a”The Final Countdown” is a song by Swedish rock band ‘Europe’, and although its a rock song (and a favorite with most keyboard players…because of that popular keyboard riff), its also one of the favorite songs of music students in school bands. Its a great song to practice and play in a group, and you can get almost all the musical instruments to participate.
Final Countdown Performance by School Band Students
Checkout these videos where music students (part of school bands) have performed the Final Countdown. I’m sure you can appreciate the lift that a song or a piece gets when so many musicians play together, like an orchestra.
Take a closer look at all those brass instruments in action. This is also a great song to practice together. You can always add a guitar and piano/keyboard player.
These are older students, but the performance doesn’t seem to be as good as the earlier ones.
Awesome Final Countdown Performances: Orchestra
Cello & Orchestra
Here’s an awesome video of the Final Countdown performed on the Cello & Orchestra. You may call it the ‘Rock n Roll’ violinist band, just listen to the video and you’d agree. The harmony (and the accolade it gets) is what makes this song particularly exceptional.
At certain places in the song, you might feel that some of the instruments are struggling to catch up with the speed, but overall its still an amazing performance.
London Symphony Orchestra – The Final Countdown
This one has just the audio, but its performed by the London Symphony Orchestra
Did you know?
The iconic keyboard riff was composed by lead singer Joey Tempest five years before the song was recorded. The band’s keyboard player Mic Michaeli had lent him the instrument (a Korg Polysix keyboard).
Initially, the band members were not sure about the keyboard riff as it didn’t sound like rock at all. Guitarist John Norum said: “When I first heard the synth intro to ‘The Final Countdown’, my reaction was: ‘No, this is nuts. We just can’t use this.’ Thank God they didn’t listen to me.” Tempest said he fought hard to make sure the keyboard riff got used in the song.
The sound of the keyboard riff used in the recording was achieved by using a Yamaha TX-816 rack unit and a Roland JX-8P synthesizer, as described by Michaeli: “I made a brassy sound from the JX-8P and used a factory sound from the Yamaha, and just layered them together.”
Final Countdown: Europe’s Official Video
How can we end this post without the official video of the Final Countdown. Take a look and get inspired.
Europe – The Final Countdown Lyrics
About the song’s lyric, Europe lead singer Joey Tempest said: “I had the demo without vocals, and I was singing it over and over again. The music was almost like a soundtrack to a movie, about leaving Earth, and that the Earth was spent. And one day, we’ll probably have to leave this place. It was kind of a dream-like lyric, but that was the backdrop for it.”
We’re leaving together
But still it’s farewell
And maybe we’ll come back
To earth, who can tell?
I guess there is no one to blame
We’re leaving ground (leaving ground)
Will things ever be the same again?
[Hook]
It’s the final countdown
The final countdown
Ohh!
[Verse 2]
We’re heading for Venus (Venus)
And still we stand tall
Cause maybe they’ve seen us
And welcome us all yeah
With so many lightyears to go
And things to be found (to be found)
I’m sure that we’ll all miss her so
It’s the final countdown
The final countdown
The final countdown
(Final countdown). Ohhh oh oh ohhhh
The final countdown.
Ohhhhhhhhhh
It’s the final countdown
The final countdown
The final countdown
(Final countdown)
Ohhh. It’s the final countdown
We’re leaving togetherrrr.
(The final countdown)
We’ll all miss her so
It’s the final countdown (Final countdown)
Ohhh. It’s. the. final. countdown
Songwriters: Tempest, Joey
The Final Countdown lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Hope you enjoyed these performances of The Final Countdown.
KeytarHQ editorial team includes musicians who write and review products for pianists, keyboardists, guitarists & other musicians. KeytarHQ is the best online resource for information on keyboards, pianos, synths, keytars, guitars and music gear for musicians of all abilities, ages and interests.
Leave a Reply