatic sci-fi story about humanity leaving Earth for Venus. While the band initially debated whether the keyboard heavy track was too soft for their rock image, it became an unprecedented commercial phenomenon.
The song topped the charts in 25 countries, reached the top ten on the US Billboard Hot 100, and turned the band into arena headliners. Today, it remains an enduring pop culture staple, regularly blaring through sports stadiums and movie soundtracks worldwide.

The song peaked at No. 01 in the UK charts on 6th December 1986.

Eighties Archive Song Number

EA-0021

Highest Chart Position

No. 01

Date Released

13th October 1986

Genre

Rock, Pop, SynthPop

Date Of UK Top 40 Entry

8th November 1986

Record Label

EPIC RECORDS

Catalogue Number

A 7127

ALL information on this page was obtained from numerous sources. These include The Official Charts website, Discogs, 45Cat, Polyhex, and many other sites.

Some images have been cleaned up using CHATGPT.

A-SIDE & B-SIDE COVERS

UK 7'' Cover - Front
UK 7'' Cover - Back

TRACK LISTING

A-Side The Final Countdown (3:59)
(Joey Tempest)
Produced By Kevin Elson
B-Side On Broken Wings (3:38)
(Joey Tempest)
Produced By Kevin Elson

CHART PERFORMANCE

UK Top 40 Chart Run [12 Weeks] – 8th November 1986 – 24th January 1987
35
14
05
02
01
01
03
03
03
04
14
32

OFFICIALLY RELEASED VERSIONS

The Final Countdown (Single Version) (3:59)
The Final Countdown (Album Version) (5:10)

See ALL releases of ‘The Final Countdown’ on Discogs.

OFFICIAL VIDEO

LYRICS

We’re leaving together
But still it’s farewell
And maybe we’ll come back
To earth, who can tell?
I guess there is no one to blame
We’re leaving ground
Will things ever be the same again?

It’s the final countdown
The final countdown
Ohh

We’re heading for Venus and still we stand tall
‘Cause maybe they’ve seen us and welcome us all, yea
With so many light years to go and things to be found
(To be found)
I’m sure that we all miss her so

It’s the final countdown
The final countdown
The final countdown
(The final countdown)
Ohh ho ohh

The final countdown, oh ho

It’s the final countdown
The final countdown
The final countdown
(The final countdown)
Ohh

It’s the final countdown
We’re leaving together
The final countdown
We’ll all miss her so
It’s the final countdown
(The final countdown)
Ohh, it’s the final countdown
Yea

Written by Joey Tempest

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