It’s the tone of Eddie Van Halen’s guitar no one sounds like him, he’s instantly recognizable
This is one of my favorite VH tracks. The part in the end where David Lee Roth says, “that suit is you. You’ll get some leg tonight for sure, tell us how you do” was ad libbed and said to the band’s producer in the recording booth. And his reply, “C’mon Dave give me a break” was his natural response. Unplanned, but they decided it sounded good so kept that take. Classic rock n roll moment preserving DLR’s personality for eternity.
It's a music joke too... a 'break'. "Hey Hey Hey.. One break, coming up!!" Also similar to Led Zeppelin when they did, "The Crunge". ...have you seen the bridge?! they're music jokes... lol no bridge in the song. "Where's that confounded bridge?!"
I always wondered about that. And I’ve always loved the line “blue eyed murder in a size 5 dress.”
This is actually one of, if not THE favorite song of Eddie's from their catalog. When asked in an interview once what his favorite track was, he said he didn't listen to his own music after it was recorded. But, he was really proud of "Unchained". Whenever he heard it on the radio he really liked what he did with it. I can think of better tunes, but as far as a hook goes...this song kills. It barrels toward you like a steam locomotive and then explodes. Eddie and Alex, and Van Halen as a whole were untouchable during this period. Nobody came close.
Saw them in Dallas in 1982. The bass and drums on this song hit you in the face like the side of a building. Just a monster wall of sound. We had 8th row floor seats, right in front of a giant speaker stack. Still the loudest show I've ever seen.
Saw them in 1978 at the Palladium in NYC and for the 51/50 tour at New Haven. The same concert that is taped with the eruption video. I would say I liked the 78 concert better but I just don't remember much of it other than the first and last song. Back then, the Palladium had an unwritten rule that you shared whatever you had with people in your section. We were center balcony and I have no idea what I smoked, drank or consumed that night. All I remember is sometime after we left, coming to my senses inside a Peep Show in Times Square. But thats an entirely nother story LOL.
I was at that show in Dallas in '82 also! Diver Down tour in November. My first concert! I was upper upper nosebleed seats though. If I remember correctly they opened with this song and Dave doing a flying leg split jump over the drum kit!
One underrated hidden gem from the Fair Warning album here is "Push comes to shove". It's really hard to find a single weak track on this album,really. Funny story; in '81 my friend and I tried to go see this tour,but it was sold out. We even had our parents drop us off at the stadium (at 14 years old,at a time when parents knew we could be responsible) to see if we could find a ticket scalper. Even they were out. There was nothing more painful that night than standing outside the stadium,hearing the concert and the crowd,knowing we were missing out. And we couldn't leave until our parents arrived to pick us up.
I saw them on that tour. When DLR cleared his opening jump and ran to stage front he shouted " I forgot the frigging words". lol good times
I only saw Van Halen with Sammy Hagar!!! Saw the F.U.C.K. tour in the Brendan Byrne Arena, home of the NJ Devils!!! Alice In Chains opened the show!!! AIC were great!!! Van Halen had an up and down show. Eddie played much more sloppy than I expected.
The swing of Michael and Alex, the jaw-dropping riffage of Eddie and the comedy of Dave equals perfection. It’s the Golden Ratio.
As a kid in 1980s L,os Angeles, Van Halen were like comic book heroes to me.
They were a very special band.
I don’t think you guys get how great and how influential this was in 1981. Nothing sounded like this. This was so innovative, every band and guitarist chased after this magic for the next ten years… known as the 80’s. No other band comes close in my opinion.
Everyone spent 10 years trying to sound like Eddie Van Halen. And beyond.
First heard VH in high school, continued through college, marriage, kids. Thank you Eddie, Michael, Alex, Dave, Sammy and Wolf for the soundtrack to my life✌️❤️🤘🎸
This is about getting out of a bad relationship and being free. Fun fact, it was written on piano and the voice in the bridge is famous producer Ted Templeman.
Back in the days we lost our minds when we heard this song. Nothing else came close. Pure raw energy and talent.
I keep forgetting how good Eddie was back then. He literally had millions of kids trying to play the guitar like he did.
