First reaction to VAN HALEN - "1984" (Side 1) 

** This reaction is edited because of copyrights. The video was blocked worldwide. So please understand. I don't like to do it but I have no choice. You will realize that I am one of the few reaction channels that always plays an album in its entirety except when it gets blocked then I have no choice but to edited so you guys can listen to it. Thank you.

Van Halen 1 plays like a greatest hits. One of the best debut albums ever

My favorite band. Eddie Van Halen is a God. RIP dig deeper, you'll love them

Roth-era Van Halen was fun rock and roll. You don't really see fun rock anymore.

Van Halen 1 is GREAT 👍 👌 😀 👏 🙌 😄

You are certainly making us old guys that grew up with these great bands smile with your enthusiasm and appreciation of great music. These are some of the greatest albums that have ever been made, not just one hit wonders. I'm thoroughly enjoying your channel and wish you all the best.

This came out when I was in high school. When we first heard the synth, we were "like what the hell is this?", then it hit, and we were just fine after that.... True story: this album is played in the emergency room of the hospital for critical patients. If the patient doesn't tap their foot and bang their head, then the doctor goes ahead and signs the death certificate.

It gives me such joy to watch young people like yourself to discover and appreciate this music that I have loved for so very long! And so you know, you are only just scratching the surface of the greatness that is Van Halen. Enjoy!

FOUR KEYS TO THE VAN HALEN SOUND: DIAMOND DAVE’S SCREECHING WITH WHOOPS AND HOLLERS EDDIE’S GUITAR 🎸 ALEX’S SNARE DRUM 🥁 AND MICHAEL ANTHONY’S STRATOSPHERE BACKING VOCALS!!! VAN HALEN: I SAW ALL THE TOURS WITH ROTH FROM VAN HALEN 1 IN 1978 TO 1984 AND AGAIN IN 2013! I SAW 5150, OU812, FOR UNLAWFUL CARNAL KNOWLEDGE AND BALANCE WITH HAGAR. THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER EDWARD VAN HALEN!!! RIP EDDIE My favorite Van Halen tour shirt is from this tour-Fair Warning. The band on the front with Worldwide Tour on top and 81 with a circle ⭕️ around it on the bottom and world tour 81 on the back with the VH LOGO and Van Halen written in the logo! My second favorite Van Halen tour shirt after Fair Warning in 81. Band on the front World Vacation Tour 79 on the back.

The Mighty Van Halen: the best American rock band ever!🤟

I love watching your reactions to the music of my youth. I was 17 when this came out. Been a long time since I listened to the whole album, and I forgot how dynamic their music on this one was. I also forgot how badass "Drop dead legs" was!!! Rock On young lady!

The day this record/album came out, I was a private in the US Army stationed in Germany. A few of my buddies and I were waiting at the front door to a very small Army PX (retail store that sold a little bit of everything) before it opened to see if the new Van Halen was in stock. They only had five albums. I grabbed mine just as another arm was reaching for one of his own. We ran back to our barracks and put the album on the one soldier that had the best stereo system in the entire company - MINE!!!!!! I had about 2000 bucks invested (mid-eighties money) in my system. Around -7-10 Army dudes were standing around as "Jump" played. Every time I think/hear this album, I think of myself as a 20 year old, strong and a whole world/future in front of me.

Great reaction!!! cant wait for part 2 and for more Van Halen reactions, best guitar player in history

1st time seeing your channel, I just love watching people listen to the greatest guitarist who ever lived for the first time.

Coincidentally I just listened to this album in its entirety a few days ago, and that was the first time in probably 30 years. I was quickly reminded about what an outstanding album this is from front to back! All killer, no filler, as they say. 😀🤘

So glad you finally opened the Van Halen catalog. Now that you are hooked, (and kicking yourself for not listening sooner) you’ll have to go back and start at the beginning and work your way through the magic and musical transitions that made Van Halen so iconic. Each song is different from the last. You certainly will not be disappointed at the end of the journey.

One of the best albums of the 80s for me! 😊

Eddie Van Halen is GOAT

They're so flipping great. This was at the height of their greatness even there were lots of problems within the band. This album prolly shold've gotten them a grammy but Eddie played the solo on Beat It and that kept them from going #! He didn't care & did it for free

Absolutely nothing better than watching someone have soulgasm after soulgasm listening to the guys I grew up on. It's like hearing it for the first time all over again. Keep doing your thing, VERDY!

