What Is Van Halen's Greatest Song? 

Along with his bass playing!!!

Van Halen screwed him in the end, which leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. Michael Anthony takes the high road, so that helps a bit.

To your comment… Not sure if you’re familiar with ‘Dreams’ live Toronto.. have a great one..!

What was that thing where Eddie said he was better singer than Mike but Mike just had freakishly high voice..was very odd.

There are 2 great singers in Gen 1 VH. David Lee Roth is neither…

His studio recordings aren't the most impressive.

Nothing beats going to a Van Halen show and Alex hitting the drums moments before the show starts. Still send chills up my spine.

As a guy who played drums for 20 years I agree. Alex is criminally underrated.

Agree... and yet during their heyday, he was often maligned. Never understood why.

It was the 3rd kick drum ......give me a break

I agree 100% VH’s best song ever. I NEVER get tired of hearing it.

Great intro. That song kicks so much ass. Major violation, carried away for suuuurrrreeeee yeeeeaaaa

Hell yeah. Mind blowing song

Amazing song off of FW- their best album, hands down

Agreed!

I like it's darkness. Not underrated for me.

Agreed. It's a MASTERPIECE!

I love the closing triplet of So This is Love?, Sunday Afternoon in the Park, and One Foot out the Door. That last one is in my top 5 VH songs!

@@johnnyfox8934 Absolutely!!!!!!

My most played album of my lifetime

Same with Zep.

@@a2ndopynyn Yes

So true!!

ok , but in a hypothetical reality in which you were only allowed to listen to 5 van halen songs for the rest of your life ,you would make some choices

BINGO!

you'd be enthuastic too if you could just sit infront of the camera and earn a 100 bucks

@@paveantelic7876 Except when you play all these songs you get nothing, thats why he said it would be 'demonetised'.....

He's playing it safe.

I learn so much from Rick.

@@DexterHaven yet here you are watching the whole thing lol

Rick highlighted this solo on an earlier “greatest guitar solos” segment. He said it is one of the hardest solos to play and due to his age and loss of flexibility in his hands he could no longer play it. He just said an insanely difficult solo to pull off trying to sound like EVH.

Ice Cream Man solo is far more impressive (to me) than Eruption.. I know I'll be in the minority, but thats okay.. LOVED that solo.

Ice Cream Man easily has one of my favorite EVH solos of all time.

My favorite Van Halen guitar solo. Eruption is what it is, and Earth shattering genre changing moment in time. And clearly one of the best things he ever put on record. But ice cream man, it's the smoothest brutal guitar solo I've ever heard. Edward reached a level on that, that was Untouchable by anybody else.

i think ice cream man is one of, if not, his best solo!

My fav also!

But it's no disrespect to so many others.... It's just one that hits me the most but It isn't a blow others away song. SOOOOO many good tunes. I am huge fan every album every song even Gary songs I liked.. not in the same as Early DLR and Sammy but man there are so many good songs

Yeah like the song shouldn’t have made the record but it turned out to be a killer. The feel. The whole band absolutely nailed it. It had the emotion of a band who had not “made it” yet.

Little Dreamer is also my favorite Van Halen song😊

I agree, I was waiting for him to call that one. I’m always making people listen to it.

DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY , JANIES CRYING Acoulpe 70s VH

Secrets too

Totally agree. One of the best bass sounds ever in rock. Perfect in the pocket playing mixed with fancier stuff when needed. He really has an exceptional tenor voice that made the background vocals fly. Haven't heard enough of him singing on his own to judge his vocals, but VH's background vocals are up there with Queen's.

No Mike, Not Van Halen.

