Rock the Night (song)

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"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
Genre Glam metal, heavy metal
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 arriving on their tour bus and walking into the Hard Rock Cafe, where the people inside are watching a video... of Europe's "Rock the Night." Some customers start recognizing them. 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 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

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
France (SNEP) [17] Silver250,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

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Europe is a Swedish rock band formed in Upplands Väsby in 1979, by lead vocalist 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.

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

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<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.

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Out of This World is the fourth studio album by the Swedish rock band Europe. Released on 5 August 1988 through Epic Records, the album was a commercial success selling over 3 million units worldwide, peaking at number 19 on the US Billboard 200 chart and reaching high positions in charts worldwide. It was recorded at Olympic Studios and Townhouse Studios, London, England. Out of This World is the first Europe album to feature former Easy Action and Noice guitarist Kee Marcello.

<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 received 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. The song "Pictures", from the 2017 album Walk the Earth, is a sequel to "The Final Countdown".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Run to the Hills</span> 1982 single by Iron Maiden

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<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>Live from the Dark</i> 2005 film

Live from the Dark is a DVD released by the Swedish hard rock band Europe. The main feature is a concert filmed at the Hammersmith Apollo in London, England on November 15, 2004.

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

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<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 20 December 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hero (Europe song)</span> 2004 single by Europe

"Hero" is a 2004 single released by the Swedish heavy metal band Europe. It was released on September 20, 2004, as the second single from the band's album Start from the Dark. The song was written by vocalist Joey Tempest as a tribute to Phil Lynott, the frontman of the Irish hard rock band Thin Lizzy, and was inspired by a meeting between Tempest and Lynott.

<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 9 September 2009 in Sweden by Universal and on 14 September 2009 in the UK by Edel Music's international rock music label earMUSIC.

<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 7 June 2013 at Sweden Rock Festival and released on CD, DVD and Blu-ray on 16 October 2013. It is the longest live concert done by the band, featuring over two hours and containing 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.
  17. ↑ "French single certifications – Europe – Rock The Night" (in French). InfoDisc.Select EUROPE and click OK. 
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