The Final Countdown
Europe, 1986, from The Final Countdown. Solo by John Norum.
Behind the famous synth fanfare, Norum's solo is a tight, classically tinged statement in the Gary Moore mould.
Everyone remembers the synth fanfare, but John Norum's solo is the part guitarists come back to. It is short and tightly built, with a classical flavour in its minor-key runs and a strong melodic spine that you could almost hum. His tone is warm and full, and his phrasing owes a clear debt to Gary Moore, mixing fast passages with long, singing notes held with a wide vibrato. It proves that even on one of the most synth-heavy hard rock hits of the decade, a guitar break could carry real feeling. Listen for how the solo resolves back into the fanfare theme, tying the guitar statement neatly into the song's famous hook.
The Final Countdown by Europe is ranked #218 in our consensus of 79 guitar-solo lists. The solo is played by John Norum and the song was released in 1986. It appears on 2 lists, placing as high as #10 (ADCI).
In our lists
- One and Only — #38
- The Road Trip 50 — #44
- The 25 Greatest Glam Guitar Solos — #14
- Hidden Gems — #10
- The Best Europe Guitar Solos — #1
Sources
- ADCI: Essentials - I 10 assoli di chitarra elettrica più iconici — #10
- Ultimate Classic Rock: Top 20 Hair Metal Guitar Solos — #20
- Magazyn Gitarzysta: 100 solówek wszech czasów [100 solos of all time] — #42
Who played the guitar solo on The Final Countdown?
John Norum played the solo on Europe's The Final Countdown (1986).
Where does The Final Countdown rank among the greatest guitar solos?
#218 in the GreatestSolos consensus of 79 published lists; it appears on 2 of them.