Which 1980s song by Europe became a famous New Year's Eve countdown anthem?

Europe's 1980s song that became a famous New Year's Eve countdown anthem is “The Final Countdown.”

Swedish rock band Europe released the song as a single in 1986, and it became their best-known international hit. Joey Tempest wrote the song, including its instantly recognizable synthesizer introduction, and the track was associated with Europe's album The Final Countdown.

Although the title sounds naturally suited to a midnight countdown, the song was not written specifically as a New Year's Eve song. Its lyrics use space-travel imagery, including a departure from Earth, which gives the anthem a grand, futuristic tone. That distinction explains why it appears at sporting events, parties, and other dramatic public moments as well as at New Year's celebrations.

The song is frequently shortened in conversation to “Final Countdown,” but its canonical title includes the article “The.” It is also not the same work as a countdown broadcast or a traditional New Year's song; it is a rock single by Europe that later acquired broad celebratory use.