What is Van Halen's best "pop" song?

**Little Dreamer** · 12.01.22, 07:02 PM

Originally Posted by I Coulda Hada VH

Nice version!

*Bass player needs to eat more.

**Edword** · 12.01.22, 07:18 PM

Originally Posted by I Coulda Hada VH

I don't love Jump, but I do like it a lot. Always have. Always will.

I've grown distant from "Jump" because it has been played TO DEATH. I loved it when I first heard it in 1984. But, it's just become too high-mileage for me, like "Panama" or "You Really Got Me". What feeling I still hold for it is tied to the fact that "Jump" sounds like the summer of '84 felt. It elicits SO many sense memories, emotions, and does just zap me right back to the boardwalk on a hot summer day in 1984.

**The Rover** · 12.01.22, 08:28 PM

"Where Have All the Good Times Gone" for me.

**Little Intruder** · 12.01.22, 09:57 PM

Originally Posted by VH122

I'll wait

I'll Wait is one of the most progressive songs VH ever preformed. From EVH's soaring keyboards to DLR's insistant vocals, it really is the best song on 1984. I only wish they had made an official video for it!

**Destructo3** · 12.01.22, 10:15 PM

Originally Posted by Bad to the Bone

jump is fantastic as is WCTBL. I think WIL is almost a perfect pop-rock song. I don't consider Dreams to be pop rock, just cause it has keyboards in it doesn't make it a pop song. I've always loved LWI.

Agree as to WIL Incredibly well crafted pop song on top of a really good video that had other rockstars citing it at the time as superior. Jump is clearly 1, but this is by far my number 2.

**Little Dreamer** · 12.01.22, 11:07 PM

Originally Posted by Destructo3

Agree as to WIL Incredibly well crafted pop song on top of a really good video that had other rockstars citing it at the time as superior. Jump is clearly 1, but this is by far my number 2.

The background vocals at the end of WIL... beautiful!

**Destructo3** · 12.01.22, 11:18 PM

Originally Posted by Little Dreamer

The background vocals at the end of WIL... beautiful!

Exactly. The memories of my then three young’ kids singing that chorus at the top of their lungs is as emotional for me as my memory of hearing eruption for the first time in 78; (and being mesmerized by the sound coming off that vinyl!)

**Ian Sane** · 12.02.22, 01:13 AM

These are the tracks that came to mind for me when I thought of Van Halen pop songs...

Dance The Night Away
Jump
Why Can't This Be Love
Can't Stop Lovin' You

**Heisenberg** · 12.02.22, 02:21 AM

It's funny because I see now there's really not that many. At all.

Even if you combine the two era's. Which I personally don't do.

VH really do not have many actual pop songs.

Jump, Dance, Jamie. That's about it.

Romeo Delight sounds like it could have been a pop hit from the title.

The 2nd era had numerous.

Why Can't This Be Love is magnificent.

When It's Love is breathtaking

But nothing to match Elton John or Toto or Journey or whatever is considered to have big pop songs.

The Beatles win.

Best #1 pop hit of all time for me is....

Light My Fire....

NOW- My question is......

Why didn't VH or DLR ever attempt to try and duicact Jump?

Why didn't they copy what they created with Jump & make more songs like Jump?

You'd think there would be a temptation to duplicate the success. But they didn't. Even though they could've.

?????

**rchop84** · 12.02.22, 04:17 AM

I think they sorta tried to duplicate jump with tattoo

**Simon Ribeiro** · 12.02.22, 05:08 AM

Originally Posted by ziggysmalls

To me its Dance the Night Away.

Why? It has trademark backgrounds which include everybody. Not just Mike. It has great production which doesn't sound sterile like the mid to late 80's. When you hear it you don't think about VH trying to be poppy. Eddie has a warm tone. Not wet and going overboard with his Eventide.. They were an actual band when they recorded it. Still one for all and all for one. It also features Eddie using a technique with tapped harmonics.

For a pop song it still has that swagger. Its cheerful. Not cheesy.

Yes my opinion which means nothing. However of all their poppy tunes, its the one tune I am not sick of and never will.

Nice!!

Great post, Ziggy!

**Simon Ribeiro** · 12.02.22, 05:21 AM

VH - Jamie's Cryin', FYLT
VH II - Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaance the Night Away
W&CF - Whiskey Home
Fair Warning - So This is Love?
Diver Down - WHATGTG!
1984 - Jump + I'll Wait

5150 - WCTBL, LWI, BOBW (argh!)
OUblame12 - Feels so Good, FWYS
F.U.C.K. - Right Now, Top of the World
Balance - Not Enough, Can't Stop Loving You

VH3 - Without You

ADKOT - Tattoo, She's the Woman.

**billy007** · 12.02.22, 06:18 AM

Originally Posted by Heisenberg

NOW- My question is......

Why didn't VH or DLR ever attempt to try and duicact Jump?

Why didn't they copy what they created with Jump & make more songs like Jump?

You'd think there would be a temptation to duplicate the success. But they didn't. Even though they could've.

?????

because DLR wasn't around to duplicate "Jump". But the rest of the band did with Sammy when they did "Dreams"

**Dave's Dreidel** · 12.02.22, 07:18 AM

Originally Posted by Simon Ribeiro

Nice!!

Great post, Ziggy!

Agreed, I like the "cheerful not cheesy". Going to steal that. Most of VH's imitators missed that part.

**Little Dreamer** · 12.02.22, 08:03 AM

VH wasn't a pop band. They were a rock outfit through and through. But they liked selling records, and had to. They were on a major label that demanded hits. So they wrote hits, enough to become a huge act. I don't think they could've easily duplicated Jump. It's good they didn't try too hard.