Not knowing until decades later that he self-tuned his guitar, making learning some songs pretty much impossible to decipher (Dance the Night Away). lol. Effing brilliant. "You're my guitar teacher, why can't you figure it out?"
It wasn’t just kids. He had the entire population of guitar players pro and amateur mimicking him and trying to figure out his style so they could incorporate it into their own style of playing. He turned the guitar world upside down!
The album "Fair Warning" is their hardest hitting album of all... its kind of a pissed off sound!
Van Halen, 1st album, "I'm The One".
As good as Van Halen gets.
seconding this recommendation. "I'm the One" is quintessential fun Van Halen with two great solos, high energy vocal performance, and an unexpected a capella treat
It seems most albums (w/Dave) all had at least one 'edgy' track that reminded me they weren't just studio puppets like many bands. On VH2 'Outta Love Again' fills that position.
It's about freedom from a relationship. The spoken part in the middle was just the producer getting annoyed with Dave and they just decided to leave it in.
It hurts every time you basically put Van Halen and Bon Jovi on the same level.
Yeah, you really got the point in every song. The interlude in this one is classic "C´mon Dave, gimme a break!" XD
“Oh come on Dave, give me a break!”
“One break…COMIN’ UP!”
Best line in a song…ever!
Arguably my favorite Van Halen song. This whole album is top tier!
That is such a badas* riff that to this day after I've heard it a thousand times I still wanna tear sh** UP! God bless you Eddie Van Halen!!.
Thank you for reacting to it - awesome job!
tHIS SONG WAS in a way a door kick-in for all the other party hair bands that come along in the 80s. In 1981 NOBODY sounded like Van Halen.
This is my favorite Van Halen song. That opening riff played at full volume in my 1982 Dodge Charger blew my mind back then.
I think, more than any other EVH tone, this is THE one everyone chases after. Disagree fine don't start an argument.
not gonna lie the first note of this song gives me chills i could listen to that opening rift on repeat for hrs just so good
Best Album. Dark dirty tones. I don’t think it will ever be duplicated
You are correct, sir. The best sounding distorted guitar ever recorded, for my money.
...I can't pick the best DLR VH song....I can pick the worst "Jump"!... "Ain't Talking 'bout Love" is a pretty strong riff, also "Hang 'Em High"is also great...really too many to pick the best...Is this Steve Meade?
One of my favorite Van Halen songs, great choice🤘🤘🤘
Awesome! Can't go wrong with VH. Alex and Eddie played HARD, but they always swung the beat. It makes a huge difference in the feel and sound. Alex was a really loud Ringo.🤘🤘
I hope ur talking about the old van Halen & ur right on point. they just killed it
@@kevinmitchell4018 100%. They were still grooving on their Dad's music back then (rip JVH)
Outta Love Again might as well be West Side Story.
Must watch the 1981 live in Oakland version! Lex, Bon Jovi isn't even in the same league as a Van Halen.
I was the bell captain at the hotel they stayed at for that very show and I can tell you first hand that they did a number on that floor and we saw some "memorable" stuff.
This riff has everything. Chug, mutes, harmonics, pinch harmonics, groove.... It's so good.
One of my favorite Van Halen songs!!! This song and Mean Streets just get me going!!!
Edddie at his finest. The bass line the drums. And Dave. That’s VH
"Hear About it Later" and "Sinners Swing" have always been my favorites off this great recording..please check them out if you want to!...and Happy Holidays!🎊
My first concert ever, I was blown away. I still have the T Shirt 1981.
"Diamond Dave"!!!!
The dude is HARD to touch as the greatest showman that ever hit a stage! 😎
1981 was an awesome year and that is when the album came out, such an amazing and classic album but my all-time fav of Van Halen is 1980 Women and Children First raw energy and powerful
This was from Van Halen's 4th album 'Fair warning' in 1981... David Lee Roth often wrote cheeky, taunting lyrics that seem juvenile at times.
