"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]
| "Rock the Night" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Europe | ||||
| from the album On The Loose | ||||
| B-side | "Seven Doors Hotel (re-recorded version)" | |||
| Released | March 1985 | |||
| Genre | Glam metal, heavy metal | |||
| Length | 4:03 | |||
| Label | Epic | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Joey Tempest | |||
| Producer(s) | Europe | |||
| Europe singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| "Rock the Night" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Europe | ||||
| from the album The Final Countdown | ||||
| B-side | "Seven Doors Hotel (re-recorded version)" | |||
| Released | November 1986
| |||
| Length | 4:03 | |||
| Label | Epic | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Joey Tempest | |||
| Producer(s) | Kevin Elson | |||
| Europe singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Rock the Night" on YouTube | ||||
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
editThere 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
edit- Joey Tempest − lead vocals and backing vocals
- John Norum − electric guitar and backing vocals
- John Levén − electric bass and backing vocals
- Mic Michaeli − synthesizers and backing vocals
- Ian Haugland − drums
Chart positions
edit| Year | List | Peak | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Swedish Singles Chart | 4 | [7] |
| 1986 | Spanish Singles Chart | 6 | [8] |
| Belgium Singles Chart | 2 | [9] | |
| Dutch Top 40 | 2 | [10] | |
| French Singles Chart | 7 | [11] | |
| German Singles Chart | 6 | [12] | |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 6 | [13] | |
| 1987 | UK Singles Chart | 12 | [14] |
| Irish Singles Chart | 9 | [15] | |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 30 | [16] | |
| US Mainstream Rock (Billboard) | 22 | [16] | |
| Australia (Kent Music Report) | 22 |
Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| France (SNEP)[17] | Silver | 250,000* |
|
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
edit- ^ "Europe singles".
- ^ a b c Tengner, Anders; Michael Johansson (1987). Europe - den stora rockdrömmen (in Swedish). Wiken. ISBN 91-7024-408-1.
- ^ 1982–1992 (CD booklet). Europe. Epic Records. 1993. EPC 473589-1.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Bramwell, Tom (26 June 2008). "Guitar Hero: On Tour European track list". Eurogamer. Retrieved 26 June 2008.
- ^ "Europe - Rock the Night - (first version 1985) Good audio quality" @YouTube. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- ^ "Europe - Rock the Night - Télécharger clip" (in French). VirginMega.fr. Archived from the original on 29 May 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2008.
- ^ "Swedish Album Chart". swedishcharts.com. Archived from the original on 21 September 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
- ^ "Austrian Chart". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
- ^ "Canadian Chart". RPM. Retrieved 31 January 2009.
- ^ "De Nederlandse Top 40, week 51, 1986". Archived from the original on 9 January 2008. Retrieved 31 January 2009.
- ^ "French Album Chart". lescharts.com. Archived from the original on 4 August 2008. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
- ^ "German Album Chart". charts-surfer. Archived from the original on 29 October 2007. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
- ^ "Swiss Album Chart". swisscharts.com. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
- ^ "UK Album Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
- ^ "Irish Singles Chart". The Irish Charts. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
- ^ a b "US Album Chart". Billboard 200. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
- ^ "French single certifications – Europe – Rock The Night" (in French). InfoDisc. Select EUROPE and click OK.