🎵 EUROPE - Final Countdown REACTION

[@davidcollins897]

One would literally have to be deaf to have never heard the horn-like synth intro to this song before. That snippet has to be one of the most sampled sections of music ever and inspired hundreds of "copycat" sounds. It also gets played on the regular at every kind of sporting event anywhere in the world that pumps music into their events. This is truly a world wide classic.

[@chaoticneutral3487]

100!

[@codemonkey5548]

"One would literally have to be deaf to have never heard the horn-like synth intro to this song before"

[@alexanderwalter4595]

The first time I heard this song was in a Geico commercial. kzbin.info/www/bejne/p3_JomSgqrl9atk

[@DaveF.]

Not deaf, just young

[@runthemeows1197]

@@codemonkey5548 Your comment looks straight out of 2008 and I'm not even mad

[@shellzmoe8966]

I don't know WHY I just got chills over a song I have heard 100, 003,3093847202385098790870987 times!

[@BAYBAY_316]

That's a lot of times

[@RaginRonic]

Feels pretty damn good, doesn't it? XD

[@henriklindberg1646]

i agree, but that number would be older than that universe many..may..many times over haha

[@Dark_Custodes]

Rookie numbers!

[@raspas219]

That in one year 😂😂😂

[@garytrew2766]

Yeah y'all, let me tell you, this was such a hit in the eighties. The radio and MTV played it all the time, great song, but one of those where if you didn't like it, you couldn't get away from it, lol .

[@NewBluesBros]

IM STILL RUNNING

[@centuryrox]

@@NewBluesBros You can run but you can't hide from this awful song!

[@Thisandthat8908]

that'S why they don't know where they know it from. It was and kinda still is everywhere.

[@nancysmith8626]

@@centuryrox oh come on! It's not THAT bad, is it?? People LOVED this song.

[@garytrew2766]

@@nancysmith8626 you're right it was a great song. And still is, but everyone has their own opinions so what can we do.🙄

[@CynicAtLarge]

Went to wedding a few years ago and this was played for the audience just before the bride started down the aisle. Score one for the groom.

[@kdm71291]

Haha....that's hilarious!😆

[@nancysmith8626]

That might be the greatest thing I've ever heard, ha.

[@ursulaturner7980]

That's freaking awesome!!😊

[@alejandraalvarado4622]

A song written during the Cold War, when people thought the final countdown was so possible, Joey Tempest (the vocalist of the band) wrote about that feeling

[@iggs67]

I was serving in Soviet Army 1985-87 when the iron curtain was lifted and heard this song. This got me into listening to hard rock. Then it was Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Accept, Nazareth. Oh memories. Nice reaction guys.

[@Argumemnon]

:) Nice.

[@hnorrstrom]

What about Wind of Change from Scorpions? It's about that very episode. Great songs by the way.

[@jeremyslawson-qb1eg]

Thank you for your service

[@jeremyslawson-qb1eg]

Europe the final countdown was my favorite song back in the 80s I had the audio cassette of Europe

[@admiralbenbow5083]

To put those bands in the same box as this crap is beyond insulting.

[@HellPatrol818]

Absolute masterpiece from Europe. They were a very tight band. A lot of songs got overshadowed because of the monster hit this became. Carrie, Rock the night, Cherokee etc. The Synth riff, Joey's vocals and John Norum's solo..classic. The band is soo good, they got an entire continent after them ;)

[@zulkanainbaharuddin2185]

True. Like the song Carrie, good ballard.

[@alessandroventura1330]

The band Is still active and touring. A new album is due next year

[@MrBrabo1]

You won’t believe how big a hit this was when it came out, at least in Europe 😉

[@rafalmeidas]

In Mexico was a huge hit too.

[@charliefoxtrott1048]

It's an acapella Wacken-All-Time-Hit on the campground (if you also have a kazoo to mimic the keyboard)

[@gerardo1979]

In Argentina was big too.

