Since their formation, Europe has released eleven studio albums, three live albums, three compilations and nineteen music videos.
Europe rose to international fame in the 1980s with their third album, 1986's The Final Countdown, which has sold over 3 million copies in the United States and 15 million copies worldwide (including album and single). Europe has sold over 25 million records worldwide. The band has had two top 20 albums on the Billboard 200 chart (The Final Countdown and Out of This World) and two top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart ("The Final Countdown" and "Carrie").
Europe went on hiatus in 1992, reunited temporarily for a one-off performance in Stockholm on New Year's Eve 1999 and announced an official reunion in 2003. Since then the band has released six albums, Start from the Dark (2004), Secret Society (2006), Last Look at Eden (2009), Bag of Bones (2012), War of Kings (2015) and Walk The Earth (2017). They continue to have popular tours.
Europe has achieved new attention in the US due to being featured in a GEICO Insurance cable television commercial campaign viewed for many months across the US in 2015-16.
The band is mainly influenced by Whitesnake, Deep Purple, Rainbow, Led Zeppelin, Thin Lizzy, UFO and Michael Schenker Group.
Born in 1979 from the underground rock music scene in the outskirts of Stockholm, Sweden, a young band called 'Force' sprung from the suburbs to win national acclaim in the early 80s, emerging victorious in a nationwide talent contest. Their main influences were arena-ready British hard rock bands of the 70s such as UFO, Thin Lizzy, and Led Zeppelin. Winning a recording contract, core members Joey Tempest (vocals), John Norum (guitar) and John Leven (bass) re-named themselves 'Europe'.
They went on to record and release two spirited albums, 'Europe' and 'Wings of Tomorrow'. They broke through the musical mainstream in both Scandinavia and Japan. The band toured widely on the strengths of these two records, and, in 1984, they recruited new members Mic Michaeli (keyboards) and drummer Ian Haugland. The success these albums generated on their home soil as well as in the Far East landed them an international record deal with Epic Records in New York.
In 1986, Europe went on to release their third album, 'The Final Countdown', which was produced by Kevin Elson (who had notably worked with Journey and Mr Big). Upon its release, gaining major momentum from Moscow to Manhattan and Stockholm to Sydney and elsewhere, that album conquered the airwaves and the epic arena rock anthem that was its title track succeeded in penetrating the global psyche. The prominent (and now arguably legendary) keyboard riff and memorable melodies catapulted "The Final Countdown" into the top ten charts in the U.K and U.S., and it ended up reaching number one in 24 countries. Selling in excess of six million units and resulting in an extensive world tour, 'The Final Countdown' became a global phenomenon.
It was at this time that John Norum chose to leave Europe to pursue a solo career, and he was replaced by another well-known Swedish guitarist, Kee Marcello. About two years later, Europe emerged again with their fourth album, titled 'Out of This World'. Produced by Ron Nevison (who had worked with UFO, Thin Lizzy, and Heart), this album delivered what had become the trademark Europe melodies and inspiring musical arrangements. Also a remarkable success, Europe embarked on a second world tour, and they notably were the first international rock-act to perform behind the 'Bamboo Curtain' in Bombay, India in front of a 60,000-strong audience.
The follow-up to 'Out of This World' approximately came two years later. That album, titled 'Prisoners in Paradise', was inspired by the band's time residing in Los Angeles, California. Upon completion of yet another world tour in 1993, the members of Europe decided to take time out to pursue personal projects and record solo albums.
After an extended hiatus, the band came together again in 1999 (including original guitarist John Norum) on new year's eve in Stockholm Sweden to perform "Rock the Night" and "The Final Countdown", helping to usher in the new millennium. The performance not only marked Europe's first public appearance in almost a decade but also inspired a permanent reunion. Still, the band's members had difficulties getting their plans to come together.
