Rock the Night

When you dive into *Rock the Night*, you encounter an energy that invites you to move. The song, written by Joey Tempest in 1984, was first released in 1985 as part of the soundtrack for the Swedish film *On the Loose*. It was a first step that demonstrated its potential, selling 90,000 copies in Sweden alone. However, it was its re-release in 1986, as the second international single from the album *The Final Countdown*, that catapulted it to fame. This release resonated strongly in several European countries, reaching the Top 10 in places like France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Holland, Belgium, and Ireland. In the United Kingdom, it reached number 12 on the UK Singles Chart, and in the United States, number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100. The music video, filmed at the Hard Rock Cafe in Stockholm under the direction of Nick Morris, marked an important moment: it was Europe's first clip with guitarist Kee Marcello, who had replaced John Norum shortly before the recording.

The production of *The Final Countdown*, the album on which *Rock the Night* appears, was a complex process. The recording spanned from September 1985 to March 1986, covering studios in Zurich, Stockholm, Atlanta, and Berkeley. The producer and mixer was Kevin Elson, who already had experience working with bands like Journey and Lynyrd Skynyrd. This album became Europe's biggest commercial success, selling millions of copies and consolidating their presence on the rock scene. The song has also had subsequent appearances, such as in the 2007 film *Hot Rod* and in the European version of the game Guitar Hero: On Tour for Nintendo DS.