Humans Being song & video

[Sweet William]

I just watched (and heard) the Humans Being video for the first time in years. I was never into the Sam era, but let me give credit where it's due -- that song kicks ass.

I start with the title. I dig the clever play on words -- it almost has a little Dave flava to it, can I get a witness on this? Does anyone know if Sam came up with the title (I think he wrote the lyrics), because frankly it's a little more highbrow and subtle than his usual stuff.

I like Eddie's guitar work on it -- lots of interesting little fills, and I like the part between the first and second chorus where he slowly and deliberately runs up the neck of the guitar, where it gives the feel of a time bomb ticking its way down to combustion.

I guess most of all I dig the tone of the song. It's angry. Brooding. But then the "shine on" bridge/chorus part is kind of uplifting. The song has tons of "feeling" in it, for lack of a better word -- something I (and I know many would disagree with this) think was sorely missing on most of Van Hagar's material.

And then the video -- can I get a hell yes? The stage they're on is real spare; almost washed-out looking. Everyone's wearing black. Eddie's playing a glossy black Wolfgang. For once, Sam isn't wearing a goofy outfit and prancing around. Even Mike looks cool. And everyone is fucking pissed, especially Ed. And the violent Twister footage just fits the song and the rest of the video perfectly, which I think is almost never the case for videos of soundtrack songs.

Damn, why wasn't more of their shit this good?

[Dr. Love]

Originally posted by Sweet William:
I just watched (and heard) the Humans Being video for the first time in years. I was never into the Sam era, but let me give credit where it's due -- that song kicks ass.

I start with the title. I dig the clever play on words -- it almost has a little Dave flava to it, can I get a witness on this? Does anyone know if Sam came up with the title (I think he wrote the lyrics), because frankly it's a little more highbrow and subtle than his usual stuff.

I like Eddie's guitar work on it -- lots of interesting little fills, and I like the part between the first and second chorus where he slowly and deliberately runs up the neck of the guitar, where it gives the feel of a time bomb ticking its way down to combustion.

I guess most of all I dig the tone of the song. It's angry. Brooding. But then the "shine on" bridge/chorus part is kind of uplifting. The song has tons of "feeling" in it, for lack of a better word -- something I (and I know many would disagree with this) think was sorely missing on most of Van Hagar's material.

And then the video -- can I get a hell yes? The stage they're on is real spare; almost washed-out looking. Everyone's wearing black. Eddie's playing a glossy black Wolfgang. For once, Sam isn't wearing a goofy outfit and prancing around. Even Mike looks cool. And everyone is fucking pissed, especially Ed. And the violent Twister footage just fits the song and the rest of the video perfectly, which I think is almost never the case for videos of soundtrack songs.

Damn, why wasn't more of their shit this good?

Alex came up with the title, the song is badass but I hate how they chopped it for the video. And I don't know about Dave "Flava".

[YankeeRose]

I don't like Humans Being that much. I hate the fact that Sammy raps the song instead of sings it.

This topic belongs in Songs/Albums so I am moving it there now.

[Buschman]

I thought it was a good song (best one off the soundtrack). Only thing I didn't like about it is how the video axed some of Ed's guitar playing.

[Hangman]

Well if you believe Eddie's take on the song, they were angry while writing it. In that one interview he tells how Sam was told not to mention tornados or anything related to them in his lyrics but Sam comes in with all these lines containing what they are not supposed to have. As I recall, Ed claims they had to write the lyrics on the spot.

After Sam did all the main vocal parts, he splits because apparently he didn't want to be there in the first place. Ed claims that he (Ed) had to do the backround vocals and even a couple main parts to finish the song because Sam jetted.

This is all according to what Ed had said in an interview-or at least what I can recall of it [img]smile.gif[/img]

So if you believe Ed, it is probably the one Van Hagar song with the least amount of contribution from Sam. Maybe thats why it sounds very different from nearly everything Van Hagar had put out whether you like/dislike the song or Sam.

[jimmy]

The video features the "Radio Edit" version of the song that was distributed to radio stations.......and in this case........was decided to be used in the video as well.

When singles are sent to stations......many times there will be a radio edit included on the CD. Shorter song durations equal more songs per hour.......or more time to run commercials.

This is one particualar "radio Edit" that really sucks.

Anybody ever notice that the 1st and the 3rd solo song exactly the same..........note for note......did Ed do a little cutting and pasting........no.........he's an analog man....he never touch Pro Tools.....

[79th and Sunset]

One of my favs from the Sammy days, or should I say Sammys day; as this was the last song released with Sam.

I like the riff Ed came up with. The solos could have been changed up a bit, they do match a lil' too much, but what a rockin' tune !!

Ever notice the broken string on Ed's Wolfgang on the second solo in the video ?

[brownsoundjunkie]

HB is outstanding! Among my favorite intros, and Ed's tone is back. They put out one of the best VH w/Sam tunes amid some thick tension.

A similar dissention vibe also fueled the tunes on Fair Warning, and many fans (myself included) think it's the best VH release from any era.

It's ironic that Ed says he hates friction within the band, yet some of the their most highly regarded music came from periods when all was far from well in VH-land.

[Legoman]

Nice thread, Sweet.
Also, what Junkie says about the tension is right, I think. Fair Warning is an excellent example. Maybe VH should've copped an angry attitude all the time.