In 2004, with John Norum firmly back in the band, the original Europe lineup returned to the world stage with "Start From the Dark" - a raw, cutting-edge rock album that delivered a brand new style of melodic rock. The release saw the band's welcome return to the road as they embarked on an extensive tour in Europe, the United States, and the Far East. Shortly thereafter, the band returned to the studio to record their 7th studio album titled "Secret Society" which was released in October 2006. Marking the most daring and innovative Europe album to date, "Secret Society" is both a return to their roots as well as a celebration of their collective musical experience and willingness to explore brand new territories. Followed by another world tour, the band continues to work hard to establish themselves yet again. It can be said that there are few bands from the 80's that still remain creative and relevant today with an edgy and modern sound.
Following their summer 2008 European tour, Europe returned to the studio to record and then release their eighth studio effort, " the Last Look at Eden." The band's latest work is "Bag of Bones," which they released in April 2012. Vocalist Joey Tempest remarked that he thought he'd "made a hardcore classic rock record with the blues knocking on the door." Showing that the group has still got it, the album debuted at #2 on Sweden's top album chart and has been certified Gold in Sweden while also receiving strong sales throughout Europe and in the U.K.
www.europetheband.com/
Dance The Night Away
Europe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We had something goin' on right from the start
When I look at you I just feel so good
Hear the music breakin' up the ground
Can you feel it I just love the sound
And I'm lettin' go just like I should
There's something goin' on that's so hard to describe
Well, I can dance the night away
There's nothin' else that I want to do
I can dance the night away
There's no one else that I want but you
Tomorrow never gets in my way
When I feel like dancin' night and day
I just want to get up and never ever get down
Seems to me I won't get old
And my heart will never ever get cold
It's so hard to feel bad when you're around
In Europe's song Dance The Night Away, the lyrics speak about a feeling of freedom and joy that comes from being with someone special and dancing the night away. The first few lines describe the strong emotional connection between the two people, and the music that brings them closer together. The singer feels so good just looking at the person and is swept up in the magic of the moment. This connection is so intense that it is hard to describe.
The chorus of the song reflects the feeling of elation that the singer is experiencing. They are in the moment, enjoying every second and there is nothing else they want to do. Dancing the night away is a metaphor for living fully in the present and seizing the moment, and there is no one they would rather share this experience with than the person they are with. Tomorrow is not at the forefront of their thoughts, as all they care about is the moment they are in.
The last few lines are about the effect the person they are with has on them. The singer feels ageless and more alive than ever before, and the person they are with has this magical quality that makes them feel so good. This person brings lightness and joy into their life, and it's hard to feel bad when they are around.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey girl I can feel your heart
I can sense the happiness, love, and joy in your heart, girl.
We had something goin' on right from the start
Our connection and chemistry started from the beginning and still continues to this day.
When I look at you I just feel so good
You're like sunshine and every time I see you, I feel happy and fulfilled.
Hear the music breakin' up the ground
The music is so intense and energetic that it feels like it's making the ground shake and break apart.
Can you feel it I just love the sound
The music is so amazing that I can't help but love it and feel it in every fiber of my being.
And I'm lettin' go just like I should
I'm getting lost in the moment and giving in to the music, just like I should be doing.
There's something goin' on that's so hard to describe
There's a feeling I have that I can't quite put into words, but it's amazing.
Well, I can dance the night away
I can keep dancing and never get tired or bored of it.
There's nothin' else that I want to do
Dancing is the only thing I want to do right now because it makes me so happy.
There's no one else that I want but you
You're the only person I want to dance with right now, because you make me feel this way.
Tomorrow never gets in my way
I'm not worried about tomorrow, because tonight I'm here in the moment, dancing and enjoying myself.
When I feel like dancin' night and day
All I want to do is dance, whether it's day or night.
I just want to get up and never ever get down
I want to keep dancing and never stop or slow down.
Seems to me I won't get old
Right now, I feel so alive and energetic that I can't even imagine getting old.
And my heart will never ever get cold
As long as I keep dancing and feeling this way, my heart will always be warm and full of love.
It's so hard to feel bad when you're around
Being around you and dancing with you makes everything feel good and positive, and it's hard to feel bad about anything.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOEY TEMPEST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind