Unchained 3 Singers... 4 Versions.

**Zahzoo** · 08.18.06, 11:44 AM

UNCHAINED with Van HALEN (1981):

UNCHAINED with Van Cherone (1998):

UNCHAINED with Van Hagar (2004)

UNCHAINED with Van HALEN at USFEST (1983)

Discuss...

**Van Squalen** · 08.18.06, 11:52 AM

Only 1 outta 4 makes the cut, man.

UsFest sucked balls.

Cherone? Gimme a break.

Sam never took it seriously enough.

**the_jake5150** · 08.18.06, 12:14 PM

Oakland performance is the best no question about it. It has the raw power what made the Mighty VH.
Us Fest isn't as good as a performance but it has the raw power and the hard rocking attitude.
1998 has some balls in it but Gary singing Unchained just doesn't hit me.
2004 doesn't have the balls that the others have good performance though.

**Otis5150** · 08.18.06, 01:03 PM

Originally Posted by Van Squalen

Only 1 outta 4 makes the cut, man.

UsFest sucked balls.

Cherone? Gimme a break.

Sam never took it seriously enough.

UsFest did suck. Those guys were beyond drunk.

I'm more of a Sam fan, but I have to admit he didn't take it seriously enough and was too busy signing shit for the fans. That song is Dave's and he did a great job with it in '81 and, generally, before his voice went completely to shit.

**ED-A-HOLIC** · 08.18.06, 01:22 PM

Oakland: Kicks Ass!
US Fest: Lost of energy
Cherone: Defenetly the worst ever
2004: Pretty good

**Foamfoot** · 08.18.06, 01:43 PM

I dunno. Ed's playing is the best with Gary, but I don't like Gary singing it.

US Fest = bad. Have another beer.

Oakland = pure CVH, raw, strong, loud = the best version.

2004 = Ed's just o.k., Sammy doesn't care that much, but Al & Mike are top notch... it's never been a Van Hagar song.

**Thai Boxer 9901** · 08.18.06, 02:06 PM

81 - The best version of it. Right when it came out, it was still fresh in their memories so they knew exactly how to play it

98 - umm....yeah....not bad but not great either

2004 - Sammy just doesnt have the aggression in his voice like dave originally recorded it. He does a good version of it but its almost like in a different key or something.

83 - How drunk were they?

**cokemach1** · 08.18.06, 02:39 PM

Man, I really hate it when people talk about comparing different parts of VH because they were the best with Dave and Sam.

I prefer Sam Van Halen, but there is NO contest here, '81 is BY FAR the best. I like Cherone for doing it with heart. Someone said it earlier, this is Dave's song and he's at his best right here. But, with Sam's vocals, I'd love to hear him put his heart in it.

The tone of the band makes a huge difference too. That down and mean sound of '81, I just don't know how you could do better than that.

DAMN! That was 25 years ago! Guess I'm officially old now.

"F" THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME!!!

**HuBBs5150** · 08.18.06, 07:28 PM

81 - definitely the best.

98 - I was impressed. Lots of energy from cherone.

2004 - Meh... Ed looked like a teenager who was learning the song.

USfeast - it was funny as hell.

**perticelli** · 08.18.06, 08:45 PM

it wAS wild to see all those back to back. you can see how ed has changed.

Here's another of ed jamming at Namm, if u never saw it.
Its unfuckingreal!

**LLFHS** · 08.18.06, 11:27 PM

The Oakland clip is what MADE me a Halen fan. Don't even need to review 'em.

But I will anyway.

**Brett** · 08.18.06, 11:30 PM

ZZ, I am telling you man, I am right.

Obviously '81 Oakland blows any of the others away.

**Seth** · 08.19.06, 11:19 AM

1981 version...'nuff said.

**belikemike** · 08.19.06, 11:53 AM

I'd rank em like this:

1981 -- The best. Damn, the band is tight and it's as good as I've ever seen DLR. My only regret is I wasn't old enough to see the band during this tour.

1998 -- I like it. Ed's great, band sounds great and I don't mind Cherone's rendition.

2004 -- Good. Ed's not great, but Sam is pretty good. Makes me pissed off that fucker wouldn't do much of the DLR-era VH catalog in his first run with the band. He should've. Back in the day when Ed was sharp and the band was tight, would've really added to their live shows.

1983 -- The reason why I'm not a big fan of DLR. Band is not great, question I have is does Dave even know what song they're doing? Ok, obviously he does, but it's an awful performance by him. I only got to see DLR-fronted VH once, and it was much like this. The other times I saw DLR solo they were much like this.