[@ischmidt]

It was massive in the US too. MTV played it like twice an hour.

[@revwillyg6450]

Europe, Asia,Kansas,Boston. Travel exhausts me.✌️

[@joepaskowski9091]

Oh, this is an 80’s classic that got tons of flack back in the day but is actually pretty genius. Definitely an ear worm that will stay with you all day!

[@ed.z.]

Excellent point, Jo.

[@irishgrl]

THIS!!! One of my favorite songs of all time!!!

[@parc57]

This song is like a 2nd national anthem to us Greeks due to it being played when our national basketball team won the European championship against the USSR team in 1987.

[@hgianos65]

Ναι

[@RaginRonic]

I'm willing to bet that was a banger of an all-night party for your country, Parc. I mean, blow the roof off the joint kind of party. =)

[@СветозарНовокрещенов]

This song was a big hit back in the 80ies. As far as I know this Swedish band is still active.

[@timhooper3981]

If your an 80's kid, or whoever in the 80's, you KNOW this song, AWESOME!

[@Hell-boyyi]

Absolutely yes 💯

[@tonysoprano7897]

John Norum nailed that solo! And he was only 22!

[@dirkschwartz1689]

The song has been used in a lot of sports events openings. Also, according to Wikipedia: "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, saying if you're Europe, "you love a final countdown: it's what you do.""

[@mickesmanymovies]

If I remember correctly, someone in the band (perhaps lead singer Joey Tempest) was asked to write a short music intro to be used at a newly opened venue (like a disco/restaurant thingy). And the synthesizer loop was the result. Later the band expanded it, added lyrics and bada-bing bada-bam they had one of the most well known hit songs of the 80's - a decade KNOWN for its many well known hit songs!

[@RaginRonic]

And the majority of them being over-the-top, reflecting the real 'balls out' vibe that decade had. The 80s didn't screw around creatively, that's for sure. =)

[@Stupha_Kinpendous]

This song absolutely rules. But if you haven't done Ultravox "Dancing With Tears In My Eyes" that'd be a perfect follow-up to this one.

[@annpilgrim7685]

Ultravox is the most underrated band of the ‘80s. Thank you for the suggestion, maybe they’ll have a listen 👏🏻

[@Stupha_Kinpendous]

@@annpilgrim7685 Agreed. And it'll happen. They'll get there.

[@necessaryevil3428]

ANY Ultravox 👍

[@lewisner]

Of the later Ultravox (Midge Ure) songs, The Voice is my favourite.

[@rustysmittyful]

The song was also bought back in the 00's during the cult-hit comedy Arrested Development.

[@kellypierce81]

This song always has and always will be a complete BANGER!!

[@ziggy4thefacts441]

Swedish metal was an interesting subgenre of metal in the 80s. Check out Yngwie Malmsteen for amazing guitar riffs inspired by classical music.

[@Stefan-]

Swedish metal is way bigger today even though there were a lot of great metal bands in Sweden then also but few made it big and were very famous outside of Sweden, Europe was as big as it got.

[@vickicalloway4061]

Parts of this song was played in a TV commercial, that's why it might be familiar

[@pauljansen1137]

I can remember this song absolutely dominating the charts when I was a kid....great choice guys!!

[@faiz7180]

@Gavin Tye Which is why John Norum left the band. Europe gotten too "glam" for him.

[@funkster007]

The guitar solo still gives me goosebumps. I remember when this played on MTV, I'd always get anxious waiting for the epic solo. lol

[@surlechapeau]

Brad & Lex, their song "Carrie" was a hit ballad!

[@joseynguanzo1315]

Yes Carrie is a good one

[@Steve-cm2ys]

👍👍

[@Le_Chat_Cosmic_4493]

"Cherokee" & "Superstitious" also !

[@eduardolozano4452]

One of my favorite rock ballads!

