Joe's Jams 09.16.08: Top Ten Van Halen Songs
Posted by Joe Rivett on 09.16.2008
Based on this list, David Lee Roth was clearly better than Sammy Hagar...
10. Little Guitars – One of the advantages of Satellite Radio is that you do not hear the same five Van Halen songs. About a year ago I heard this song and it caught my attention due to its Latin sound. The title of this song describes the song perfectly as it sounds like Eddie is playing a lot of little guitars.
9. Unchained – I love this song because it is fun. David Lee Roth sounds like he is drunk and having a party in the middle of the song.
8. Dreams – I prefer Roth over Hagar but Hagar did have some serious pipes and showed them off in this song. It is a cheesy song but Sammy's voice makes it one of Van Halen's best.
7. Jump – I was four years old when this song came out and the synthesizer in this song is one of my first memories of my existence. The video also kicked ass and anyone growing up with this song used this song as an excuse to piss off mom and jump on the bed.
6. I'm the One – This is one of those Van Halen classics where it is fast and features excellent background vocals, something Van Halen rarely gets credit for. If you dig songs with a strong bass, then this song is for you too.
5. Everybody Wants Some – What made David Lee Roth so much better than Sammy Hagar was his ability to have a personality when he sang. This song shows off his personality and his ability to scream in tune. It also features Alex kicking the hell out of the bass drum. Plus, who could argue with the line 'everybody wants some?'
4. Eruption/You Really Got Me – I combine them because that is how I grew up hearing it on the radio (Sort of like We Will Rock You and We Are the Champions). One of he greatest guitar solos in rock history and I heard that it was done on one take. You Really Got Me is a great Kinks song and Van Halen made it heavy and just as well.
3. Humans Being – This is the song that broke up Sammy Hagar and Van Halen. It often gets overlooked because it was on the Twister Soundtrack but it is by far Van Halen's heaviest song. The guitar solos build up to an amazing climax before the last verse. I also love this song because Sammy doesn't try to sound amazing but rather, he sounds gritty.
2. Hot For Teacher – I bought the 1984 album for Panama and Jump but my favorite song quickly became Hot for Teacher. The opening drum and guitar solo catches your attention and is just so damn fast. It is also great because every student male or female had that one teacher they were hot for and could stare at for forty minutes.
1. Ice Cream Man – This is one of those songs that would never be a hit if it were released today because people rarely buy albums but this song was a gem on their first album. It was a cover of the blues guitarist John Brim's version. This song has all of what makes Van Halen great. David Lee Roth just has a natural blues/jazzy voice mixed with a heavy rock band is why Van Halen is one of the greatest bands ever. For those that love to reminisce, here are the lyrics:
(dedicate one to the ladies...)
Now summertimes here babe, need somethin to keep you cool
Ah now summertimes here babe, need somethin to keep you cool
Better look out now though, daves got somethin for you
Tell ya what it is
Im your ice cream man, stop me when Im passin by
Oh my my, Im your ice cream man, stop me when Im passin by
See now all my flavors are guaranteed to satisfy
Hold on a second baby
I got good lemonade, ah, dixie cups
All flavors and push ups too
Im your ice cream man, baby, stop me when Im passin by
See now all my flavors are guaranteed to satisfy
Hold on, one more
Well, Im usually passin by just about eleven oclock
Uh huh, I never stop, Im usually passin by, just around eleven oclock
And if you let me cool you one time, youll be my regular stop
All right boys
I got good lemonade, ah, dixie cups
All flavors and push ups too
Im your ice cream man, stop me when Im passin by
See now all my flavors are guaranteed to satisfy
Yes Im your ice cream man, stop me when Im passin by
Im your ice cream man, stop me when Im passin by
They say all my flavors are guaranteed to satisfy
Ah, one time
Im your ice cream man, stop me when Im passin by
Im your ice cream man, stop me when Im passin by
They say all my flavors are guaranteed to satisfy
One time, boys
Im your ice cream man
Im your ice cream man
B-b-b-b-b-b-b-baby
Ah my, my, my
All my flavors are guarantee e, e, e, e, e, e, e, eeeeeeeeeeeeeed eeed eed to satis-uh-fy
Ow
Van Halen are my favortite. i went to see them in charlotte, nc on the first stop on their new reunion tour and it was AWESOME!!!!