@@foto21 So true. He was going to be a music teacher if the "band thing" didn't work out. He was definitely a musician who understood what to play to enhance the song and arrangement. According to an interview, he said he would look for a lot of spots to put harmonies in and work them out. If that isn't a contribution to VH's sound, I don't know what is. Another interview, with Noel Monk I think, said that when he watched the band practice in the early days, Mike was part of the songwriting process. I can give a few, of many, examples of Mike's great bass playing. 1) The mellow breakdown before the guitar solo in Jamie's Cryin', very subtle but tasty and musical. 2) The slow, quiet part in "In A Simple Rhyme", very subtle but tasty and musical again. 3) The second guitar in "Cradle...", equal or better than the guitar solo itself IMO 4} The live version from Oakland of " So This Is Love?", constant groove and jam through the whole song. Epic bass playing! When Eddie said he had to show Mike what to play, I'm assuming that since Eddie basically wrote the music, he would have to show him the structure of the song and let him go from there. I've been a songwriter in bands and that is what I would sometimes do for both the drums and bass. It's ironic that MA is constantly playing with top-notch musicians. He must be doing something right :) I always try to fly the Michael Anthony flag!

You know that Eddie and Mike had a falling out after The Sammy years right?

@@metalmike570 Oh yeah!! Not being snarky but, I'm not sure what part{s} of my post your response is referring to. 🙂

well said !

I thought Sammie Hagar took it to another level

Kind like Heart 70s and 80s. Better in some ways, not so much in others.

Mean Streets is cooler but Dave was always annoying.

​@@ednunez7682no one plays the Sammy era stuff, that's just reality. But I know it's like trying to tell a Megadeth fan there's a reason why James sells out stadiums and Dave plays 2500 seat venues, right?

Romeo Delight never got the recognition it so deserved. Right out of the gate the song just blazes with intensity and phenomenal musicianship all around.

Romeo Delight - my favorite off that album. SUPER fun to play live, too.

Another Romeo Delight Vote. The power chords in that song are devastating.

Right on!

Keith Ferris You called it Bro !✔

Totally agree. Eddie didn’t make music that you write, he made music that you feel. A virtuoso who is basically our modern day Beethoven.

I was friends with EVH in 07/08, he was a great person too. Yes, I have pics and a guitar from eddie as well. I’m 55 n grew up with his music, and he’s the main reason I started playing guitar in 77/78. See my “ the Lemonade 🍋 Man” RU-vid channel, I just did a 5 min tribute EVH rip !

@@thelemonademan6235 Envy you I saw Van Halen many times Did Eddie always drink a lot?

@@ratter531 I appreciate your words. However, out of respect 🫡 for Eddie, I love the man, no man is perfect. He was a great person, and I will say only things or peace ☮️ for him and his family. I was blessed to have crossed paths with him more then once.

"Cmon, Dave, give me a break." "One break coming up!" Lol.

@@hansvandermeulen5515 I heard Michael Anthony walked into the studio while Dave was recording his vocals, MA was dressed to go on a date, Dave just shouted that sh*t out from across the room(you know, Dave being Dave) MA responded and they just decided to leave that in the song.

Unchained is just a bad ass song, period!!👍

@@C_mao it's just such a funny exchange with that break in the song.

Yeah that is way up there for me as well.

Sorry for your loss. Great memory and association for you, VH and your brothers spirit!

@psychlos21 I am so sorry for the untimely loss of your brother. Unchained is one of the greatest rock songs period.

As a long time Van Halen fan, I always would say Unchained for my favorite as well.

Unchained. No debate about that. 2nd favorite Ain't Talking bout love

@@JWPCMH Both such killer songs. 1 and 2 neck and neck also for me.

I do to! Love that song very very much.

I was singing and thinking Mean Streets in my head then went down to the comments and saw this. I think we're on to something.

I will put it as my favorite beginning.... Little Dreamer is my all around fav. But man Mean Streets beginning is FIRE

It's not the most well known, which is fine, but it is the best song.

Heard it first at a party in college in 1985. Someone brought it over and played the album And that intro blew my mind....

Take your whiskey home.