[@martinsv9183]

@@Le_Chat_Cosmic_4493 ..and "Rock the Night".. "Stormwind".. "Seventh Sign"..

[@Boatzilla2]

Iconic. This song is so big, it's bigger than the band. If you were alive and had a pulse in the '80s, this song was part of the fabric of your existence.

[@alfredvelazquez3306]

One of the ultimate 80's songs!!!!

[@alisonscott1469]

Scandinavians make the best music. A-HA from Norway who I’ve been a fan of for 37 years. Europe from Sweden, H.i.M. from Finland. Take care

[@matthewmatt5285]

1000%

[@ordoveritas]

They are playing live tonight in my home town. Loved them growing up, especially their ballads.

[@TheSagaGemini]

There was nothing so big in the 80is like this song!Europe Carie next!

[@michaelatkinson8291]

Saw Europe in May this year at Newcastle UK with Foreigner & Whitesnake and they were excellent. Wasn't a big fan to be honest as I was there mainly for Whitesnake but I have to say they were the best band on the night.

[@helendunbar1845]

I saw the Manchester gig of that tour.... I thought Europe were really great too. Joey Tempest's voice is still fabulous. I hope they do a headlining tour sometime soon; I'd definitely go to see them again.

[@Stormeyworld]

That's so cool you got to see all three bands perform in one night. Would have loved to have been at that concert. I love Whitesnake and Foreigner. And I have always loved this song by Europe.

[@shweppy]

This song should be the mandatory finale of every fireworks show forever!!

[@lantzkeefer6]

I never heard of them until I saw them open up for Def Leppard and they came out with this song and they rocked the place.

[@TheFairyintheFishBowl]

Every New Year’s countdown song during the 80’s & 90’s in South Africa!! 😂😂

[@rorygrime1202]

I had this played a few years ago at a high school basketball game. Right before the game started. The team was mostly Seniors. It was their final countdown. In fact when tournaments started they made it to the Ohio High School state semi finals. 2011

[@DeplorablesGarbage]

I partied with Europe in Minneapolis in the day!!!

[@annmariemills7772]

You may have remembered this part of the song on one of the Geico commercials. They have played this forever in the media, commercials and anywhere you can imagine. So many 80'tracks are so popular these days and most of you "youngins" don't realize. I love that new and newer gens will get to hear all of this. LOVE IT& YOU TWO AS WELL💞😎

[@andyallan2909]

They have to use, our music in commercials, films, etc. 'cos modern music is such rubbish.

[@lesrolon40]

This song was a tad bit ahead it's time. It talks about leaving Earth for another planet, we're being told for about 20-30 years now that we have to leave Earth. So much recent space exploration through telescopes and stuff. Love this song and Joey Tempest's outstanding vocals.

[@balorfinn8077]

They wrote this song and it has been used at sports events since the 80's because of them

[@top40researcher31]

The song was based on a keyboard riff which Joey Tempest had written, as early as 1981 or 1982 on a Korg Polysix keyboard which he had borrowed from keyboardist Mic Michaeli. In 1985, bassist John Levén suggested that Tempest should write a song based on that riff. Tempest recorded a demo version of the song and played it for the other band members. At first, the members expressed mixed reactions to it, including guitarist John Norum who was put off by the synth intro but said that he was glad that they didn't listen to him. 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." The song's lyrics were inspired by David Bowie's song "Space Oddity". 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, 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." When it was time to choose the first single from the album The Final Countdown, Tempest suggested the song "The Final Countdown". 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. "The Final Countdown" was written to be an opening song for concerts, and they never thought it would be a hit. When their record company Epic Records suggested, however, that it should be the first single, the band decided to release it.

[@ronparsons8786]

A lot of sports arenas use this song at the end of games

[@DanSolo871]

A friend of mine and I used to watch Headbangers Ball and make fun of the cheesiest bands and when this one came on we were in hysterics. It was so cheesy but catchy and we knew it would be big. Not as cheesy as Gene Loves Jezebel tunes but it was up there. The singer though has a solid voice for sure.