I was 27 in 84, remember this one well.

And now you have a taste of Eddie on guitar, the Live without a net Eruption solo. 1986 New Haven...mind will be blown.

So Good in Concert, I was lucky enough to see them more than once. Thanks Verdy❤😊🎉🎉🎉

I am so happy to see that somewhere out there are young people with such an exquisite taste for music. Thank you !!! By seeing the happyness on your face I kind of re-live the first impression all this music did to me.... Please consider to do more Van Halen...it is definetely worth a listen...Van Halen 1 is a timeless classic.

Love this album. It's really cool as a musician myself watching you enjoy these. This album came out when I was 14, when I started playing the guitar by ear. I used to listen to the radio and play the songs on my guitar (& piano). Anyway, your videos are refreshing. :))

Thanks for this fun choice from my youth. I was a big Van Halen fan and this Album really took it to another level. I appreciate your effort to bring first time album reactions to RU-vid. Its too bad about the copyright blocking

Glad you enjoyed the album. The first one in 1978 started a guitar revolution, was a huge influence on what came after. As far as waiting so long to hear an album - I'm still going through that 😄 There's albums like this one that I've played countless times but there's so much music out there I'm discovering new stuff, too.

VERDY another great reaction! I could really tell how much you enjoyed the music. Since you do love guitar as others have said you should check out earlier VH including the song/guitar instrumental called “Eruption”. This album was their most commercially successful. Older fans did not like the “techno” synthesizer as they preferred the more purely unique guitar of Eddie Van Halen. After this album Sammy Haggar took over lead vocals and they were more commercial. Best to start from their first album which does include some cover songs of even older bands. And you are correct the song “Jump” was not at all like their other songs. Merci Beaucoup

Enjoy! Guitar players in every music store, tried to imulate the "hammer-on" playing of Eddie Van Halen. Unlike many fans, I prefer the albums with Sammy Hagar as the singer. I like the David Lee Roth albums too though. Eddie played piano before he played guitar Kind regards Scott Rowland

Love your reactions. Did a lot of airguitar to Van Halen when they took us by storm in the 80. Still love them

The unforgettable 80's! 🤘

I fell in love with you as you discovered the magic of Van Halen!

One of the great guitar players ever. RIP EVH

I think we have a new VH fan in the house! lol, what a great reaction! I really enjoy seeing someone really love new music, thanks!

VH had some crazy ability to dig deep into your brain and inject a shot of straight dopamine. I don't know anyone who could listen to an entire VH album without grinning from ear to ear most of the time. Truly timeless

Van Halen was the quintessential Southern California Party Band. They grew up in and around Pasadena CA, and before they were signed to a record deal, nearly every weekend they played backyard parties that quickly became legendary, to the point that the police would come to break things up mainly because so many people showed up to see them play all of their cars brought local traffic to a standstill. While they were waiting for their debut album to be released, they went on tour opening for Black Sabbath, who quickly learned to regret that decision because Van Halen was blowing them off the stage every night. Eddie (guitar/keyboards) and Alex (drums) Van Halen had a frequently contentious relationship with their lead singer David Lee Roth, who was a flamboyant showman with an ego big enough for the whole band, and the friction between them eventually lead to Dave leaving the band after the tour for this record, but David Lee Roth was the key to their worldwide success, because without him, the Van Halen brothers would have been content just playing those backyard parties. There's an excellent book called "Van Halen Rising" that documents the early years of the band, which is where I got most of that info.

Supposedly, Eddie Van Halen was so blown away by how heavy AC/DC's riffs were after he watched them live, that he tried to write a song to match AC/DC and that song was Panama.

She doesnt even play guitar but she feels it enough to make AIR GUITAR STANK FACE!! How AWESOME

Drop Dead Legs, Hot Summer Nights & Somebody Get Me A Doctor ..... PARTY ON!!

I appreciate how you really LISTEN to the music and pick up on nuances that I feel most other reactors would have missed.

There are literally hundreds if not thousands of great rock albums from the 1970's, 1980's, and 1990's. They can keep you reacting for a very long time. See you are almost up to 30,000 subs. Glad your popularity is growing, as it should.