The only song on 1984 I don't really like, to each their own

Great song! As a drummer, I listened to this one a lot. In the outro, Al does a simple two eigth note snare fill, but it's so effective. So simple, but the feel...

No bad VH song in my opinion and I agree on the song I'll Wait, Always liked that song and the solo especially the end with tremolo leading into the next verse

@@fatShowPony Same here - I never developed a liking for "I'll Wait", as opposed to every other song on "1984", each of which I love. However, many of my friends and band mates consider it one of their favorite Van Halen songs, which has always confused me - what am I not getting about the song? There must be something about it, but that's the great thing about differences in personal tastes I guess - it would be boring if we all liked the same stuff. For me, I think it's the relatively plodding and slow (for Van Halen) rhythm, it doesn't seem like the kind of rhythm Alex Van Halen would have fun with, or go crazy playing. And the lack of a significant change of mood or rhythm between the verses and choruses adds to the feeling of "sameness" for me. I do like the pre-solo for it's change of mood, and I can't not like the guitar solo 🤣, it's EVH

@@fatShowPony The only Van Halen song I actually dislike.

Probably the best summer tune that VH ever made --- it makes me think of warm days and girls in skimpy Daisy Duke shorts

If you haven't already heard 'em, check out the live versions from some of the 1978 bootlegs of VH in the UK, like the London show. The whole set's amazing, but "Feel Your Love Tonight" and "Little Dreamer" both sound way punchier than on the album versions.

Great handclaps on that tune, one of the best from their debut

And it's one of the only tracks EVH double tracks. He plays under the lead.

Agreed.👍🏾

Good song. Not my favorite but DEFINITELY up there for me. Good choice.

Yeah, I would say that’s in my top 3. Might even be my number one depending on the day

My fav also

Correct. It is so chaotic... like he's always about to fall off a cliff. I love it so hard.

Yep, I whole-heartedly concur. So many great tracks, but that one was my first thought. What a banger! Those drums! That everything! Special mention for 'Light Up the Sky'. That solo is transcendent (also 'D.O.A' from that album, little kid me thought the speeding-up at the end was ridiculous!)

100% agree

Hard not to agree with you on that one.

I forgot how great that song is. Love the groove.

Couldn’t agree more

Fair Warning is a top 5 stuck on a desert island album for me

So true!!!

Oh yeah! This album kicks hard!

Best Van Halen album by far far far. Eddie absolutely crushes the guitar. Crushes it! That intro to Mean Street is pure guitar genius. I mean....how the hell do you even think of that? The only problem was there are so many guitar tracks it was impossible to duplicate in concert. But that's OK. Just put the album on at ear bleeding volume and it's all good!

It was also Ed's

Hands down my favorite VH album.

This one song defines VH. Still get goose bumps

Soon as I saw the title for this video I immediately thought Mean Street!!

Beautifully put, Kevin, you nailed it! Mean Street is a freakin' buffet of musicality and lyricism🤘🤘🤘

Fair Warning is their creative peak - I feel badass just listening to it!

Agreed!

Thumbs up to van hagar

This is my pick for best song but my favorite is Drop Dead Legs!

Completely agree with you.

I so agree.Little Guitars is one of my favorite VH songs of all time!

Agreed

Yeah, I loved that one too and I'm pretty sure that the drums in the beginning of the main track are what inspired the drums on U2s Bullet the Blue Sky. At least I hear some similarities in them. It's an awesome groove though. Love it in both tracks.

One of the absolute best songs.

Agreed! Little guitars and Ain't talkin bout love for me

,Makes me teary eyed every time.

I literally had to pull over on the side of the road and cry for 10 minutes when I heard the news --- only celebrity death that affected me like that !!

I was most moved by the deaths of Eddie Van Halen and Edgar Froese (of Tangerine Dream). I know it's maybe weird, but both of these meant so much to shaping my musical world and I wept over the loss of both. More than once.

