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

[WardySI]

Yeah really cool facts very interesting...

Had Judgement Day at #9, cracking song!🤘

[KevShmev]

Three more today!

17 Poundcake
Appeared on 12 of 17  entrees
Top 10 finishes: 1
Highest Ranking: 2 (DragonAttack)

I had this at 18, so oh close to its final resting spot!  Killer song, always great live back in the day. 


15 (t) Romeo Delight
Appeared on 11 of 17  entrees
Top 10 finishes: 3
Highest Ranking: 4 (bl5150)

This one came in at 50 for me, and while I expected it to make the top 50, this is a little higher than I anticipated.  Definitely a very good song, for sure.


15 (t) Runnin’ with the Devil
Appeared on 12 of 17  entrees
Top 10 finishes: 2
Highest Ranking: 5 (Trav86)

The greatness of this one almost goes without saying. I had it at 16, but it probably could have been number 1.  One of the best track 1s off a band's debut album ever.

[bl5150]

Poundcake:  I liked aspects of this but on the whole , never did much for me.  Pretty cringey Sammy lyric and not a favourite from the album.  Not something I would skip but wouldn't replay it either.  Possibly a bit harsh but ranked #91

Runnin' With The Devil :  obviously a classic song - ranked #22


Romeo Delight :  just a balls out rocker, a fan favourite and regularly a part of the live set right til the end.  Obviously I really like it as I was highest rank #4. 

[Dream Team]

I didn't have RWTD as high as others from the debut because I find it quite repetitive. However still a great intro to the band for someone who bought that album upon release.

[hefdaddy42]

I don't object to the status of Runnin' With The Devil, but it has been played to death by classic rock radio, and if I never hear it again, that would be fine.  Same with Jamey's Cryin'.

[devieira73]

Runnin' with the Devil (#17) - Great album opener. As I said before, I personally think it would be more impactful if the album began with Eruption/Ain't Talk About Love, but it was still a great way to open VH's history, it shows right away a lot of own personality.

Romeo Delight (#20) - Another great example of the amazing riff fest that was VH at its beggining.

Poudcake (-) - I like it a lot, it's just not among the best half of the album to me.

[HOF]

I had Poundcake at 12. Sammy at his worst lyrically maybe, but everything else was firing on all cylinders. 

I didn’t rank the other two, but Runnin’ With The Devil might have been in the next 10. Honestly never been a favorite, but obviously a very important song for the band.

[DragonAttack]

sticking with five at a time....

20 Judgement Day (NR)  oversight on my part.  Should have had it in the 30s.  After ‘Poundcake’, they certainly kept the pedal to the metal.

19 In A Simple Rhyme (NR) never gave it a thought

18 Jamie’s Cryin (#19) never thought it was overplayed.  Placed perfectly as the Side Two opener

17 Poundcake (#2) superb and unique album opener.  No one plays an electric drill like Eddie.  The concert opener for the one and only time I saw them (they cancelled in Kzoo for the OU812 tour).  Mike’s bass playing and it's mix are some of his best.  It takes me back to a hot Sunday summer day teaming up and winning a golf scramble, and this was the first tune I heard afterwards.  And heard again, and again (along with a live WATC version wink)  The same day John Daly won the PGA.  (now ask me what I did yesterday.......)

15 (t) Romeo Delight (NR) never gave this one a thought as well

[TAC]

17 Poundcake
Appeared on 12 of 17  entrees
Top 10 finishes: 1
Highest Ranking: 2 (DragonAttack)

15 (t) Romeo Delight
Appeared on 11 of 17  entrees
Top 10 finishes: 3
Highest Ranking: 4 (bl5150)

15 (t) Runnin’ with the Devil
Appeared on 12 of 17  entrees
Top 10 finishes: 2
Highest Ranking: 5 (Trav86)

I had Poundcake at #29. Musically, this song is a monster. Kicks total ass. The lyrics are pretty bad, but whatever.

I had Romeo Delight at #8. Easily one of my favorite VH songs. The thing smokes. Such an iconic opening.

I had Runnin' With The Devil as Not Rated. It's not that it's overplayed.. I'm just not a fan of mid tempo mumbo jumbo.

[wolfking]

Had Poundcake at 22 - Killer song.

Had Romeo at 15 myself. 

And Devil was 25.

[Dream Team]

6 people not ranking Romeo Delight. Can’t wait to see what happens next.