But the band was in trouble at the time this record was made... According to insiders, guitarist Eddie Van Halen was seriously frustrated w/ Roth's dictating what he could & couldn't play on a Van Halen record (he had started getting into keyboards, but Roth did not approve)... So Eddie wrote music for a solo record, hoping to get different singers on it, but Roth vetoed it and quickly wrote lyrics for it and demanded it be a Van Halen record... Once in the studio, Eddie found himself clashing w/ producer Ted Templeman as well, claiming the producer would reject a guitar solo one day, and then say it was fine the next... He felt the quality of music was being compromised. Eddie Van Halen also began playing on other artists records, including Michael Jackson... and Roth was infuriated by those efforts. There was a lot of turmoil in Van Halen, and drugs & alcohol did not help the situation... the band did split w/ David Lee Roth in 1985.
Released in 1981, the album 'Fair Warning' sold platinum, but was not a big commercial seller like the last 3 Van Halen records. However, it became a fan favorite record in the hardcore Van Halen fanbase because the sound was a bit darker and heavier than the usual 'fun times' VH albums.
So upbeat. Still one of my faves, and I just turned 58. Lol. Grew up listening to these guys. It's just fun stuff. What a riff. R.I.P. Eddie Van Halen.
One of my favorite songs. I always felt this was an underrated song.
"Youthful but unfinished!" Very well put Lex, I have to agree as well with your opinion right there!
Van Halen’s legendary “brown sound”
Great Van Halen song and to the point. Eddie shreds as always. Try the Atomic Punk for more. Also, if Lex wants RIFFS in a similar ballpark, try UFO and Michael Schenker on lead guitar. Try their live version of Rock Bottom off Strangers in the Night Live, one of the great solos ever and that band rocks hard but always is very tasty. Enjoy! 🎸
The "Obsession" album is a Schenker guitar clinic. "You Don't Fool Me" still gives me the shivers.
another great track on that Strangers in the Night album is Love to Love - very moody and melodic.
@@thelowe6393 Yes, Obsession, along with Lights Out, are their best albums. Modern audiences have no clue how good they really were, top 10 Hard Rock band for me.
@@jeffblevins5899 Great song, the song on that same side which never gets played, Electric Phase, is also a great track, right up there with Lights Out and Too Hot to Handle.
This album is "Fair Warning", their 4th album. It's definitely harder it its entirety than previous albums. They did have a pre-Van Halen demo produced by Gene Simmons of KISS. They were called Mammoth at that time.
The demo album is called "Zero" and has some original songs in addition to the raw versions of several songs that were reworked on later albums. Any VH fan will appreciate it. The full album is here on UA-cam and worthy of a listen!
One of the very best Van Halen songs, and it somehow often gets forgotten when people talk about the band.
Man, you can tell they were having a blast doing this song. And that guitar sound is just SICK. It's like insanely good. RIP Eddie.
These were
VAN HALEN'S best concert years! Talk about a party!!!
I really miss those concerts!!
Well, I was having a crappy day, but this video put a smile on my face. I'm 55 and when I was a teenager I listened to Van Halen and I went to their concert in Detroit in 1984. I was 17 back then. I loved your reaction.
About every decade a band shows up and changes the landscape of there genre..Van halen was one of them bands i remmber when i first heard then in the late 70s i said this is going to change the game with eddie van halen cord bending harmonic riffs... And it did until nirvana exploded onto the scene and changed the genre yet again too a new genre called “grunge”
"Carry On / Questions" by Crosby Stills and Nash. You will absolutely LOVE it. Pause right after the verse, so you don't interrupt the transition.
This is my new mission, lol.
Listen through Alex's cymbals to all the little nuances of Eddies guitar. Nonstop killin' it always.
Sometimes I feel like I gain a fresh insight into music I know and love by seeing it through your first experience. Awesome channel. Keep ‘em coming.
This song also underscores what a great rhythm guitar player Eddie Van Halen was. Everyone knows he was a great soloist, but his rhythm guitar riffs really made the Van Halen sound pop.
This is Van Halen at the height of their power!
When Van Halen came around when I was in high school, the party would start a week before the show. Always a party!
IT IS OFFICIAL.. this is the first of any response where 'nana nana boo boo' was used. Gotta luv it.
I like your Kiss shirt, Brad. I saw them in 1979 and 1984. The 1979 show to this day is the loudest and greatest stage show I ever saw and I saw a lot of great bands from then to now, even saw Van Halen 8 times from 1980 until 2015. Love your reactions, keep up the good work.