He was a phenomenon

He left a pretty good legacy with Wolfie

This!

git ur walker out and hit a concert bro

I'm picturing my grandparents handing me a VH record behind my parents' backs and saying, "don't tell your Mom and Dad we gave this to you!"

@@asnark7115 All my kids love Van Halen too. Pretty sure my daughter has played VH for my grandson.

I was 11 when the first Van Halen record was released. It was a game changer for sure!

I was 16 when Van Halen released their first record and I seen them that year and the next at the Texas Jam baby !✔

Lyrics, and the iconic intro which Paul Gilbert loves ,😅

It's the song that inspired me to learn guitar. Play it as a warm up almost every day.

100% " Ain't Talking about Love " has my vote to!

And the most powerful guitar riff I've ever heard

Encore Ending Super Anthem for Concert Send Off !

Me Wise Magic has one of the best outro solos

Up

Romeo, not Romeo’s.

​@Cantstandtherock my life is so much better with reading your reply! So grateful you took the 13 calories away from your big brain and channeled them into your finger in order to correct my heinous error. Your can go forth today and know I stand corrected. 🤘🏼

Romeo Delight is my overall fave VH song, with Dirty Movies in a close 2nd!

@philly4444 yasssss! Another amazing tune

@@deltawaters7308 grammar takes precedent over classic VH in some folks mind. Who would have thunk it?

I think their best song would be Ice Cream man

Greatest two chord song ever.

ATBL is definitely up there for me!

@@magdump7380 Rolling Stones; "When the Whip Comes Down". AD sometimes that's all ya, need.

Yeah, the lead sound and whammy bar dives on that song are historic. And VH only really had that true hard street feel on the first record. The best VH lyrics ever in my opinion are on the first record. Every song kicks ass and has something to say also. That edge was the first thing they lost when they hit.

don't you miss the days when we would get super excited about a new album.....

This echos my experience. I was blown away. I'm nearly 57 now.

I can imagine heads exploding when they hit the scene in 70s. I was working at Kmart as a teen in early 90s and I new the hits but someone put VH I on the stereo in electronics department and it stopped me in my tracks! It sounded so much better and fresher than the 1984 songs I knew! Ted Templeman’s production is so open and clear! 🎉

We are the same age, and I also still play guitar because of that first album. At that age I liked loud, hard rock but Van Halen just sounded tighter and more organized musically. I was 14. I didn't know why it sounded so good to me.

​@@thomasjones4932 TV

I totally agree with you Bob,,,, What a magnificent peice of work, my mate had a great stereo system back in the early 80's, , Great opening guitar work, Eddie absolutely goes off from 2.35mins on Drop Dead Legs, I play it flat out full volume, my friends who claim they are Van Halen fans, say " Hmmm, I havent heard that song" now they have it on their top 10 play list, Hilarious,,, It's the best underated solo, in my opinion, yes there are laps BUT...... I Just Love it....... As for Top Jimmy, WoW......Full on.....

Underrated. I love the rhythm section during the solo. Super cool chords at the beginning. Epic song.

Totally agree

Totally agree. I love how you could hear the two Van Halen brothers so tight in their musicianship in that song.

Totally agree. There are so many amazing parts in this song. It’s mind blowing!!

Van Halen at it's best. My favorite song outside of Push Comes To Shove.

i like that tune

I was in the car on PCH when Me Wise Magic came on the radio and I got totally choked up realizing Dave was back.

Oooof, yes an outlier

love this and Can't Get This Stuff No More!

When that song came out and that chorus landed it was like Oh My God and every hair on my body was standing up.

Always loved that crying "wahh wahh" sound Eddie made with his guitar in that song!

that was the first VH tune I ever heard back in 1980 or so and I loved it

You probably also like Olive Garden, Walmart, Applebee's, etc...

The second song I heard by VH. My favorite off of VH1. Dave sings with such soul and the the harmonies during the slow breakdown give me goosebumps.

@@jwc1977 Only when you're working there Jonathan!

