The Best of Van Halen

There I was at work, typing away and I thought I should listen to a little Van Halen. I couldn’t really pick which album so I just opened the Van Halen playlist on Amazon Music.

I clicked around, choosing the songs I wanted to hear.

When I got to “Right now” I stopped and chuckled to myself a little. You know in the video, where the guys are all looking at a map of the world on the ground and the words on the screen say something like “Right now Van Halen is planning a world tour”- well, when you watch that clip now, you know that isn’t happening.

Shoot there have been reunion rumors for months flying around the Internet. I don’t believe any of them.

Working my way down the playlist, I listened to “Humans Being” and I realized that it isn’t a very good song.

Some of my old favorites remain: “Top Of the World,” “Love Walks In,” “Poundcake” and of course “Runnin’ With the Devil.”

I feel sorry for people who say Van Halen is their favorite band. They’ve been such a mess for so long – periods of dead silence. Rumors. Infighting and outfighting. But all that great music in a back catalog does help. It’s just such a shame none of the members – any of the singers! – can get it together.

The last time the official Van Halen Twitter account sent a sweet was at Christmas for a “happy holidays” message. The year before was the same. Oh and the year before that? Same. So in 2016 there were two tweets. During 2017, one tweet. Last year, just the one tweet. I fully expect to get a “happy holidays” tweet from Van Halen in 2019 as well… and nothing else but a lump of coal.

You think the Van Halen brothers ever listen to “Right Now” these days and think, “Hey, we really should plan that world tour?”

Nah.

Comments

[Jeff]

I'm holding out hope for a full fledged reunion, but as the years go by, I get more and more disappointed. I've been a fan since day 1, and both incarnations (Roth and Hagar) I event went and saw the Cherone abomination live. I have to disagree about Humans Being, i for one think it is a great song.

[Bkallday]

Agreed, Jeff. Humans Being rocks so hard and is one of Van Hagar's hardest and best songs. Right Here Right Now is easily one of their worst, and should never ever be played again...by anyone. Uh oh, i disagreed with Allyson, i deserve a ban!!! Smfh

[Shawn]

Great post Ally - Top of the World - i love that opening riff. Aint talking bout love is also on the top of my list. As far as the tour I wouldn't go anyway.

[Rita]

BK. You can disagree all you want. Just don't be a dick about it.

[Bob]

gotta go with Bk on this one. Right Now is one of those songs that I just can't stand. Bought their first album the day it came out. Saw them with DLR and with Sammy. also saw DLR solo and Sammy solo back in the 80s. Right Now is such a far-flung departure from what they used to sound like that I just couldn't get on board. I wonder if that song would have been nearly as popular if it didn't have the well-tested Vh name on the band.

[GNR]

Off topic, just in case you missed it without MTV being around :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBUHEMlqRiI

Rival Sons new video for Too Bad - a fave off the new one. Next week at the First Ave in MPS, cannot wait.

Rather see Van Halen, but I'll wait until bygones be bygones. And yes, speaking of opening guitar riffs of Edde - Don't Tell Me (What Love CanDo) buddy in college used to loop the first 7 seconds of that song about 5 times then kick in the song... makes it so much better.

[GNR]

AND - Finish What You Started should be in constant cover band rotation. So damn good, some reason that song has aged like wine with me.

[Badland]

Has anyone seen on Amazon
Inside Metal
Pioneers of l.a. hard and metal 2

Very good doc imo. Shows a lot of bands before they made it or didnt make it. Shows why VH set the bar really high and why they still have fans to this day. Fn amazing

[steverox]

Agree with most here. Right Now is overplayed, though the live version is alright. I like Humans Being myself, it kinda rocks. My favorite VH songs are mostly Hagar, but the riffing on Hot for Teacher, I'm the One etc. is awesome.

I agree they need to do a tour with Michael Anthony on bass (sorry Wolfie) and do an hour of Roth songs, and an hour of Hagar. Will never happen, but it would be killer. I'll be alright if they pass on Cherone joining for that tour ;-)

On a side note, if you ever have the chance to see "Running with the Devil" VH tribute band, they are fantastic. They play all the Roth stuff only and actually do it justice. The guitar player is off the charts, best guitarist in any tribute band I have seen, and better than most out there in general. Saw them in Louisville a few weeks ago and it was great.

[Metalboy!]

Brace yourself, BK ... “Right Here, Right Now” SUCKS!!!, as does pretty much the entire Van Hagar era catalogue!

But as Rita alludes, don’t be a weenus!