Rock the Night (song)
"Rock the Night" is a single released by the Swedish glam metal band Europe. The song was written by vocalist Joey Tempest in 1984 and premiered on the band's Wings of Tomorrow tour the same year.[1]
"Rock the Night" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Europe | ||||
from the album On The Loose | ||||
B-side | "On the Loose" | |||
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 | "Time Has come" | |||
Released | November 1986 | |||
Genre | Glam metal, heavy metal | |||
Length | 4:03 | |||
Label | Epic | |||
Songwriter(s) | Joey Tempest | |||
Producer(s) | Kevin Elson | |||
Europe singles chronology | ||||
|
It was released twice; 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.[2] 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, Italy, 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. The music video was directed by Nick Morris[3] and shot at the Hard Rock Cafe in Stockholm.[1] It was the first Europe music video that featured the band's new guitarist, Kee Marcello, since the original guitarist John Norum had left the band weeks before the video shoot.[1]
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 video
There were two music videos released for "Rock the Night." The original 1985 version focused on the band performing the song in a simple garage, never taking its view away from a member of the band. The second 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 others use forks and their imagination to play invisible instruments. 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
- Joey Tempest − vocals
- Mic Michaeli − Piano, keyboards and backing vocals
- John Norum − electric guitar and backing vocals
- John Levén − bass guitar and backing vocals
- Ian Haugland − drums
Chart positions
Year | List | Peak | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
1985 | Swedish Singles Chart | 4 | [5] |
1986 | Spanish Singles Chart | 6 | [6] |
Belgium Singles Chart | 2 | [7] | |
Dutch Top 40 | 2 | [8] | |
French Singles Chart | 7 | [9] | |
German Singles Chart | 6 | [10] | |
Irish Singles Chart | 9 | [11] | |
Italian Singles Chart | 4 | [12] | |
Swiss Singles Chart | 6 | [13] | |
UK Singles Chart | 12 | [14] | |
US Billboard Hot 100 | 30 | [15] | |
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard) | 22 | [15] | |
1987 | Australia (Kent Music Report) | 22 |
References
- 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.CS1 maint: others (link)
- "Europe - Rock the Night - Télécharger clip" (in French). VirginMega.fr. Archived from the original on 2012-05-29. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
- Bramwell, Tom (2008-06-26). "Guitar Hero: On Tour European track list". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2008-06-26.
- "Swedish Album Chart". swedishcharts.com. Archived from the original on 2011-09-21. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
- "Austrian Chart". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
- "Canadian Chart". RPM. Retrieved 2009-01-31.
- "De Nederlandse Top 40, week 51, 1986". Archived from the original on 2008-01-09. Retrieved 2009-01-31.
- "French Album Chart". lescharts.com. Archived from the original on 2008-08-04. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
- "German Album Chart". charts-surfer. Archived from the original on October 29, 2007. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
- "Irish Singles Chart". The Irish Charts. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
- "Italian Singles Chart". hitparadeitalia. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
- "Swiss Album Chart". swisscharts.com. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
- "UK Album Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
- "US Album Chart". Billboard 200. Retrieved 2008-06-24.