But as for the list I totally disagree I would put in the following to start off with
1. Ain't Talkin Bout Love
2. Little Dreamer
3. You're No Good
and probably 4 more at least
Posted By: jeremy (Guest) on September 16, 2008 at 12:32 AM
Here's the main question: Where did this list come from?
Ever hear Sammy do Bad Motor Scooter?
Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!
Posted By: Ronnie Montrose (Guest) on September 16, 2008 at 12:45 AM
I like Jump but was always more partial to Panama at the time. And Ice Cream Man is all that is awesome.
I personally was more of a Hagar guy than Roth, but I've come to appreciate Roth more as I've gotten older. Balance was one of my favorite albums as was 1984 and Van Halen I.
Posted By: Kung Fu Janitor (Guest) on September 16, 2008 at 01:11 AM
No 5150 or Somebody Get Me a Doctor and Ice Cream Man as #1? Color me surprised!
Posted By: DSG (Guest) on September 16, 2008 at 02:59 AM
Ice Cream Man kicks arse :) . Good choice for number one. Mean Street from Fair Warning is also a favourite of mine. I'd also like to replace Jump with Panama.
Oh, your damn right that Roth kicks Hagar. Also, that bloke from Extreme who served as VH lead singer number 3 finds himself in the same category as Ian Gillan with Black Sabbath (or Blaze Bailey with Iron Maiden): a guy who worked fine with his previous group, but just didn't fit VH.
Posted By: WadeMcG (Guest) on September 16, 2008 at 04:13 AM
Did anyone heard of "Girl Gone Bad"?
From the intro alone, you know that it will kick someone else's ass.
How come it's not on the list?
Posted By: Stone Cold (Guest) on September 16, 2008 at 06:11 AM
Have anybody heard "Girl Gone Bad" from 1984? Once the intro starts, you'll know this song will kick somebody's ass.
How come it's not on the list?
Posted By: Stonecold (Guest) on September 16, 2008 at 06:18 AM
Not a bad list, if you're partial to DLR. However, I prefer Sammy, so my list would be more focused on his stuff.
In no particular order:
Love Walks In
Spanked
When It's Love
Poundcake
This Dream is Over
Ain't Talkin' Bout Love
Eruption
Panama
Jump
Running With the Devil
Posted By: Michael L (Guest) on September 16, 2008 at 08:13 AM
ice cream man, yes! what no "me wise magic"? (sarcasm)
Posted By: josh (Guest) on September 16, 2008 at 09:21 AM
Here's my personal top 10...10 from the Roth era, and 10 from the Hagar era. In no particular order that is...
-Roth era:
Running With the Devil
You're No Good
...And the Cradle Will Rock
Mean Street
Dirty Movies
Jump
Panama
Hear About It Later
Romeo Delight
In a Simple Rhyme
-Hagar Era:
Good Enough
Love Walks In
5150
When It's Love
Mine All Mine
Right Now
Pleasure Dome
Don't Tell Me (What Love Can Do)
Crossing Over
Humans Being
What....nothing from Van Halen 3?
....
....
....
....
What?
Posted By: Miller (Guest) on September 16, 2008 at 11:34 AM
Runnin' With The Devil and Panama should have replaced Humans Being and Dreams. I'd put Right Now on the list somewhere, probably around #9 as well.
Otherwise, pretty solid list. Love Ice Cream Man, although I would have put Hot For Teacher at #1 and it at #2, but that's just reaching for straws.
Posted By: spacefight (Guest) on September 16, 2008 at 11:39 AM
What about DOA from VH II ? " They found a dirty faced kid in a garbage can " Classic!
Posted By: Lucky (Guest) on September 16, 2008 at 01:19 PM
not too bad but move up "Unchained to number 2. and Put "aint talkin bout love in there at number 1.
Posted By: dmoore (Guest) on September 16, 2008 at 01:47 PM
Great List. I have tried numerous times to list my faves, but I can't do it. I also happen to be one of the few who can't choose sides between Dave and Sam. Every time I think I have a choice, I come up with reasons to doubt myself. I choose to think of them as two separate bands, then there is no internal conflict in my mind.
Posted By: craig (Guest) on September 16, 2008 at 02:06 PM
Wait a minute? Top 10 Van Halen songs and you don't have any from the Gary Cherone era???? What gives?
What's up with that?????
