Official top 50 Van Halen songs thread!! (Countdown has begun!!)

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

I'm just now realizing Get Up didn't make the top 50, that's disappointing....

[bl5150]

I had Get Up at #120 , just above Tattoo, Spanked and How Many Say I       I dunno...................I know a lot of fans love that song and I guess it's fun and Ed's having great time whammying on his whammy bar   , but my ears always told me it was a big mess.

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

  I had Get Up at #3!

[bl5150]

But you're a puppy on acid 

I was looking for excuses to like anything Van Halen related around the time of 5150 and I pretty much like the whole album (even though my ratings might not suggest that.....I just like DLR era a bit better on the whole) but Get Up is one of the few VH tracks that I never really want to listen to at all.

One of the songs in my Top 10 is the same - might not have even made anyone's Top 50.  Taste eh!

[KevShmev]

Here are numbers 11-9!

11 Dance the Night Away
Appeared on 15 of 17  entrees
Top 10 finishes: 3
Highest Ranking: 1 (Dream Team)

Good song, one I had at 48.  I do not think it is the major standout some think it is, but it is one of those songs that nearly everyone seems to like.


10 I’m the One
Appeared on 13 of 17  entrees
Top 10 finishes: 3
Highest Ranking: 4 (Dream Team)

Seeing this get played on the tour with Cherone was such a great surprise.  This was at 14 for me, and really it could have been 10 spots higher. That is how great I think this song is.


09 Right Now
Appeared on 14 of 17  entrees
Top 10 finishes: 6
Highest Ranking: 1 (HOF)

This is the highest ranked song from ...Carnal Knowledge.   I nailed it again, as I had this at number 9.  For as silly as so many VH lyrics are, from all eras, this feels like one of their more serious songs, both musically and lyrically, and kicks serious ass.

[Dream Team]

Wow I'm represented here. DTNA has such a KILLER vocal melody and the song just makes me feel nostalgic, whimsical, happy, all kinds of things. Love that intro so much too and that short melodic interlude. Dave is money on this track.

I'm The One is great; it's one of VH's most metal, aggressive tunes.

[Zydar]

DTNA is probably my #1 VH song.

[WilliamMunny]

"Right Now" is such a damn fine song—to my ears, it's as close to timeless as Van Hagar came in that I feel it trascends the '90s.

[devieira73]

Right Now (#11) - Love this song, the electric piano and organ give a totally different vibe to the song, in terms of VH's catalogue. It has a great solo and amazing melodies.
I like Dance the Night Away (-), but, and maybe I'm not worthy to say that, I think it's a tad too simple and commercial. I think I'm the One (-) is really nice.

[Stadler]

11. Dance The Night Away - I had it at #18  One of several songs that is everything I love about VH.  Cool guitar, great melody...
10. I’m The One - I had it at #31
09. Right Now - I had it at #98    That seems kind of low in hindsight, but I think it rubbed me the wrong way a bit when it came out.

[Stadler]

I'm now going through the "didn't make its" and I can't help but think... what are you people smoking? 