[@reddog8684]

I saw these guys play at an outdoor amphitheater in Memphis Tennessee. It had rained all day and the crowd gave up and left, about 12 maybe 15 people stayed and waited for the band to come out. we moved all the way down past even the front row we were just up leaning against the stage and these guys finally came out after the rain stopped and these guys came out And they put on the entire show, rocking out, high-fiving us, gave the entire performance as if it was a full stadium and I’ll never forget that show they weren’t the best to come out of the 80s but they did not let us down that day when we stayed behind to watch them play so good on Europe for doing that!

[@reddog8684]

@@zjow4755 1987! I graduated HS that year, lol.

[@reddog8684]

@@zjow4755 yes, it was the Final Countdown tour. They were the headliner, not sure if there was an opening act that just got bumped. It was an afternoon show but the storms, possibly with lightning, had dispersed the crowd. I think most just never came back. Even when the rain stopped the humidity in Memphis was brutal. So only a handful of us were there. I think the guys only came out because they saw a few of us out there, lol.

[@johnward43]

What made this song so unusual back in day was the heavy keyboard. It’s a hard rock band and they made a song that featured heavy synthesizer. It’s was a risk to put this out.

[@dr.burtgummerfan439]

(laughs in "Jump")

[@erikthompson619]

Well, they chose Kevin Elson of Journey fame as producer, and he is himself a keyboard player so you could be damn sure he was going to give that keyboard a prominent place in the mix ...

[@TheRedPeril]

This song. It doesn’t matter what music you like this song just gets you.

[@danielolson5378]

This was a smash hit world wide in the late '80s including their native country Sweden. Although it wasn't concidered "cool" like you didn't get any cred in some hard rock circles here in Sweden if you said you were a fan of this song. Now everyone who didn't really wanna admit they liked it back then give Europe cred. After the band dissolved/took a hiatus in 1992 people kinda forgot about the song. Then the city of Stockholm asked the guys if they could reunite and play this song at the turn of the century 1999/2000. Eventually they all agreed it would be a cool/fun thing to do. At that time the song kind of got a revival.

[@lumpyfishgravy]

This is what we Brits call a "novelty song" ie a joke.

[@RaduRadonys]

This song is freaking played here at every freaking new years eve, just before freaking midnight, I got to know every freaking note of this freaking song.

[@scottvanhille5688]

Their best song! Cherokee, Carrie, Rock The Night are a few other good ones. Yes, Lex this is one of the intro songs at sporting games. Epic!

[@heikojakob6491]

One of the most played songs on all kind of events.

[@dionshare7103]

If you haven't heard this song at some point in your lives I'd be surprised. It's been used in many venues. Not to mention the GEICO commercial they did a few years back. With Europe doing this song.

[@playden70]

That was our hype song driving to hockey games with my 4 year old son....cranked in the car going to the rink. These days, we've evolved to Light'em up, Welcome to the jungle and Kickstart my heart! Classic sports hype songs.

[@alba8433]

I m french woman and when I was young I love this group. Listen " Rock the night " it's so cool :)

[@kentjarvis3328]

This was in the first Top Gun movie when I was stationed in Italy. I bought the cd the next day and drove around in a military vehicle, blasting it through the streets in Italy!

[@carlosconesa]

I was 8 years-old when this song came out. Was a massive hit in Spain as well!

[@kimtalley4496]

I just noticed the frontman's voice sounds similar to the frontman of the Christian band Petra. Lol.

[@tuijakantola6550]

I Swedish, I grew up with this music, one of the best Swedish bands ever. I say one of the best, because Sweden produced a lot of great bands/artists.

[@lantzkeefer6]

Tell them to do more Opeth and just one Orbit Culture song.Im American but my two favorite Metal bands come from Sweden.Its been a long way since my love of Abba as a kid,lol.