[KevShmev]

The next three:

14 Why Can’t This Be Love?
Appeared on 11 of 17  entrees
Top 10 finishes: 4
Highest Ranking: 3 (Deadeye21)

This one has been downgraded a bit for me over the years.  I still had it at 47, but it would have been a lot higher years ago. Still a good song, but I just think many have aged a lot better.


13 Atomic Punk
Appeared on 11 of 17  entrees
Top 10 finishes: 2
Highest Ranking: 1 (TAC)

I nailed this one, as this was my number 13.  Amazing song all-around.  The energy and drive of this song are both off the charts.


12 Love Walks In
Appeared on 11 of 17  entrees
Top 10 finishes: 3
Highest Ranking: 5 (WilliamMunny)

This one landed at 24 for me, which seems about right.  A great ballad, one they never could have done with Roth. 

[bl5150]

Why Can't This Be Love..............I had #80 which is more a reflection of how full on into Van Halen I was for most of my life.  I like so many of their songs that #80 isn't a huge diss on the song.  But like Kev it has worn on me over the years and suffered a bit for that.  This IS one of the few songs in this countdown that was played to death in Australia for a while there.

Atomic Punk I had at #15.  Killer song..........like On Fire it's the sort of song on VH1 that defines early Van Halen for me.

Love Walks In I had in the 60's.

[HOF]

I had Why Can’t This Be Love 6th. Just always liked it, another one of those early memories of VH for me. It’s a great pop tune.

Atomic Punk was not ranked.

Love Walks In was number 11. I always associate this one and When It’s Love, but I think this is the slightly weaker of the two, or maybe just the more played of the two. Still a great song regardless with two great solos and a really great keyboard sound.

[WardySI]

Yep, Love Walks In at #33 and as overplayed as it is no denying Why Can't This Be Love (#19) was a great tune!.

[devieira73]

Atomic Punk (-) - It didn't make my top 50 just because, like a lot of earlier VH songs that I truly dig, I think that VH has got better with a more polished sound over time.

Why Can’t This Be Love? (#27) - It's an amazing single and the lead keyboard sounds very creative. The keyboard driven songs are really the strongest of 5150 to me.

Love Walks In (#10) - My fave VH's ballad, just perfect and beautiful. At #10 and counting that VH is basically a band with incredible guitar oriented songs, it's really a sign of how much I love this song.

[Dream Team]

One great tune sandwiched by some watered-down mom rock. But those 2 Hagar tracks are pretty decent for what they are.

[TAC]

One great tune sandwiched by some watered-down mom rock.

This totally.

[Stadler]

Right, so most of my top 50 ended way below the top 20. This is disappointing.

My number one ("Me Wise Magic") didn't crack the top 50...I feel your pain

Bro, I'm with you.  I LOVE that song (number 4 for me). 

[The Realm]

17 Poundcake
Appeared on 12 of 17  entrees
Top 10 finishes: 1
Highest Ranking: 2 (DragonAttack)

15 (t) Romeo Delight
Appeared on 11 of 17  entrees
Top 10 finishes: 3
Highest Ranking: 4 (bl5150)

15 (t) Runnin’ with the Devil
Appeared on 12 of 17  entrees
Top 10 finishes: 2
Highest Ranking: 5 (Trav86)

Sorry, a little behind here. Had a very busy day yesterday..

Poundcake - my rank 41. Awesome musically, not so much lyrically.

Romeo Delight - 46 for me and yeah I think I should have ranked this one higher...

Running With The Devil - my rank 30. Yes, it is a classic but probably one I am a little tired of but had to be in the top 50.

[Stadler]

23. And The Cradle Will Rock - I had this at #60.  Good tune not great tune.
22. On Fire - I had this at #67.  Very good tune on an album of GREAT tunes.
21. Eruption - I had this at #24. I mean, it's legendary.  I remember when I first heard it.  It's that kind of tune.
20. Judgement Day - I had this at #87.  Eh.
19. In A Simple Rhyme - I had this at #1.  Far and away my favorite Van Halen tune.
18. Jamie's Cryin' - I had this at #3.  Love the mix of balls and melody, and Dave's lyric kills.
17. Poundcake - I had this at #66.  I'm actually surprised I had it this high.  It's what I DON'T like about the Sam era.
16. Romeo Delight - I had this at #77
15. Runnin' With The Devil - I had this at #27
14. Why Can't This Be Love? - I had this at #82
13. Atomic Punk - I had this at #34
12. Love Walks In - I had this at #40