51 Sinner’s Swing!    #7
52 Hang ‘Em High     #75     
53 Aftershock        #94 
54 Dirty Movies      #9   
55 Outta Love Again    #49     
56 Me Wise Magic      #4   
57 Can’t Stop Lovin’ You     #43
58 Blood and Fire       #6
59 Women in Love…       #17 
60 China Town    #92       
61 The Full Bug    #33     
62 Black and Blue       #68   
63 House of Pain         #85
64 Loss of Control       #103 
65 Cabo Wabo       #11.   This is the first REAL surprise of the has-beens.     
66 Get Up       #119     
67 So This Is Love?      #96   
68 (Oh) Pretty Woman     #25
69 Outta Space       #74 
70 Take Your Whiskey Home   #59
71 Not Enough      #48
72 Pleasure Dome       #54 
73 Take Me Back (Déjà vu)    #109
74 Fools      #79         
75 Runaround      #14   Second surprise of the "has-beens". This was a hit!     
76 Bottoms Up!     #30   
77 She’s the Woman     #80   
78 Source of Infection      #107
79 Push Comes to Shove      #88
80 Big River    #19       
81 Honeybabysweetiedoll      #64
82 Sucker in a 3 Piece      #93
83 Secrets     #97       
84 A.F.U. (Naturally Wired)   #39
85 Without You       #22    Another stunner
86 Crossing Over     #29   
87 Amsterdam       #126     
88 Bullethead        #71   
89 Finish What Ya Started    #72 
90 Baluchitherium       #111 
91 As Is     #61         
92 Once     #127           
93 316      #95         
94 Dirty Water Dog    #134.    Very last on my list.  The worst Van Halen song ever.       
95 Could This Be Magic?      #65
96 One Foot out the Door      #89
97 Learning to See        #83
98 You’re No Good        #53 
99 In ‘n’ Out       #12    
100 From Afar     #125     
101 Stay Frosty     #56       
102 Can’t Get This Stuff No More   #110
103 Year to the Day    #121     
104 Spanish Fly     #73       
105 Big Fat Money    #132     
106 Josephina    #130       
107 One I Want     #133  Second worst Van Halen song ever!       
108 Fire in a Hole    #129     
109 Spanked    #124       
110 Man on a Mission       #55 
111 It's About Time     #69   
112 You and Your Blues    #42
113 The Trouble with Never    #50 
114 Ballot or the Bullet    #123 
115 Inside    #116       
116 Happy Trails      #115   
117 (t)  Dancing in the Street      #90
117 (t) Little Guitars (intro)     #46
119 Where Have all the Good Times Gone   #76
120 (t) Cathedral       #58     
120 (t) Doin’ Time      #113       
122 Neworld    #122     
123 How Many Say I       #131 
124 (t) Tora! Tora!     #120       
124 (t) Sunday Afternoon in the Park   #106
124 (t) Intruder     #102       
124 (t) Big Bad Bill   #112       
124 (t) 1984     #105         
124 (t) A Apolitical Blues    #117     
124 (t) Strung Out    #114       
124 (t) Primary     #128       
124 (t) Up for Breakfast    #84.  For some reason, I hate the word "Breakfast" in the title; Purple has "Breakfast In Bed" and while the music is great, the lyrics blow.     
124 (t) Tattoo      #51     These last two are a crime.  Indefensible. 
124 (t) Beats Workin’    #91     These last two are a crime.  Indefensible.

[WilliamMunny]

I'm now going through the "didn't make its" and I can't help but think... what are you people smoking? 