Absolutely hear about it later more so than unchained

I always crank that song when I see a thunderstorm coming --- that opening riff sounds so ominous!

great tune!..love it!...b sides are better

Musical perfection!!! My favorite.

That fucking incredible guitar solo!

Im in complete agreement. Im the one shows perfectly how Eddie was influenced by swing music

Bingo If a alien landed and ask “what’s a Van Halen”? I’m The One is THE one

Thats a face ripper! All of VH1 is. But I'm the One just peaks.

A friend of mine many yrs ago said I'm the one was a lot of cool guitar and some vocals and they were cool too!

RIP

I sure hope it brought him some comfort to know that he had entertained -- no, ENCHANTED -- millions of people with his playing.

Fair Warning was the first VH album I ever listened to. Good times.

agreed

100%

That simple drum/bass break just before the solo is just brilliant..

Also agree it’s my favorite VH song

problem with me is that I wish the rideout was longer

Well put.... having fun!

YES!!!!!!

The harmonies of simple rhyme actually gives me a boner !! lol

Yes!

awesome and amazing song

Seeing them play In a simple rhyme on their last tour blew me away and a dream come true.

Bravo

true enough Nik

He's probably the only guitarist in history that literally changed a generation on how we think about rock music --- not even Hendrix or Page had that same effect

Well said and agree with you 100%!!!✌️👍

To quote Scott Ian "He might be the most talented entertainer, in any form of entertainment, from 1978 to today". I agree. To say that EVH was the total package is an understatement

Yeah he gets more amazing just by time passing by.

One of my favorites as well. Absolutely beautiful and brilliant song.

100%! An absolute masterclass in song writing dynamics and background vocal harmony.

Not us, though. The reason his passing hit like a ton of bricks is because we DID know that it was the last day we woke up thinking we could get more. Was like a door getting slammed in our face, or finding out when you were a kid that there isn't a Santa Claus.

I think Alex should play with Getty and Alex

@@majikmuzik8036 They could play "Mary Had A Little Lamb" and I'd probably like it.

👍I used to say something similar ..” Van Halen could play ‘Happy Birthday,’ and it would sound awesome.”

AMEN!! 💔💔💔😭

DITTO🤘🏻

Loved, Fair Warning

Love it when the drums kick in.

Unchained has EVERYTHING Van Halen.

Definitely the best riff. One of the greatest of all time, period!

"Mean Street" and "Unchained'. Numbers 1 and 1A. Followed by "Ain't Talkin Bout Love". Then you can throw a blanket over about 30 songs. 30 great songs.

Sir yes sir! It suspends us higher and higher then leaves us up at the pinnacle of musical bliss!!!

Definitely

For sure man... that’s what I gave as my favorite VH song.

One of my favorites! That is such a sexy song all the way around but that guitar groove…. Damn.

And the rhythmic swing Eddie uses when playing oh ya solo is ridiculous he just goes off

So awesome.

That bass line is no joke either!!! ☺️

Great solo, but Outta Love Again’s solo is his best imo. It’s so aggressive and unpredictable. You just can’t guess where he’s going at any point in the solo if you’ve never heard it.

Bah badaah shoobedoowaaah!!

Just grabs the listener and smacks them around, lol, and he broke a few keys on the fender Rhodes while recording that part. Great tune.

That song is so fun and sleazy --- pretty much the ultimate strip club song, if you ask me

Exactly! Not only my favourite Van Halen song, but my favourite riff of all time!

@@davidmeban2489 It just feels like a punch to the face when it starts- in a good way.

@@cheerwhiner7829 most mornings driving into work bud lol

I had to jump in to add a mention of the breakdown with Dave and Ted on the talkback mic. "One break, coming up!". This is the cherry on top of an incredible song.

@@davidtansey1395 …”Come on Dave, gimme a break.” “Hey, hey, hey, hey… one break… comin’ up!” Classic 👍