[The Realm]

14 Why Can’t This Be Love?
Appeared on 11 of 17  entrees
Top 10 finishes: 4
Highest Ranking: 3 (Deadeye21)

13 Atomic Punk
Appeared on 11 of 17  entrees
Top 10 finishes: 2
Highest Ranking: 1 (TAC)

12 Love Walks In
Appeared on 11 of 17  entrees
Top 10 finishes: 3
Highest Ranking: 5 (WilliamMunny)

Why Can't This Be Love? - I just got this one in at 49 but I think it had to be there. Absolutely loved this song on release, probably not so much now. A bit surprised it landed this high.

Atomic Punk - Number 9 for me. A classic and can't believe it was only on 11 lists??

Love Walks In - landed at 22 for me. Some divided views on this one and I can see why it wouldn't get ranked but I am in the camp that just thinks this is a great song and great vocal by Sammy.

So we have 11 songs to go? I still have 7 of my top 10 to be ranked which I am kind of a bit surprised about. Yes, lots of surprises in this countdown!

[wolfking]

Why Can't This Be Loved ranked at 9 for me.  As Brent said, heavily played on rock radio so always knew it growing up.  Always been a fan of it.  I love the middle section.

Atomic Punk was 23.  Surprising 6 people didn't even rank it.

Love Walks In didn't rank.

[KevShmev]

I just realized that of the top 50 songs, I am the high ranker on only one of the 50 songs...the song that finished at number 1.

[HOF]

I just realized that of the top 50 songs, I am the high ranker on only one of the 50 songs...the song that finished at number 1.

Well, I guess I know what song is not number 1! ;-)

[KevShmev]

I didn't say I was the only one to have the number 1 song at number 1. I might have been the only one or I might have one of several.

[TAC]

I just realized that of the top 50 songs, I am the high ranker on only one of the 50 songs...the song that finished at number 1.

I just realized the countdown is rigged.

[wolfking]

I just realized that of the top 50 songs, I am the high ranker on only one of the 50 songs...the song that finished at number 1.

Hmmmmm......

[TAC]

14 Why Can’t This Be Love?
Appeared on 11 of 17  entrees
Top 10 finishes: 4
Highest Ranking: 3 (Deadeye21)

13 Atomic Punk
Appeared on 11 of 17  entrees
Top 10 finishes: 2
Highest Ranking: 1 (TAC)

12 Love Walks In
Appeared on 11 of 17  entrees
Top 10 finishes: 3
Highest Ranking: 5 (WilliamMunny)

This post is so disappointing.

[The Realm]

TAC, I think you need to soften up your dislike of 5150 because we ain't finished with that album yet and only 11 songs to go...

[TAC]

I think there's three songs from 5150 on my list that have not shown up yet, and one of them I had in my Top 10. 

For the most part, 5150 has aged pretty well.

When Love Walks In immediately turned me off on 5150 when it was released. I wanted Van Halen to come back and rock, and they released a single that was even more pussyish than Jump.

[KevShmev]

There are two songs left from 5150.

115 Inside
66 Get Up         
48 Good Enough
36 Best of Both Worlds
26 Summer Nights
14 Why Can't This Be Love?
12 Love Walks In

[The Realm]

Yeah, as Kev just posted only 2 songs left from 5150, the rest have been confirmed as either in the top 50 or not making it. One of your 3 is Get Up I am presuming but we know it didn't make it.

My breakdown/guess of the 11 remaining by album:

5150: 2 songs
VH1: 2 songs
1984: 2 songs
VHII: 2 songs
Fair Warning: 2 songs
F.U.C.K: 1 song

[KevShmev]

My breakdown/guess of the 11 remaining by album:

5150: 2 songs
VH1: 2 songs
1984: 2 songs
VHII: 2 songs
Fair Warning: 2 songs
F.U.C.K: 1 song

Correct.

And while I am sure most fans could figure out what the 11 are, I would ask again as a courtesy to not "spotlight" and mention the songs by name, as it is more fun to let me reveal them within the context of the countdown.

[The Realm]

Cool, no spotlighting by me. No idea what the order will be and looking forward to the rest of the countdown.