51 Sinner’s Swing!    #7
52 Hang ‘Em High     #75     
53 Aftershock        #94 
54 Dirty Movies      #9   
55 Outta Love Again    #49     
56 Me Wise Magic      #4   
57 Can’t Stop Lovin’ You     #43
58 Blood and Fire       #6
59 Women in Love…       #17 
60 China Town    #92       
61 The Full Bug    #33     
62 Black and Blue       #68   
63 House of Pain         #85
64 Loss of Control       #103 
65 Cabo Wabo       #11.   This is the first REAL surprise of the has-beens.     
66 Get Up       #119     
67 So This Is Love?      #96   
68 (Oh) Pretty Woman     #25
69 Outta Space       #74 
70 Take Your Whiskey Home   #59
71 Not Enough      #48
72 Pleasure Dome       #54 
73 Take Me Back (Déjà vu)    #109
74 Fools      #79         
75 Runaround      #14   Second surprise of the "has-beens". This was a hit!     
76 Bottoms Up!     #30   
77 She’s the Woman     #80   
78 Source of Infection      #107
79 Push Comes to Shove      #88
80 Big River    #19       
81 Honeybabysweetiedoll      #64
82 Sucker in a 3 Piece      #93
83 Secrets     #97       
84 A.F.U. (Naturally Wired)   #39
85 Without You       #22    Another stunner
86 Crossing Over     #29   
87 Amsterdam       #126     
88 Bullethead        #71   
89 Finish What Ya Started    #72 
90 Baluchitherium       #111 
91 As Is     #61         
92 Once     #127           
93 316      #95         
94 Dirty Water Dog    #134.    Very last on my list.  The worst Van Halen song ever.       
95 Could This Be Magic?      #65
96 One Foot out the Door      #89
97 Learning to See        #83
98 You’re No Good        #53 
99 In ‘n’ Out       #12    
100 From Afar     #125     
101 Stay Frosty     #56       
102 Can’t Get This Stuff No More   #110
103 Year to the Day    #121     
104 Spanish Fly     #73       
105 Big Fat Money    #132     
106 Josephina    #130       
107 One I Want     #133  Second worst Van Halen song ever!       
108 Fire in a Hole    #129     
109 Spanked    #124       
110 Man on a Mission       #55 
111 It's About Time     #69   
112 You and Your Blues    #42
113 The Trouble with Never    #50 
114 Ballot or the Bullet    #123 
115 Inside    #116       
116 Happy Trails      #115   
117 (t)  Dancing in the Street      #90
117 (t) Little Guitars (intro)     #46
119 Where Have all the Good Times Gone   #76
120 (t) Cathedral       #58     
120 (t) Doin’ Time      #113       
122 Neworld    #122     
123 How Many Say I       #131 
124 (t) Tora! Tora!     #120       
124 (t) Sunday Afternoon in the Park   #106
124 (t) Intruder     #102       
124 (t) Big Bad Bill   #112       
124 (t) 1984     #105         
124 (t) A Apolitical Blues    #117     
124 (t) Strung Out    #114       
124 (t) Primary     #128       
124 (t) Up for Breakfast    #84.  For some reason, I hate the word "Breakfast" in the title; Purple has "Breakfast In Bed" and while the music is great, the lyrics blow.     
124 (t) Tattoo      #51     These last two are a crime.  Indefensible. 
124 (t) Beats Workin’    #91     These last two are a crime.  Indefensible.

I'm glad to see some more love for "Me Wise Magic"

In an alternate universe, DLR and boys stay together after that ill-fated MTV appearence, and they make an album that delivers more music in the vein of the two Greatest Hits tracks. In that alternate universe, the band tours, and maybe even releases a couple more albums. DLR still sounds good, Eddie plays his ass off, and MA is still in the mix.

I was seventeen when "Me Wise Magic" showed up on my local radio station, and the above scene is what I hoped/figured/assumed would happen. To this day I remain bummed that it fell apart so quickly, but for my money, "Me Wise Magic" remains one the the band's best songs (I had it at number 1) and painfully potent sign of what could have been.

[Stadler]

I'm with you on that 100%.  It was, for me, the best part of the Roth years - the quasi-mystical, quasi-made up bullshit of Roth's vocals - and the best part of the Hagar years - the almost progressive song structure that came about around OU812 (as opposed to 3:25 of rip your face off) - and it had nothing but promise.

[devieira73]

Just echoing your opinions, to me: Me Wise Magic (#38) and Can't Get This Stuff No More (#44). I also would have loved to hear VH going from there.

[HOF]

The music VH was making in the 90s in general was so great, and those non-album tracks had so much promise (Humans Being, Me Wise Magic, Can’t Get This Stuff No More, even Respect the Wind which could have just as easily been a VH song). Carrying on with either of Hagar or Roth in that period as a recording band would have been great. Heck, carrying on with Cherone after III could have been great too I think. But Eddie just couldn’t get it together, which is really pretty sad to me (I realize some of that was cancer issues as well though).