Top Jimmy was played using a (at the time) new Ripley Stereo guitar where every other guitar string is L or R channel. So at the beginning when it sounds like 2 guitars playing in left and right channels, it's the Ripley.

Your reactions always make me smile. THANK YOU

So happy to see someone so happy to enjoy this music. You have a keen ear, and make great observations. Now, imagine what it was like for us old folk who were teens when this came out. Brilliance.

Yeah the instrumental 1984 sets the tone and vibe and basically an introduction into Jump!

Watching your reactions is just as exquisite an experience as listening to this iconic album...and thats really saying something. Thank you for putting up this outstanding reaction channel!

They had SO MANY hits in the 80s. Like, 5 a week or something. Good stuff.

I was 5 years old when I saw this cassette in my sister's collection - LOVED the cover (smoking angel just looked so bada$$!!), then I listened to it! First off - the 80's child in me (literally) LOST it for the song 1984! That synth was just magical music (and I still get chills down my spine today when I spin my LP of this album!!) What followed was an absolute rock party!! Jump & Panama will always be in my VH playlists! Just wait until side 2 when you get to one of my top VH tracks in I'll Wait, and to hear just how heavy they could get with House Of Pain!

This remember when I was child, I and my friends get together at my house to listen to music using a cassette. That was really good

Arguably their best album.

Skipping Van Halen's first album is sort of sacrilege. It's got to be one the top 3 most important albums for guitar playing. EVH must have sounded like an alien in 1978. A true revolutionary musician. Plus the album is great and filled with super-catchy and fun songs. It's considered the best debut of all time by many, and for good reason.

Oldie R&R man here. I didn't hear "Drop Dead Legs" until around 2013. Blew me away. I was on a public service bus when it came on the radio. Bopped away anyway. As you said -- those drums!! Like a sledgehammer slamming into the sleeve. But that guitar riff -- hot dang !! Then the outro guitar. Became my favorite Van Halen song immediately. Pure rock 'n roll.

You say it Van hAlen with a sharp A. Nice to see a younger person loving them!

A big reason for the “catchy-ness” are the harmonies Van Halen has always had. Michael Anthony and Eddie always sang backup, but it was Michael’s higher register that really drove the harmony in their songs (plus being an incredible bass player)…...

There were basically only 4 songs from this album that got airplay. Jump, Panama, Hot For Teacher, and I'll Wait.

I was 17 in 1984 and went to this concert at the Capital Center in Maryland.

LOVE your channel!!!! Please react to their first 6. Roth-Era Albums Ranked for Me: 1. Fair Warning 2. Van Halen 1 3. 1984 4. Women and Children First 5. Van Halen 2 6. Diver Down

The drums in this one you say! Wait till hot for teacher. Gonna blow your mind!🤯

Glad to see you got yourself some high quality headphones!

You must hear VAN HALEN self titled first album...and remember it was released in early 1978. It was groundbreaking.

Van Halen I and Fair Warning, my two favorite VH albums. They are all good, but those two are just a notch higher than the rest IMO.

I love how she said Van Alen... That's right kids, that's the kind of music we grew up listening to. It was pure magic... And some still like it...

One of the best bands in the world ever

I forgot how great this album is. Not a fan of Jump, but Drop dead legs has such a sick groove.

that was last album with DAVID LEE ROTH and the key board was played by EDDIE VANHALEN HE PLAYED BOTH PARTS LOVELY !!.

And this is the reason I love react channels like yours. "How did I have to have a channel to hear this?" We know, lol. The joy in your face listening to your music knowledge expanding is all the proof us olds need. This album is straight fire, every song. While Jump was it's biggest hit, it was not their best song. Don't listen too close to DLR's horny innuendos, but everything else is epic. And you still had one whole side to go...!

The only problem with listening to the album is you don't get to see the music videos which were quite classic

Alex van halen is the most underrated drummer hands down

David Lee Roth (singer) did not want keyboards in this album, but Eddie Van Halen (guitarist) was learning the keyboard and wanted to put them in. They were always fighting/not getting along. ( David's ego) that's why this was there last album.

Van Halen 1 is one of the best debut albums of all time, definitely check it out.

Most casual fans think Van Halen's famous tone comes from his famous guitar, but he used numerous guitars while recording this album including a Gibson Les Paul, Fender Explorer and Ripley Stereo Guitar just to name a few. He said the times he went to his famous guitar was when a tremolo bar was needed.

