Rock the Night (song)

Last updated

"Rock the Night"
Europe Rock the night single.jpg
Single by Europe
from the album On The Loose
B-side "Seven Doors Hotel (re-recorded version)"
ReleasedMarch 1985
Length4:03
Label Epic
Songwriter(s) Joey Tempest
Producer(s) Europe
Europe singles chronology
"Open Your Heart"
(1984)		"Rock the Night"
(1985)		"The Final Countdown"
(1986)
"Rock the Night"
Europe rock the night 1986 single.jpg
Single by Europe
from the album The Final Countdown
B-side "Seven Doors Hotel (re-recorded version)"
ReleasedNovember 1986
  • January 1987 (UK)
  • April 1987 (US) [1]
Length4:03
Label Epic
Songwriter(s) Joey Tempest
Producer(s) Kevin Elson
Europe singles chronology
"Love Chaser"
(1986)		"Rock the Night"
(1986)		"Carrie"
(1987)
Music video
"Rock the Night" on YouTube

"Rock the Night" is a song by Swedish rock band Europe, released as a single in 1986. The song was written by vocalist Joey Tempest in 1984 and premiered on the band's Wings of Tomorrow tour the same year. [2]

Contents

The song was released in two different versions, just more than a year and a half apart from each other- in 1985 as a single from the soundtrack to the Swedish film On the Loose , and in 1986 as the second international single from the album The Final Countdown. [3] The original 1985 release has a rawer, more metallic hard rock sound than the more polished version released from The Final Countdown the following year. The B-side for both releases was a 1985 re-recording of the band's debut single, "Seven Doors Hotel".

The 1986 release became a Top 10 hit in France, Germany, Holland, Spain, Belgium, Ireland and Switzerland, and peaked at #12 on the UK Singles Chart and #30 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States in 1987.

The song was included in the 2007 film Hot Rod and the European version of the Nintendo DS game Guitar Hero: On Tour . [4]

Music videos

There were two music videos released for "Rock the Night," one corresponding to each of the different versions.

The original 1985 version, apparently directly incorporated into the On the Loose film, [5] [ citation needed ] features the band performing the song on stage, interspersed with shots of various audience members singing along and otherwise observing/reacting to the song.

The second video was directed by Nick Morris [6] and shot at the Hard Rock Cafe in Stockholm. [2] It was the first Europe music video to feature the band's new guitarist, Kee Marcello, since the original guitarist John Norum (who had recorded the guitar parts) had left the band weeks before the video shoot. [2] The video begins with Europe drinking in a car before walking into the Hard Rock Cafe, where the people inside are watching a video...of Europe's "Rock the Night." Joey begins singing while the band is looking at the Cafe's order menu. The other band members use forks and other improvised "instruments" to mime to the music. The rest of the people inside soon become a crowd, clapping and cheering them on. Live footage was also included, although overdubbed by the studio version of the song. After the chorus, Joey uses a ketchup bottle as an imaginary microphone, before the waiter delivers a real wireless one. Right before the solo, Kee removes a guitar from the Cafe's wall. They take the stage during the solo and perform the remainder of the song.

Personnel

Chart positions

YearListPeakRef.
1985Swedish Singles Chart4 [7]
1986 Spanish Singles Chart 6 [8]
Belgium Singles Chart 2 [9]
Dutch Top 40 2 [10]
French Singles Chart7 [11]
German Singles Chart6 [12]
Swiss Singles Chart6 [13]
1987 UK Singles Chart 12 [14]
Irish Singles Chart9 [15]
US Billboard Hot 100 30 [16]
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)22 [16]
Australia (Kent Music Report)22

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Europe (band)</span> Swedish rock band

Europe is a Swedish rock band formed in Upplands Väsby in 1979, by frontman Joey Tempest, guitarist John Norum, bassist Peter Olsson, and drummer Tony Reno. They obtained a major breakthrough in Sweden in 1982 by winning the televised competition "Rock-SM" ; it was the first time this competition was held, and Europe became a larger success than the competition itself.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joey Tempest</span> Swedish singer (born 1963)

Rolf Magnus Joakim Larsson, known professionally as Joey Tempest, is a Swedish singer best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Europe. He has written the band's great hits such as "The Final Countdown", "Rock the Night", "Cherokee", and "Carrie". He started performing in 1979.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Norum</span> Norwegian-Swedish guitarist

John Norum is a Norwegian-Swedish guitarist and one of the founders of the rock band Europe. Concurrent to his role with Europe, he also maintains a career as a solo artist.

<i>The Final Countdown</i> (album) 1986 studio album by Europe

The Final Countdown is the third studio album by the Swedish rock band Europe. Released on 30 May 1986 through Epic Records, the album was a commercial success, peaking at number 8 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart and reaching high positions in charts worldwide. It was recorded at Powerplay Studios in Zürich, Soundtrade Studios in Stockholm, Mastersound Studios in Atlanta and Fantasy Studios in Berkeley. The Final Countdown is the first album to feature keyboardist Mic Michaeli and drummer Ian Haugland and the last to feature guitarist John Norum until 2004's Start from the Dark.

<i>Wings of Tomorrow</i> 1984 studio album by Europe

Wings of Tomorrow is the second studio album by the Swedish heavy metal band Europe. It was released on 24 February 1984, by Hot Records. Wings of Tomorrow is the last album to feature drummer Tony Reno.