VH with David Lee Roth is pure awesomeness
I miss those days! My brother LOVED VH, I can still remember him cranking up the music on his boombox 😃
I saw VH on their 1st headlining tour in 1979 and they blew the roof off the place - no one had ever ever seen anything like this before especially EVH- Great job again 👏
Back in the day I may have gotten the crap beat out of me for wearing either (especially Lex's) shirt. KISS is my all time favorite...not the best, but favorite. Love this song, maybe my favorite Van Halen song, and I love Van Halen.
KISS are next level amazing. So influential! Unstoppable power and intensity and beautiful singable melodies. And without Gene, who knows if Van Halen would have had the trajectory they did?
I like y'all having the same groove there near the end, shoulders moving in sync...
This whole album is absolute FIRE!!!
Fair Warning ( the album this song is from ) is ABSOLUTELY my all-time favorite Van Halen disc...several hard hard rockers that are in-your-face hard , catchy , innovative , intricate and fun all at the same time...still a WOW after all these years !!!!!
I saw Van Halen supporting this album........AWESOME. I saw them again supporting 1984 was also great show. Dave was great both shows but Eddie....unbelievable! R.I.P. Eddie, I love that dude.
Great song. You should check out the live version from the 80s, it really shows their energy when playing live.
A great VH song you should react to is Jamie’s Cryin. If you want to hear guitar on fire, check out I’m The One.
Awesome Van Halen reaction, one of my favorite songs of theirs .. and absolutely loving the KISS Love Gun cover t-shirt that Brad is sporting!! Pretty darn epic Poison shirt that Lex is sporting as well .. you guys just bring me joy every time I watch one of your reactions!!
The song is about making it big as a band, the difficulty of writing strong songs and albums, and how only change is constant. It's about how hard it is to stand and deliver. You hear numerous references to songwriting like delivering a perfect break on command. The title "Unchained" refers to how they feel as a band- they want to be free to produce and engineer their own sound. Templeton and Roth took Eddie and Alex to a soundscape that made them feel trapped, while at the same time they both enjoyed and reviled the fame and groupies.
That's my interoretation at any rate.
Go listen to the entire album in a dark room with headphones and tell me what you hear.
"Dance the night away" should be next. A very different vibe, but full Van Halen.
This song WAS the Battle Anthem of the 80s. When VAN HALEN RULED THE WORLD.
Definitely a top 5 Van Halen song!
If you guys were gonna do unchained I would’ve suggested the ‘81 live concert version. An absolutely high energy concert song!
"Non stop talker, what a rocker. Blue eyed murder in a size five dress!" Best lyric all time for my money. And one of the best examples of Eddie's "BROWN SOUND". 🎸🔥
My all time fav. VH track, awesome tone on Eds guitar. RIP Edward x
May I please add this ..I just got home and had a real bad day ( grocery business) and when I saw your post and listened to it everything became wonderful again- ty!!
Love your VH reactions. Favorite band of all time. RIP Eddie
Dang .. I have been listening to this song for 35 years (although probably rarely looking at lyrics) and you two have insights that I haven't considered.
This song was a monster in concert.
And I like your guys expression this puts a smile on my face everytime I hear this song
"entertainment delivered at
maximum impact" as they used to say.
Goosebumps check?? Lol .
Little Dreamer from the first VH album!!! Great job as always guys. The way Lex feels 70s and 80s rock, the way she breaks down riffs, etc is like an old metalhead. Fun to watch.
Best VH song imo. VH 1 and 2 are still. the best - and I was in HS when it was brand new music.
RIP Eddie and Alex Van Halen. You both missed. Much love to you and your family 💕Brandi Modrak.
Had the "Fair Warning" album. Second favorite song after Mean Streets. Saw them in the Orange Bowl with the monsters of rock tour. Kingdom Come, Dokken, Metalica, Scorpions, and Van Halen. I think it was 1987.
One of the best riffs of all time! Rest in peace, Eddie!
In this episode of Brad & Lex, Brad keeps his signature "side to side sway" in check though not becoming a circumstantial victim of movement. He admits to the positive vibe he's experiencing and grins during David Lee Roth's energetic rock monologue as Lex voices her longing for longevity after deploying her "Roth bop".