[hefdaddy42]

Never liked Me Wise Magic, never understood why some other people did.  The music isn't great or captivating in any way IMO, and the lyrics are, well, unspectacular.  And that name?  WTF does Me Wise Magic even mean?  Just a dumb collection of words that make no sense.  Hard pass.

But I mean, if you like it, great.  Glad for you.

[Stadler]

Never liked Me Wise Magic, never understood why some other people did.  The music isn't great or captivating in any way IMO, and the lyrics are, well, unspectacular.  And that name?  WTF does Me Wise Magic even mean?  Just a dumb collection of words that make no sense.  Hard pass.

But I mean, if you like it, great.  Glad for you.

Well, and not in defense, but as information, there was a sketch of a lyrical idea by Glen Ballard (Alanis Morissette, Aerosmith) but Roth rewrote them.  It's sort of a quasi-spiritual take on the interaction between man and God (and in my view, music).  I always interpreted "Me Wise Magic" as patois for "I am wise, I am magic" ala "Me Tarzan, You Jane".    I love that idea of spirituality being sort of "all knowing" (i.e. wise) and yet "intuitive/in flux" (i.e. magic).  The one thing that is unclear from the lyrics is where Dave sees himself in that equation; maybe a bridge between the two, but I think the last verse answers that:

A little zen headed your way  A little intuitiveness, a feeling
You'll get it halfway down the interstate
Four days from now It all blows clear That may not be obvious at first glance but will make sense once it sinks in
A Buddhist riff for your inner ear Buddhism is meditative, but about transcending suffering and finding enlightenment; I think this implies that music - i.e Dave - is a way of reaching that level. 

[hefdaddy42]

I do not, now or ever, see that kind of depth in David Lee Roth.

But even if that were the intention, I still don't like it.  There was a time when Roth was pretty awesome, but by the time this hit, he was well past that.  And I don't mean he was past his prime, I mean he was no longer relevant (at least to me).

[HOF]

Never paid much attention to the lyrics for Me Wise Magic, but that chorus is tremendous. Not even sure what the backing vocals are singing (sounds like “Angeline”), but it’s a really cool way to build the chorus.

[HOF]

So for today’s entries:

Dance The Night Away was at 36 for me. It’s just a great pop rock tune. One of many VH songs that are so very catchy.

I didn’t rank I’m The One but it’s a solid rocker. A bit of a precursor to Hot for Teacher.

Right Now as noted was my number 1 overall, and an easy answer for me. This is the side of VH that appeals to me most. It was also among the very first VH songs I heard. Eddie shines on both keys and guitar here, and while it’s piano based, this song really packs a punch. Alex plays a big part in that, and I love everything about his drumming here. Great lyric, great performance by Sammy, and of course the guitar solo is knocked out of the park as well. I kind of thought this one would make everyone’s list, even if not necessarily everyone’s top 10. It’s the band’s finest moment for me.

[Stadler]

Never paid much attention to the lyrics for Me Wise Magic, but that chorus is tremendous. Not even sure what the backing vocals are singing (sounds like “Angeline”), but it’s a really cool way to build the chorus.

"Do you believeeeeeeee!"   
    "Don't you trust me? Me wise magic!"
"If you could seeeeeeeee!"
    "Through my eyes, me wise magic!"

I love that part as Eddie builds up to the chorus and then the pulsing bass under the backing vocals...  Van Halen for the 2000's! 

[Stadler]

I do not, now or ever, see that kind of depth in David Lee Roth.

But even if that were the intention, I still don't like it.  There was a time when Roth was pretty awesome, but by the time this hit, he was well past that.  And I don't mean he was past his prime, I mean he was no longer relevant (at least to me).

I fully get that I think I'm the only one that feels this way, but I think Roth is WAYYYYY deeper than he lets on, or that his persona suggests.  Yeah, I know there's "Jump", but there's some clever stuff in there too (especially on ADKOT).

[Dream Team]

So for today’s entries:

Dance The Night Away was at 36 for me. It’s just a great pop rock tune. One of many VH songs that are so very catchy.