[@tuijakantola6550]

@@lantzkeefer6 no Sabaton, I am disappointed 😀

[@lantzkeefer6]

@@tuijakantola6550 Their an awesome band to, but different tastes I guess.I play a little guitar, since I was 16 so Orbits Brutal sound blew me away, I actually got to talk to them about their guitar's and what rigs and effects they use.

[@alessandroventura1330]

I'm Italian and I like Swedish hard rock. Europe is my favorite band ever,yet I also like Yngwie Malmsteen and Eclipse. I started playing the drums by listening to Europe's songs. Greetings from Italy

[@donrobbie1461]

Another anthem regularly played at sports events from a great band - a massive hit in european countries especially

[@bintheredonethat]

Great song!! If you're into labeling groups this a definite "hair band". Like a lot have said if you haven't heard, at least, that intro you've been living under a rock.

[@JMulvy]

So many people know this song but have no idea the name or the "Inter-national Sensation" that brought it to them in the 80s, because they only hear it at sporting events.

[@mattcasson3238]

Got a banging guitar solo !

[@allencrameriii9305]

THIS SONG IS PLAYED EVERYWHERE: concerts, football games,baseball games, basketball games, tennis…etc. EVERYWHERE AROUND THE WORLD

[@lehtjug]

Europe is made good music, listen them every now and then. Rock the Night is also good song and it's well played as well like this Final Countdown Good music Brad & Lex are selected all the way thru.

[@paulolapa3040]

The #1 anthem of the 80's. This was such a big hit back then. It played all over the place, for so many months

[@revwillyg6450]

Embarrassing how popular this song was. Absolute throwaway song. But I guess sports arenas dig it!

[@n.johanness7451]

Swedish nostalgia.

[@thaitim007]

Saw this performed live in 1987. Donnington. Broken Wings also a great track.

[@BuddyBoy68]

Lex, I love how you always look on the bright side of life, even when it's the end of the world. I just love you! This song is iconic. The band were at my workplace, The OVO Hydro, in May this year along with Foreigner and Whitesnake. Everybody was waiting for this song from them. An iconic classic. Æx 🙏

[@creinicke1000]

I like that I can hear the lyrics clearly.. and also hear all the instruments.. I can see it being impressive on a big stage performance.

[@sammiedunlap9656]

one of the best songs of all time. So glad i got to see Europe perform this live.

[@mavenfrankeus7287]

I'm from Stockholm as well and I know a funny fact. The drummer could put 25 beer caps under his foreskin.

[@jeffreekoch9298]

That's very impressive! 🎩

[@vito7654]

Thats disqusting

[@ByTorSnowDog2112]

I was sixteen and a junior in high school when "The Final Countdown" was released... and I wore that freaking cassette out. I don't know if I listened to this song more than any other during the '80s - Autograph's "Turn Up the Radio" might have something to say about it - but this thing is definitely high on that list.

[@bonniespruin6369]

Autograph is playing on the 80s Cruise next March. it is going to sail out of California. I'm bummed we aren't going next year. We've been on the first six 80s Cruises.

[@judithrunyon186]

I was 16 too!!!! I remember listening to Carrie over and over until I had written down all the lyrics and then knew them by heart. Good times!

[@chriswolf1277]

I was 9 at the time but this song opened a door in my soul Carrie being an anthem too then 8 months later slippery when wet totally blew my mind to this day I believe the best album ever penned

[@Rockintheparadise997]

Yes "Turn up the radio" would be a great song for them to react to.

[@thehdogs4125]

Was also 16. Carrie and Cherokee were also great songs from that tape! 👊🏼

[@JoeD0403]

I saw Europe open for Def Leppard back in ‘88. It was an outdoor show and quickly turned into people outdoing each other making flames with lighters and cans of Aqua Net.

