How Many Say I

**Chronarius** · 11.28.02, 09:24 PM

You guys are going to hate me for saying this, but when I finally got the chance to hear the infamous "How Many Say I", I have to say that all things considered, it was actually a decent song. I'll point out that the "harmonies" and the high notes really suck, but most of the piano played by Eddie is really good music. The song is by no means a Van Halen song, nor does it match up to most others, but I have to say that it does not, by far, "suck", though it pales to songs like Unchained and Right Now. The song has a message behind it, if I heard it correctly - Its about being true to yourself and caring for others. Each person in the group sings if I'm correct. I picked out Alex, Mike, and Gary too singing little solos, which were a nice touch. More than likely, I believe it was the "harmonies" by Gary (or could be Mike, not sure) and the extremely low notes played by Eddie on the piano that ruined the song. Eddie surprised the hell out of me with his deep mellow voice (I'd like to hear him sing a Ray Charles song sometime). His voice is actually pretty soothing until the harmonies kick in. The String Solo is actually very well orchestrated. This was obviously something that Ed really wanted to do and try out. Ed wasn't looking for "Hit Single of the Year". Unfortuately, we don't focus on the song itself so much as comparing it to the other Van Halen songs that easily wipe the floor with this one. I extremely doubt anyone of you was looking for a review of "the suckiest van halen song ever", but there it is, take it or leave it.

I might as well go ahead and get this out - the review most of you prolly were looking for was...
How Many Say I.........SUCKED ASS!

Whatever, you have a right to your opinion. This is mine.

**muffdiver** · 11.30.02, 01:29 AM

ed has a lotta balls.... [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img] i admire him for doing what he wants......takes a lotta guts to do something like that after having major success with all that he has done... [img]graemlins/drunk.gif[/img] yeah im drunk but you can only play some shit so long without experimenting a little.....know what i mean?.... [img]smile.gif[/img]

**kenny5150** · 11.30.02, 05:54 AM

This song would never have been released had Dave or Sammy still been in the band........fact is, its quite bad, and Ed's vocal was only ever meant to be a guide track. Gary, unfortunately, and probably for a number of reasons told Ed the vocal was great and he should release it 'as is'......

However, I do think it SUCKS ASS!!!!

**Bill.S.Preston Esquire** · 11.30.02, 11:42 AM

Originally posted by Chronarius:
You guys are going to hate me for saying this, but when I finally got the chance to hear the infamous "How Many Say I", I have to say that all things considered, it was actually a decent song. I'll point out that the "harmonies" and the high notes really suck, but most of the piano played by Eddie is really good music. The song is by no means a Van Halen song, nor does it match up to most others, but I have to say that it does not, by far, "suck", though it pales to songs like Unchained and Right Now. The song has a message behind it, if I heard it correctly - Its about being true to yourself and caring for others. Each person in the group sings if I'm correct. I picked out Alex, Mike, and Gary too singing little solos, which were a nice touch. More than likely, I believe it was the "harmonies" by Gary (or could be Mike, not sure) and the extremely low notes played by Eddie on the piano that ruined the song. Eddie surprised the hell out of me with his deep mellow voice (I'd like to hear him sing a Ray Charles song sometime). His voice is actually pretty soothing until the harmonies kick in. The String Solo is actually very well orchestrated. This was obviously something that Ed really wanted to do and try out. Ed wasn't looking for "Hit Single of the Year". Unfortuately, we don't focus on the song itself so much as comparing it to the other Van Halen songs that easily wipe the floor with this one. I extremely doubt anyone of you was looking for a review of "the suckiest van halen song ever", but there it is, take it or leave it.

I might as well go ahead and get this out - the review most of you prolly were looking for was...
How Many Say I.........SUCKED ASS!

Whatever, you have a right to your opinion. This is mine.

The lyrics are fine but the vocals all suck ass! It might have been a better song if RR was doing it.

**aftershock5** · 11.30.02, 07:35 PM

AWFUL, AWFUL, AWFUL.

When I first heard it I said what I'm going to say now.... [img]graemlins/wtf.gif[/img]

I respect your opinion though man, but that's mine

[ November 30, 2002, 07:35 PM: Message edited by: aftershock5 ]

**JMJ** · 11.30.02, 08:20 PM

i like it

i listen to it every now and again when i pop in III to give it a listen

it's van halen. and that's all that matters to me

JMJ

**Women And Roth First** · 11.30.02, 10:06 PM

Originally posted by JMJ:
i like it

i listen to it every now and again when i pop in III to give it a listen

it's van halen. and that's all that matters to me

JMJ

BA BA BLACK SHEEP, HAVE YOU ANY WOOL? [img]smile.gif[/img]

**The Chairman of the Board** · 12.01.02, 01:59 AM

Originally posted by Women And Roth First:
BA BA BLACK SHEEP, HAVE YOU ANY WOOL? [img]smile.gif[/img]

Pretty clever there, pallie. You come up with that all on your own, or that Roth fella you're all sweet on help ya in exchange for a kiss?

**Stuff No More** · 12.02.02, 06:05 AM

I don't have a problem with the song so much as I have a problem with where it ended up. Something like that really has no business being on a Van Halen album. If Ed wanted it released under the VH name for exposure, he should have made it the B-Side to a single. The vibe, the sound, the whole thing is so alien and different than anything Van Halen has ever done or stood for that it will never be accepted as a good VH song. The few minutes of the CD time spent on it could have been used for something much better to leave us all with a good feeling as the album closed.

**waterdog5** · 12.02.02, 08:48 AM

I liked the song overall, but I have never like the last verse about the homeless person. The first two verses seemed to heartfelt an personal, but the last verse just seemed like he ran out of lyrics.

**John Ashcroft** · 12.05.02, 04:51 PM

How many say I is a rock and roll masterpiece!!! Yeah, the last verse is a bunch of liberal hippy BS, but overall the songs more memorable than "Stairway" or "Freebird".

How many say I.... How many say I....

**brownsoundjunkie** · 12.06.02, 02:19 PM

It certainly shows Ed's range as a musician, if not a singer. Besides, by the time you get to the end of VH3, does this kind of song really surprise you?

**John Ashcroft** · 12.06.02, 03:06 PM

"Besides, by the time you get to the end of VH3, does this kind of song really surprise you?"

Great Point! [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]

**MikeL** · 12.06.02, 04:43 PM

Around the time 3 came out my old roommate asked me why I was so disappointed in it. He hadn't really listened to any of it, so I played him a bit of How Many Say I. I really didn't need to explain after that.

Just because it's Van Halen doesn't make it a Van Halen kind of tune. That said, this one is going over to Songs and Albums.

[ December 06, 2002, 04:44 PM: Message edited by: MikeL ]

**Rocket** · 12.07.02, 11:17 PM

If VH were popular when this song was released it would have been the brunt of many a joke from Southpark to SNL and so on.

I could just see it now, a gay beerhall in Germany with a piano player....How Many Say I...