I didn’t rank I’m The One but it’s a solid rocker. A bit of a precursor to Hot for Teacher.

Right Now as noted was my number 1 overall, and an easy answer for me. This is the side of VH that appeals to me most. It was also among the very first VH songs I heard. Eddie shines on both keys and guitar here, and while it’s piano based, this song really packs a punch. Alex plays a big part in that, and I love everything about his drumming here. Great lyric, great performance by Sammy, and of course the guitar solo is knocked out of the park as well. I kind of thought this one would make everyone’s list, even if not necessarily everyone’s top 10. It’s the band’s finest moment for me.

Interesting that you thought it should make everyone’s list, considering you have left a whole bunch off your list that I thought would be on everyone’s. 

[TAC]

11 Dance the Night Away
Appeared on 15 of 17  entrees
Top 10 finishes: 3
Highest Ranking: 1 (Dream Team)

10 I’m the One
Appeared on 13 of 17  entrees
Top 10 finishes: 3
Highest Ranking: 4 (Dream Team)

09 Right Now
Appeared on 14 of 17  entrees
Top 10 finishes: 6
Highest Ranking: 1 (HOF)

I had [Dance The Night Away at #33/b]. What a wonderful track. I have never been able to get Alex's cowbell/hi-hat intro down.

I had I'm The One at #4. This song is an absolute smoker! Top 5 for me!

I had Right Now at #37. Solid tune.

[pg1067]

So...I've never heard Me Wise Magic before today.  The intro part (before the vocals) sounds like it could have been a Dream Theater song on FII...checks Wikipedia...interesting given that this song was recorded and released in 1996.  The verse vocals are two different kinds of terrible (although the music underneath is pretty good).  The chorus is ok.  Solid EVH solo.  I'm 4 minutes in, and it feels like it should be about done, but it's got 2 minutes left...?  Please tell me we're not going to have a full 2 minutes of outro solo....  Nope...sort of a reprise of the intro.  Still reminds me of FII era DT.

Dance the Night Away is an amazing song.  Part of the soundtrack of my early teen years.  Right Now is excellent.  I'm the One is just meh.

[TAC]

  I'm the One is just meh.

WUT?? I can't believe you just said that!

[pg1067]

  I'm the One is just meh.

WUT?? I can't believe you just said that!

I mean...it's fine, but I'm not a fan of songs with a shuffle beat (even one that fast), and there's nothing that really hooks me.  Also...the doo wop section....?  No.  Prime DLR vocal performance, though, even though it's not to my taste.

[HOF]

So for today’s entries:

Dance The Night Away was at 36 for me. It’s just a great pop rock tune. One of many VH songs that are so very catchy.

I didn’t rank I’m The One but it’s a solid rocker. A bit of a precursor to Hot for Teacher.

Right Now as noted was my number 1 overall, and an easy answer for me. This is the side of VH that appeals to me most. It was also among the very first VH songs I heard. Eddie shines on both keys and guitar here, and while it’s piano based, this song really packs a punch. Alex plays a big part in that, and I love everything about his drumming here. Great lyric, great performance by Sammy, and of course the guitar solo is knocked out of the park as well. I kind of thought this one would make everyone’s list, even if not necessarily everyone’s top 10. It’s the band’s finest moment for me.

Interesting that you thought it should make everyone’s list, considering you have left a whole bunch off your list that I thought would be on everyone’s. 

Well, I figured it had a better chance of appealing to both my unique VH tastes and everyone else’s.

[The Realm]

11 Dance the Night Away
Appeared on 15 of 17  entrees
Top 10 finishes: 3
Highest Ranking: 1 (Dream Team)

10 I’m the One
Appeared on 13 of 17  entrees
Top 10 finishes: 3
Highest Ranking: 4 (Dream Team)

09 Right Now
Appeared on 14 of 17  entrees
Top 10 finishes: 6
Highest Ranking: 1 (HOF)

Three great songs today!

