The stage curtains open ...
In the 80's, I was a teenager who was big on the rock scene, and Europe had their rightful place in my own collection. Fueled by its huge, anthemic hit, "The Final Countdown", Europe's 1986 album by the same name featured a solid 10 song list including other hits, "Rock The Night", "Carrie", and "Cherokee". But truthfully, every single song on this album was solid and memorable. I was a fan of the band.
Thirty years later, after numerous changes with record labels, band members, and 10 studio albums under their belt, Europe released this video showcasing two of their albums in their entirety: "War Of Kings", and of course, "The Final Countdown". The video starts off with "War Of Kings" and right off the bat, you can see that they are still tight and sounding great. Joey Tempest has lost a bit of his bite, but hey, for a man in his 50's, he still sounds pretty good. After their "War Of Kings" set, Europe went into "The Final Countdown" and brought the house down.
I loved every single minute of this concert footage. The band is still viable and full of energy and exhibit an obvious love for their music and the fans they play it for. Yes, they've noticeably aged, but they can still bring it. The thing that struck me as I was watching this concert was that the majority of the concert goers were young - a true testament to how far reaching the impact of their music is.
I highly recommend this video. I had a great time singing along, remembering the days of my own youth when music was such an important part of my formative years. Europe had a part in that. At the end of the concert, the words "Thank You" were up on the screens. I return that sentiment to the band. Thank YOU for 30 wonderful years!
