The Music Top 5 02.07.12: Top 5 Van Halen Songs

Posted by Jeremy Thomas on 02.07.2012

From "Hot for Teacher," "Why Can't This Be Love" and "Runnin' With the Devil" to "Right Now," "Panama" and more, the 411 staff ranks their top 5 Van Halen songs of all-time!











THE TOP 5 VAN HALEN SONGS

JOHN DOWNEY

5. "Why Can't This Be Love".

I miss the 80's. Not that I was around for much of the 80's, seeing as how I was born in the middle part of the decade, so there shouldn't be much for me to miss. Then again, there are a lot of things that I'm not consciously aware that I miss. I think the phrase I might be looking for is "genetic memory", but I'm not sure. Oh, and this song is pretty good.



4."Hot for Teacher".

I remember this song being featured in Varsity Blues, a film that I'm still undecided on. Some of my football friends in high school thought the film was motivational, but the way I saw it, football took away so much from the kids in the film that they all grew dissatisfied with it even after winning the big game at the end. I don't think it's a bad film, but I don't understand how a film with broken morals and misleading Aesops could be considered necessary viewing. I liked Tweeter, though. Tweeter drinks beer.



3. "Black and Blue".

The top comment on the embedded YouTube link claims that anyone who doesn't like this song must be a Justin Bieber fan. I've never understood arguments like this. What happens if Justin Bieber openly proclaims his love for "Black and Blue"? Will the universe cease to exist? If it does, at least we'll go out listening to some sweet chugging rock.



2. "Panama".

For the longest time, I believed this song was about either the Panama Canal or Panama City. I also believed for a long time that Michael Stipe dated Thom Yorke for years. Really, you could fill a swimming pool with misinformation I've believed for too long if you could find a way to convert thoughts into physical form. My brother told me a while back that scientists in Japan are working on that. Oh, wait.



1. "Runnin' With The Devil".

This is gangsta-rap before it existed--seriously, look at that apostrophe. I don't think you need a guy who is almost ten years younger than this song to explain why it is good or how it became a hit. Instead, I'll link to the version of the song that gives me the most joy. How this is not the National Anthem can only be chalked up to payola and/or ignorance.

JEREMY THOMAS

Honorable Mention: "Poundcake," "Without You", "When It's Love," "Why Can't This Be Love," "You Really Got Me"

5. "Panama"

"Panama" is one of the band's biggest hits and while it may not be quite as big or as personifying of the band as "Jump," it's one that many '80s Van Halen fans hold dear to their heart. David Lee Roth is in top form, this has a bit of a harder edge than "Jump" which is actually a good thing and it remains one of their most indelible songs.



4. "Jump"

Is it cheesy? Yes. Is it goofy these days? Absolutely. It's also quintessential Van Halen. There's a reason this song was their biggest hit of all-time, and that's because it is their most accessible song. I think that most people let the last vestige of credibility of this song slip away when Glee covered it and basically mocked it, but it will always have fond memories from me.



3. "Runnin' with the Devil"

The one that really got them started is a great hard rock song. It's a song almost everyone recognizes, but I'm willing to bet than not everyone remembers that it's a Van Halen song because it sounds rather different from the more pop-metal stuff from the height of their success. This is actually the Van Halen I enjoy far more than the "Panama"/"Jump" Van Halen that became an uber-success.



2. "Hot for Teacher"

This is the song I first think of when I think of Van Halen. It exemplifies them; rocking, fast-paced and a hell of a lot of fun. It's also firmly set in the 1980s, which is the era Van Halen will always be remembered for. Don't overthink it though; this is a pretty shallow song but it's just fun. Sit back and enjoy, because it's an enjoyable little hard rock song.



1. "Right Now"

Would "Right Now" be the top song on my list if not for the video? I can say without a doubt that it wouldn't be. However, "Right Now" is also one of those songs where the video is as much a part of the song as the music itself, with the imagery and words ranging from the funny to the heartfelt to the creepy and horrific. It's a great piece of work, all put in one package, and it's my favorite Van Halen song by a nose.

The Final Word

As always, the last thoughts come from you, the reader. We're merely unpaid monkeys with typewriters and Wikipedia. Here's what you need to do: List your Top Five for this week's topic on the comment section using the following format:

5. Artist - "Song": Why you chose it
4. Artist - "Song": Why you chose it
3. Artist - "Song": Why you chose it
2. Artist - "Song": Why you chose it
1. Artist - "Song": Why you chose it