I'd never considered it before but that "nanny nanny boo boo" angle is pretty great. It really has that kind of vibe to it.
The awesome tone of Eddie Van Halen. The first note says it all. Gorgeous sound.
That chug in the beginning would change metal music forever! 🤟🏼🤟🏼🤟🏼
I check in with other reactions sometimes
You guys are the funnest
I love the way you get right to it
👍🏼
Love the bit in the middle where Dave talks to the producer
Another Monster sound from them. Love it as usual. Stage presence is entertaining. Lex is really 😎 rocking out.
I saw this tour in Phoenix and was fortunate enough to meet Ed and drink a beer with him. No lie! The following day, my buddy and I went back to the Hyatt where they were staying and sat all day long at the pool with Dave, drinking Heinekins! The roadies wouldn't let anyone else in the pool area so, literally, just the three of us hanging out, shooting' the $hit! He was cool as hell and not an a-hole at all. In fact he gave us tickets and back-stage passes for the show!
This song is from "Fair Warning", my favorite Van Halen album. It is angry, dirty, gritty, ......I love it.
RIP Eddie Van Halen
Think about this sounds in the 70's just amazing!!
I think you guys should check out some stuff from the VH II album like "Beautiful Girls" and "D.O.A." & from the 'women and children first' album like "And the Cradle will Rock" and "Fools". I mean all songs on those albums are great but i like those the most if you are looking for old days Van Halen. Btw love the reactions you guys make listening to my favorite songs even better
...love every song from from the first 5 albums....love the Sammy Hagar stuff too...but not as much
The beauty of van Halen and all their songs is trying to figure out what they're singing and playing about. Timeless perfection Van Halen is God!!? ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🔥🤟
Lex, I agree, EVERY Eddie solo should be 3 to 6 minutes longer, awesome job as always guys.
This album came out during the second semester of my senior year.....I have distinct memories of this song....one of the coolest, baddest songs ever...VH at the height of their glory!
Great choice!! My ALL TIME FAVORITE by them!! There's just something in it that just makes me feel a certain way. Ya'll just keep knockin' em' out of the park!
RIP EDDIE..........Thanks for the memories!!!!!!!! The most explosive guitarist ever!
The isolated guitar track on this is absolutely Amazing
I hope you guys are doing this LOUD!
This whole album is good.
This was Van Halen's fourth studio album. There was already a lot of tension in the band especially between Dave and Eddie, and by this time I think Eddie had had enough and wanted to break away from that tension. The story says that Eddie even approached Gene Simmons to see if he could be Kiss's guitarist. But that Gene told him to stick with the band he already has and work it out.
So this album is what some have described as an "angry Eddie" album, since it's overall a darker and more introspective album compared to what they had done before. Eddie wanted to do more of what he wanted with his own music, not what the producers pushed him to do, and so he eventually built his own recording studio at his house, and did more of what he wanted. But of course Dave's lyrics are party-oriented, as usual.
@@brettteeter3461 What does Gene Simmons playing bass have to do with this? It is well-documented that Eddie discussed joining KISS around the time of Ace's departure, and that Gene gave him some very good advice. Gene actually discovered Van Halen in a club and financed their first demo, which directly led to their first album being produced.
You should have done the live video of this song..its legendary...1981, Oakland Coliseum....3 sold out shows in a row,...and the song is about a persons freedom to whatever they want no matter how much things change....and doing it at full blast.
This is part of the best of VH days. They weren't just making songs. Eddie was squeezing the best, most unique sounds he had in his head and sharing them through his guitars. Mike and Alex kept it all in a hard rock pocket. Then Dave brought the party. Great formula. Best and one of the purest Hard Rock bands vs. before the plague of 80s Hair Metal hit.
That's a perfect summary.
I’m going to be the biggest Mexican stoner on UA-cam soon 🙏🥶💫
AGREED 💯💯💯💯 That's why growing up through the 70s and 80s was AMAZING!!
You and I would get along JUST fine! VH THE BEST BAND EVER!!!!
You had me right up until ya dissed the 80's rock bands. I do think the first 6 studio albums were the BEST VH albums ever. Nothing against Sammy, but there was no party on the planet like VH back then.