Dance the Night Away - number 19 for me. Love it but not one of my very favourites but I always sing along with a smile on my face when I listen to it.

I'm the One - number 5 for me. A classic.

Right Now - number 6 for me. I didn't actually think this song would make it this high in the overall rankings. This is just a really beautifully constructed song, has heaps going on musically and that transition into the guitar solo is just magic to my ears.

[bl5150]

I'm one of the few who rated Can't Get This Stuff No More much higher than Me Wise Magic on release and still do now.  I felt it had that traditional VH swagger in the riff and the vocal melodies were much more suited to where DLR's voice was at the time.  Either way it was awesome to have the classic line up back in place for those couple of songs after years of hanging around VH forums digging through all the (mostly) bullshit reunion rumours.

Anyway - I had Can't Get This Stuff No More #41..................Me Wise Magic was #66 which is still very much within the range of songs I like.


For the 3 new songs:


Dance The Night Away #8   - My love for this song wavered at times but all things considered (including it being a favourite video of mine too - a very rare high quality capture of VH live in their prime) it had to make Top 10


I'm The One  #11 - another classic off VH1 and just a ridiculous guitar track

Right Now I had #71 - pretty much anything within my top 100 is a song I like and I did like Right Now.  Great atmospheric intro and overall solid song , but I think over time it became the symbol for me of "serious Sammy" where he tried a bit too hard to make the song some sort of highly intellectual political commentary and it got a bit too earnest for me.  So yeah - very solid song and I do like it quite a bit.  It actually feels weird ranking a lot of these Sammy songs so low , because if I was to divide the eras into Van Halen and Van Hagar .............Van Halen is my #1 band of all time and Van Hagar would probably be top 10.  That has resulted in a lot of songs I really like not making my Top 50.

[wolfking]

Dance the Night Away didn't rank for me.  Yeah, not my thing.

I'm the One was at number 10 so pretty on point.

Right Now was at 30, nice song.

[WardySI]

Had DanceTNA #49 and Right Now at #13. 

Not sure if already said but after the excellence of OU812 I wasn't sold on F.U.C.K off the bat but eventually warmed to it after falling in love with Judgement Day and being battered constantly with Right Now on music TV and radio

Sidenote those piano chords during the intro to Right Now's always reminded me of Alan Parsons' Sirius which I thought was cool but like most these things that was probably just me 

Wonderful stuff!

[KevShmev]

Top 5 is coming this weekend, but first things first, numbers 8 through 6...

08 Panama
Appeared on 15 of 17  entrees
Top 10 finishes: 2
Highest Ranking: 2 (Stadler)

I probably docked this a bit because it is so overplayed, putting it at 15, but it could easily be number 1.  Major classic, and this is actually the VH song I hear the most now whenever the classic rock station is on at work.  Just a great, great song.


07 5150
Appeared on 14 of 17  entrees
Top 10 finishes: 6
Highest Ranking: 2 (Puppies_On_Acid)

I had this at 5, and was pleasantly surprised to see how much support this one got.  I didn't think it would be a top 10 tune here, but here it is at 7.  Well done, DTF. Well done.


06 Light Up the Sky
Appeared on 12 of 17  entrees
Top 10 finishes: 6
Highest Ranking: 2 (TAC, bl5150)

I was a bit disheartened early on when a few of the first lists didn't have this on there at all (wtf?), but the surge came soon thereafter.  This was my number 3 song.  To me, this feels like one of those "how can you be a fan of Van Halen and not love this song?" kinda songs. 

[hefdaddy42]

  I'm the One is just meh.

WUT?? I can't believe you just said that!

He's right.  Meh at best.

[TAC]

  I'm the One is just meh.

WUT?? I can't believe you just said that!

He's right.  Meh at best.

So..

mehgnificent
Tremehndous
loved by mehny