<i>Start from the Dark</i> 2004 studio album by Europe

Start from the Dark is the sixth studio album by the Swedish rock band Europe. It was released on 22 September 2004 by Sanctuary Records. It was the band's first release since reforming in 2003, the first original album of all-new material since 1991's Prisoners in Paradise, and the first album to feature the band's original guitarist John Norum since 1986's The Final Countdown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Final Countdown (song)</span> 1986 single by Europe

"The Final Countdown" is a song by Swedish rock band Europe, released in 1986. Written by lead singer Joey Tempest, it was based on a keyboard riff he made in the early 1980s, with lyrics inspired by David Bowie's "Space Oddity". Originally made to just be a concert opener, it is the first single and title track from the band's third studio album. The music video by Nick Morris, made to promote the single, has become iconic with 1 billion views on YouTube. The video features footage from the band's two concerts at Solnahallen in Solna, as well as extra footage of the sound checks and footage from Stockholm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carrie (Europe song)</span> 1987 single by Europe


"Carrie" is a power ballad by the Swedish rock band Europe released in 1987. It was the third single released internationally from the album The Final Countdown, and it is their highest-charting song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart—peaking at #3 during the fall of 1987. It also reached #36 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. The track on the B-side of the 7" single was "Love Chaser".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cherokee (Europe song)</span> 1987 single by Europe

"Cherokee" is a single by the Swedish rock band Europe, released in 1987. It was the fourth single released internationally from their third studio album The Final Countdown, and reached number 72 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States.

<i>Rock the Night: The Very Best of Europe</i> 2004 greatest hits album by Europe

Rock the Night: The Very Best of Europe is a compilation album by Europe, which was released on 3 March 2004 by Sony Music.

<i>The Final Countdown Tour 1986</i> 1986 film

The Final Countdown Tour 1986 is a concert video released by the Swedish hard rock band Europe. It features footage from a concert filmed at Solnahallen in Solna, Sweden on May 26, 1986. It was first released on VHS in Japan in 1986, and was released on DVD and CD in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seven Doors Hotel</span> 1983 single by Europe

"Seven Doors Hotel", written by Joey Tempest, was the first single released from the Swedish heavy metal band Europe's self-titled debut album. It was a big hit in Japan, reaching the Top 10. It was one of the first songs he ever wrote.

<i>Face the Truth</i> (John Norum album) 1992 studio album by John Norum

Face the Truth is the second solo album by John Norum-- guitarist for the Swedish hard rock-band Europe. It was released in 1992.

<i>The Final Countdown Tour 1986</i> (album) 2004 live album by Europe

The Final Countdown Tour 1986 is a live album by the Swedish hard rock band Europe. It was released on December 20, 2004.

<i>Extended Versions</i> (Europe album) 2007 live album by Europe

Extended Versions is a live album by the Swedish rock band Europe. It was released on 27 March 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Got to Have Faith</span> 2004 single by Europe

"Got to Have Faith" is a 2004 single released by the Swedish heavy metal band Europe. It was released on September 15, 2004, and was the first single from the album Start from the Dark.

<i>Almost Unplugged</i> 2009 film

Almost Unplugged is a live album by the Swedish hard rock band Europe. It was released on CD on 17 September 2008 and on DVD on 19 August 2009.

<i>Last Look at Eden</i> 2009 studio album by Europe

Last Look at Eden is the eighth studio album by the Swedish rock band Europe. It was released on September 9, 2009 in Sweden by Universal and was released on September 14, 2009 in the UK, by Edel Music's international rock music label earMUSIC.

<i>Bag of Bones</i> (album) 2012 studio album by Europe

Bag of Bones is the ninth studio album by the Swedish rock band Europe. It was released on 18 April 2012 in Japan by Victor Entertainment and on April 25 in Sweden by Gain Music Entertainment. Bag of Bones is the first Europe album to chart in UK Top 100 Albums since Prisoners in Paradise in 1991 and also entered in UK Top 40 Rock Albums at number 3.

<i>Live at Sweden Rock – 30th Anniversary Show</i> 2013 video by Europe

Live at Sweden Rock – 30th Anniversary Show is a live album by the Swedish hard rock band Europe. It was recorded on June 7, 2013 at Sweden Rock Festival And released on CD, DVD and Blu-ray on October 16, 2013. It is the longest live concert done by band featuring over two hours and performed 28 songs from all albums.

References

  1. ↑ "Europe singles".
  2. 1 2 3 Tengner, Anders; Michael Johansson (1987). Europe - den stora rockdrömmen (in Swedish). Wiken. ISBN   91-7024-408-1.
  3. ↑ 1982–1992 (CD booklet). Europe. Epic Records. 1993. EPC 473589-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. ↑ Bramwell, Tom (26 June 2008). "Guitar Hero: On Tour European track list". Eurogamer . Retrieved 26 June 2008.
  5. ↑ "Europe - Rock the Night - (first version 1985) Good audio quality" @YouTube. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  6. ↑ "Europe - Rock the Night - Télécharger clip" (in French). VirginMega.fr. Archived from the original on 29 May 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2008.
  7. ↑ "Swedish Album Chart". swedishcharts.com. Archived from the original on 21 September 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
  8. ↑ "Austrian Chart". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
  9. ↑ "Canadian Chart". RPM. Retrieved 31 January 2009.
  10. ↑ "De Nederlandse Top 40, week 51, 1986". Archived from the original on 9 January 2008. Retrieved 31 January 2009.
  11. ↑ "French Album Chart". lescharts.com. Archived from the original on 4 August 2008. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
  12. ↑ "German Album Chart". charts-surfer. Archived from the original on 29 October 2007. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
  13. ↑ "Swiss Album Chart". swisscharts.com. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
  14. ↑ "UK Album Chart". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 24 June 2008.
  15. ↑ "Irish Singles Chart". The Irish Charts. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
  16. 1 2 "US Album Chart". Billboard 200. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.