вЂњBut in the end we thought the original choice and title were best because that rhythm made you want to jump up and down.вЂќДЄ few years ago, talking about The Final Countdown, John Norum told Classic Rock: вЂњWhen I first heard that synth intro my reaction was: вЂNo, this is nuts. вЂњFor a day the song was actually called The Final Breakdown,вЂќ Tempest says with a laugh. Joey Tempest's Top 10 Europe Songs That Aren't The Final Countdown.Europe confirm Final Countdown 30th anniversary tour.In the studio, with John Norum attempting to channel Deep PurpleвЂ™s Lazy in his guitar solo, the band vetoed Journey producer Kevin ElsonвЂ™s suggestion of ditching its intentionally British-style beat for an American-sounding one вЂ“ more of a four-on-the-floor thing. вЂњWe were a guitar bandвЂ¦ it was something very unusual for us,вЂќ Tempest explains.ДЇinally, Europe decided that it was time to, in TempestвЂ™s words, вЂњstick our head above the parapet and do something a little differentвЂќ. ItвЂ™s hypnotic and quite cool.вЂќД«ut despite being presented to his bandmates, the song вЂ“ still a cumbersome six-and-a-half minutes long вЂ“ was left off EuropeвЂ™s first two albums. Only later in life did I realise thatвЂ™s how many classical composers work. вЂњThe voice stays in one monotonous line throughout, with the chords moving underneath.

вЂњAfter that it all came together quite quickly,вЂќ he says. Inspired by his love of UFO, Tempest laid down its galloping beat with the help of a drum machine, and after the word вЂcountdownвЂ™ popped into his head wrote a set of lyrics that mention of вЂ leaving togetherвЂ™ and вЂ heading for VenusвЂ™.

вЂњAt the bar, John LevГ©n and I started talking about how we could take things further.вЂќ вЂњOur manager suggested letting them play my one-minute piece, accompanied by their laser show вЂ“ just for fun,вЂќ Tempest says.

Europe the final countdown