[@peterpeterle3868]

That laughing is brilliant! 2:10

[@staffan66]

The official video has 1 billion views and that kind of speaks for it self how well known this song is.

[@faiz7180]

Believe it or not, this song is not even their biggest hit. It was Carrie. Although TFC is getting more love as time passed by and became their signature song.

[@somethingyousaid5059]

Reminds me of Survivor. Eye Of The Tiger. My brain.

[@dalejohnson2047]

This song has been used in commercials sports shows

[@m000Theevilcow]

"Carrie" was another hit from them

[@chriswolf1277]

It’s a week before my ninth birthday in January 86 I’m sat on my beanbag in my pj’s and dressing gown my fm Walkman doing permanent damage to my hearing and giving me a headache but the volume wheel stay’s on maximum, meanwhile outside is knee deep in snow and there are 10 foot long icicles hanging from the guttering like stalactites this song gave me a kin to belong too and that kin is ROCK. 🤘🏼

[@SmartK8]

I remember 80's, this was big. Everyone was dancing or at least moving their legs. Great times.

[@michellehawkins2865]

Also Try Rock The Night and Carrie. Those Two Songs Are Cool Too. 😊

[@awarebear7938]

I hear this at least once every time i go to the Bowling Alley.. LOL

[@gamleskalle1]

Bought the cassette aged 12. One of the great 80s hair metal songs and anthems . From Sweden.

[@jamestate5059]

Don't forget their their song Cherokee. They give an American history lesson about the trail of tears in a song

[@irishgrl]

Paul Revere & the Raiders did as well in the 60s

[@kentk2215]

My daughter latched on the this song a few years ago. And we even went and saw them live in 2017, well past their prime, but was still fun.

[@pricey6177]

This song was number 1 in Australia for ages. They have a couple other good tracks too. His voice is still amazing now. I think you notice the music being played for American Football with NBC or CBS…. Whoever Cris Collinsworth is with

[@shannanmuire]

I can tell you that in was in a Geico commercial. They were playing in a break room at an office while people were microwaving their lunches.

[@rpharper2009]

Detroit Pistons played this in the stadium during the Bad Boys era! They still use it on occasion I think.

[@TEXTMANNEN]

Detroit Pistons Theme Song was EUROPE - Final Countdown in the 90s

[@Battle5star]

I remember hearing this before gametime during the old bulls/pistons playoff battles. Talk about epic.

[@amosglitterz2649]

There's a compilation album out there. 'Jock Jams' - has all the stadium hits. This is one of them!

[@dagoelius]

Fun tune. All of them incredible musicians and Joey Tempest is one of the best singers of that era. Still is.

[@edwin.jansen]

Hilarious! "I don't know where this is from". Well as the youth says: The milk is from the supermarket! :-) lmao! I am glad however that you young ones can appreciate this music! ;-)

[@claybmt]

MTV showed Europe in concert when this song hit and they opened with this song, played it again in the middle, and then closed with the song yet again.

[@willfromyadkinville]

EPIC! this song was all over the 80s! not just outside the Air Force Base i was at Misawa Japan. ( clubs were lit) but downtown Japan! where the clubs were really lit!

[@brunett93]

I'm around your age but I've known about this song since I was a kid because we had it on a mixtape. Same goes for a lot of famous songs from previous decades.

[@anderslekander5508]

This song plays on mostly sport arenas and on new years eve, heard today in a movie. Dc league of super hero pets

[@annmariemills7772]

I was LUCKY enough to see them live in 89, I was 19. They opened for THE Def Leppard!!!! I have to say it has been one of the concerts I've watched in my time that was MAGICAL!!!😎💞🍻

[@chemdah]

I want to hang out with you guys when the world ends. HAHAHA

[@ivanduc72]

ahahahahah! When the song came out in '86 it stayed on radios heavy rotation for more than a year, the video of the song was on every TV channel.. after 37 years I still can't listen to the song. I'm still "too full" of this tune 😀