Posted By: Tom (Guest) on September 16, 2008 at 05:04 PM
No Mean Streets??? c'mon. get a clue
Posted By: Tim (Guest) on September 16, 2008 at 10:37 PM
Spammy bette midler is a war criminal he should be hung for what he did to that band,and if you missed the Vanhalen 1984 tour just shut up and go away
Posted By: Dr Cheek (Guest) on September 17, 2008 at 01:39 AM
I think Aint Talkin Bout Love is the one song that should have been included.
Posted By: Joe Rivett (Registered) on September 17, 2008 at 07:43 AM
Roth May be a Showman but his Ego ruined Van Halen. Hagar has a better Voice and More Class and Ice Cream Man Shouldn't be #1 It's A Damn Blues Cover. Unchained, Panama or Dreams should be #1. Human's Being didn't break up Van Halen and Hagar, it was Ray Danniels Their Manager from 1994- Early 2000. Nice try Joey Boy
Posted By: Rox (Guest) on September 18, 2008 at 02:03 AM
Sorry guys, you're all wrong! You can put whatever you like in the top ten, and it doesn't matter if it's Big Mouth Roth of Fatty Hagar. But No1 has to be Eruption. It's Van Halen's defining moment...
Posted By: Karl (Guest) on September 18, 2008 at 10:54 AM
So because something is a cover it can't be great? Hendrix's best song is a cover...
Posted By: Joe Rivett (Registered) on September 19, 2008 at 01:00 AM
attention eddie cool aid drinkers:
if it wasn't for David ediie would still be sitting on the edge of his bed doing scales in Pasadena,the vh sisters knew nothing about marketing or show buisness,mike wouldn't have even made it to men without hats level of celebrity.fat ass hagar is a second rate childrens party clown
Posted By: Guest#0833 (Guest) on September 19, 2008 at 01:11 AM
'I'm the One' is flat-out the best VH song ever. This barn-burner combines all of the best elements of VH: Alex's very skilled drum techniques, Ed's amazing lead guitar and rhythm structure & power-riffs, Excellent vocal harmonizing and a solid bass line. Mike's bass sound was a bit flat in this original mix but I'm confident the VH1 re-issue on vinyl might have corrected that slight deficiency. At any rate, very few guitar players can correcly play this tune note for note - and for that matter, most of the faster VH tunes cannot be played note-for-note by 98% of the talent out there. Nobody does it better than VH. These dudes are the best in the sport.
Posted By: Dodge440 (Guest) on September 19, 2008 at 03:18 PM
My choice:
10. Without You
9. Humans Being / Me Wise Magic
8. You Really Got Me
7. Can't Stop Loving You
6. Right Now
5. Ain't Talkin''bout Love
4. Why Can't This Be Love
3. Ice Cream Man
2. Eruption
1. Jump
Yep... I know too many were left you. Let me explain.
10. The fans didn't like the album (with Gary) but there were 2~3 great songs there; I do think their second album with Gary would be great...
9. The song from "Twister" and the two DLR songs from the "Best Of...(vol.1)" were great; Glen Ballard did a great production job as well.
8. Ray Davies wrote this for The Kinks but the best know version is VH's, courtesy of Eddie's playing, IMHO.
7. Another underrated album; apart from this soft song, there's a lot of great guitar playing and excellent production work (thank you, Bruce Fairbairn) throughout the album.
6. MTV's best video of the year is also a great song; the intro piano riff is awesome.
5. Talkin''bout riffs, this is it; for me, the best 'in-your-face' riff by EVH... and it's basically only an Am and G, wwooooowwwwww...
4. It seems like a guitar, but it's Eddie on the synth; VH enters a new age and it sounds great; Sammy's singing along with Eddie in the beginning of the solo is also classic.
3. Dave & Eddie at their best... Dave starts well and Eddie ends it better !
2. The guitar solo. The one.
1. Need I say anything ?
I also think AVH's drumming is extremely underrated and I wanted to include "Doin' Time", "Baluchiterium" or "Hot For Teacher", but althought there's great work there, I don't think they belong in the Top 10.
Posted By: Hyug (Guest) on September 22, 2008 at 04:44 AM
"Push Comes to Shove" is one of Dave's best - moody, loaded with characterization and style. Reportedly, Roth pushed an unwilling Eddie into doing something with a reggae feel. Worth listening to for the great bass part alone.
Posted By: guest (Guest) on October 06, 2008 at 11:10 AM
