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Rock The World

The Swedish band Europe had an interesting musical trajectory before becoming one of the most obvious examples of 1980s "hair metal " The band will forever be known for the majestic 1986 hit "The Final Countdown," which features one of the greatest, most memorable keyboard riffs in rock & roll history. Believe it or not, Europe actually started out as a progressive rock band. The musical direction solidified with the lineup of vocalist Joey Tempest guitarist John Norum keyboardist Mic Michaeli bass guitarist John Leven and drummer Ian Haugland (Norum would inexplicably and unwisely leave just as "The Final Countdown" was taking off. He was replaced by Kee Marcello ) The 2004 DVD Rock the World offers a pretty thorough overview of Europe s career. It collects ten promotional videos from 1986's The Final Countdown 1988's Out of This World and 1991's Prisoners in Paradise "The Final Countdown" was an MTV staple; it's strange how a song about mankind's mass exodus from a damaged Earth ultimately became a loudspeaker fixture at sporting events as the remaining seconds tick off the clock. The nine other clips include the hits and album cuts "Rock the Night," "Carrie," "Cherokee," "Superstitious," "Open Your Heart," "Let the Good Times Rock," "Prisoners in Paradise," "I'll Cry for You," and "Halfway to Heaven." The quality gradually descends into the decade's well-worn music video clichés -- signs of the times nonetheless. The most interesting part of Rock the World is the bonus material. Telling footage from several Swedish television appearances is included. Live performances of "In the Future to Come" and "The King Will Return" from 1982's Swedish Rock Championship, which the band won, clearly demonstrate Europe s early hard rock heavy metal and progressive rock influences. "Scream of Anger," "Ninja," "Dreamer," and "Memories" performed live in 1984 at Club Studion in Stockholm pack a punch, but they vividly demonstrate a band doggedly headed in a more commercial direction visually and musically; Europe clearly had the U.S. market in their cross hairs. F.Y.I., the behind-the-scenes interviews from 1986 and 1988 are conducted in Swedish. ~ Bret Adams, All Music Guide