The outro of Jump is the beginning of Standing on top of the world.They were meant to go together just didnt show up on same album.

"Why did I have to have my own channel before I heard this"....very interesting statement. I often wonder how it is that some music is not talked about a lot more, instead of music that you hear about all the time but isn't inspiring at all. I suppose that's society for you - or the companies with all the power and money promote one thing over another..? It's funny how rock and metal music has become more listened to recently coz when this stuff first came out I think it was strictly rockers who would have given it any thought at all. Maybe I'm wrong.

I had a friend when I was in the Air Force who could read music and played keyboard. I showed her the music for Jump. She killed it while I played guitar along with her. It was so awesome!

YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO VAN HALEN'S FIRST ALBUM - PLEASE, TRUST ME, LISTEN TO VAN HALEN 1!!! YOU WILL BE BLOWN AWAY!!

Verdy knows whats good!

Like Verdi knows ! she gets it maaaan !

The Van Allen belt. They have been legends for 45 years.

2:12 "Sim - il - air - a - tees", spelled "Similarities." Knew what you meant, and you pronounced it WAY better than any of us can speak French, so good on you. :-)

This was the start of VH lite as I call it - although they still had some rockers for sure, even in the Van Hager years but to me earlier stuff is where it was always at! Same with early Aerosmith or bust!

Worth checking all the early albums V

Greatest American rock band. All World Top 3 - AC/DC, Zeppelin, and VH! You MUST go to the first album and do sides again! Loving this!!!

The first van halen is the way to go

I LOVE your air guitar work!!😂

Hi, sometimes (expecially from late 60s to first 80s) you will feel that one song is connected to the next because in that time the album was intended like a single music project, and was made to be listened all together. The possibility to skip easily to one song to the other came in the 80s with the compact disk. Before this feature, and expecially in prog rock, every album artists made was a so called "concept album" en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concept_album

You should try Van Halens first album...Whole album is awesome!

Welcome to my teenage years! Same reaction so rock on! 🤘

Verdy, I know you love guitar, and you said guitar is the way to your heart. Me too. I love that you checked out the 1984 album, but since you love the 70s too, you should react to the debut Van Halen 1 album released in 1978. You’ll experience what the world did when you listen to that groundbreaking album!! Eddie Van Halen is in my top 2 guitarists, along with Jimmy Page. Please react to the first Van Halen album and you’ll hear the original Van Halen sound that took the world by storm. Thanks, and much gratitude, Bill

JUMP got all the attention on this album but for me Drop Dead Legs was the best of the album.

Panama was a great song to put on when you were in your car on a Friday or Saturday night and just cruise to it. Have fun.

The 1984 instrumentental is like The Beatles original uncut Helter Skelter . The original ending would make the song about a half hour . The 1984 instrumental is about a half hour long . Incidentally , Ed and Donn Landee both made demos with Ed playing all the instruments . Jump is on the album because this is when Ed became the leader . And for you people thinking it's wrong that Mike didn't get any royalties , that's the way it is in business . Sam spun his opinion like it's wrong to exclude other members from royalties BUT it's very common in the music business . If it really was wrong , Mike should have left a long long time ago .

EVH (Eddie Van Halen) now, I think is under appreciated. Such a unique style. I loved that he always had that sheepish smile when he played on stage. He really loved playing.

1984 was the first Album I ever bought, so many great songs. They were already well established and I had a lot of catching up to do, which I did. If I remember correctly it was the year after 1984s released when DLR left the band. Was not a happy camper but I really enjoyed the Hagar era as well (saw them at The Monsters of Rock concert in 1988 along with Scorpions, Metallica, Dokken, and Kingdom Come) Drop Dead Legs is probably my favorite VH song but it's really hard to choose one within their catalog without dividing into eras

Love your accent saying: "Vohn Ahhlahn" Nice to see a hot young lady enjoying my boyz!

I love Van Halen, love all their big hits, but Drop Dead Legs is my favorite VH song.

Van Halen !!! 1984. Let's Go !!!!

Your reaction was authentic....fun to watch. SVP, J aimerais te voir reagir a leur premier album....plz do a reaction video to Van Halen 1....thank you for posting these videos

One guitar one bass one drummer

The original piece of 1984 is over an hour in length, but was cut to 45 seconds for the album.

This concert was lit 🤘🤘