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Il precursore dei guitar heroes in mostra con i pezzi migliori del proprio repertorio. Velocità, potenza e precisione hanno fatto di Edward Van Halen "Il" chitarrista della nuova era, colui che ha cambiato per sempre il modo di suonare la chitarra rock, introducendo un mondo che nessuno all'inizio avrebbe capito, ma che molti dopo poco avrebbero adorato, ispirandosi a lui e sfruttando i suoi insegnamenti come base di partenza per ricercare nuove sonorità. Chiunque suoni la chitarra nell'hard rock al giorno d'oggi, dipende, anche solo lontanamente, dalle note di Eddie. Ma un comandante è nulla senza equipaggio, e se la ciurma è d'elite allora il successo è assicurato. Su tutti il primo cantante David "Diamone Dave" Lee Roth, noto sciupafemmine e carismatico al punto giusto per un gruppo che entra appieno anche nel Glam grazie a lui ed ai suoi sgargianti e sfavillanti abiti. Ma due galli nello stesso pollaio sono troppi, ed allora l'idillio finisce, forse anche leggermente per delirio d'onnipotenza, ed allora ecco entrare Sammy Hagar, gran voce squillante e molto bravo anche nella chitarra, lasciando così spazio a Eddie di sperimentare uno strumento nuovo, la tastiera, in cui si dimostrerà ciò che è, appunto cercando nuovi suoni e volendo strafare come gli si addice. Punti fissi della band il fratello batterista Alex Van Halen e il bassista Michael Anthony.
Se allora la storia vuole essere raccontata in musica, e vengono raccolti i migliori pezzi in un best, è facile sorridere e pensare che ascoltarlo potrà essere molto divertente.
Il mito di "Eruption" percorre il tempo senza perdere importanza, e come ogni canzone-simbolo che si rispetti, apre il disco, buttando l'ascoltatore subito in un turbine di note, fino al culmine, all'acme della tecnica, impensabile, alieno, inumano per i tempi. Il gruppo fece scalpore con il primo album, di cui qui sono presenti anche la altrettanto famosa "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love", che si collega perfettamente all'assolo stratosferico che la precede, anche se nell'album in realtà "Eruption" era seguita da una cover dei Kinks "You Really Got Me" qui estromessa a ragione. "Running With The Devil" prosegue il trio, regalando ottime impressioni. Si prosegue rigorosamente in ordine cronologico, tanto da riuscire ad assaporare bene i cambiamenti nel suono, la ricerca di nuove esperienze e la voglia di restare sulla cresta dell'onda. Del secondo album abbiamo solo "Dance The Night Away", e del terzo "Women and Children First", solo "And The Cradle Will Rock", forse uno dei peggiori pezzi del quartetto; Il ritmo torna frenetico con "Unchained", regolarmente esagerata com'è nello stile dei Van Halen, dopodichè il pezzo di maggior successo, "Jump" introduce il nuovo amore di Eddie, la tastiera, che aiuta il gruppo ad entrare nella storia con questa canzone del 1983, che ancor oggi spadroneggia in radio. Una novità che fa storcere la bocca agli aficionados del sound acido della chitarra, ma abbiamo un bel recupero con "Panama", a far capire che Edward non ha tradito il suo vero ruolo. "Panama" chiude anche la prima parte del disco, se si vuole dividere in due, nel passaggio fra Roth e Hagar, quest'ultimo che introdurrà ancora nuove sonorità nel gruppo, mentre Diamond Dave intraprenderà una rispettabile carriera solistica, con musicisti anche di alto calibro.
E allora altro pezzo da classifica "Why Can't This Be Love" fa apprezzare il nuovo cantante, anche se resta l'amaro in bocca e un bel po' di indecisione nei fan, che comunque in parte non disdegnano la nuova presenza e apprezzano anche il lavoro fatto da Edward con la tastiera. Citiamo "Puondcake", "Can't Stop Lovin' You" e "Me Wise Magic" come migliori pezzi dell'era Hagar, ma siamo lontani dal successo di pubblico e critica dei vecchi tempi, ma gli anni passano per tutti.
La decadenza è arrivata anche per i mitici Van Halen, che pian piano sono scesi sempre più in basso, qualitativamente e tecnicamente, ma mantenendo la particolarità sonora che li ha sempre contraddistinti.
Forse si poteva aggiungere o togliere un brano, massimo due, ma così resta uno dei migliori Best della storia del rock, semplice e conciso al punto giusto, con un retrogusto leggermente amaro, per l'attesa che la band segua la moda delle reunion, e magari un nuovo album.
Elenco tracce e testi
03 Runnin' With the Devil (03:32)
(Yeah, yeah!)
(Ahh, ye-ah!)
I live my life like there's no tomorrow
All I've got, I had to steal
Least I don't need to beg or borrow
Yes, I'm livin' at a pace that kills
(Ooh, yeah!)
(Ahh!) Runnin' with the devil (Ahh-hah! Yeah-ah!)
(Woo-hoo-oo!) Runnin' with the devil
(I'm gonna tell ya all about it)
I found the simple life ain't so simple
When I jumped out, on that road
I got no love, no love you'd call real
Ain't got nobody, waitin' at home
(Ah, yeah-ah!)
Runnin' with the devil
(Goddamn it lady, you know I ain't lyin' to ya!)
(I'm only gonna tell you one time, aah yeah!)
Runnin' with the devil
(Yes I am! Yeah!)
(Woooo!)
(Woo!)
You know, I found the simple life
Weren't so simple, no
When I jumped out, on that road
Got no love, no love you'd call real
Got nobody, waitin' at home
(Aah, yeah!)
Runnin' with the devil
(Hold on, hold on, I'm runnin'! Aah, yeah!)
Runnin' with the devil
(Uh! Uh! Come on, one more time!)
(Aah yeah!)
Runnin' with the devil
(Oh, yeah! Yeah yeah!)
Runnin' with the devil
(Woo! Woo!)
Runnin' with the devil
(Ah-ha, yeah! Ah-ha, yeah! Ah-hah, yeah!)
Runnin' with the devil (Woo!)
06 Unchained (03:27)
Alright!
Haaa ha ha ha!
You say, I cannot get there from here, baby
Then I don't care where I'm goin'
Here's to your thin red line
Mmm, I'm stepping over
Thought you'd never miss me 'til I got a fat city address
Non-stop talker, what a rocker
Blue-eyed murder in a size five dress
Change, nothin' stays the same
Unchained, and ya hit the ground runnin'
Change, ain't nothin' stays the same
Unchained, yeah ya hit the ground runnin'
I know, I don't ask for permission
This is my chance to fly
Maybe enough ain't enough for you
But it's my turn at a try
Thought you'd never miss me 'til I got a fat city address
Non-stop talker, what a rocker
Blue-eyed murder in a size five dress
Change, nothin' stays the same
Unchained, and ya hit the ground running
Change, ain't nothin' stays the same
Unchained, yeah ya hit the ground runnin'
Change, nothin' stays the same
Unchained, yeah ya hit the ground runnin'
Change, ain't nothin' stays the same
Unchained, yeah ya hit the ground runnin'
Woo hoo! Take a look at this!
Hey man, that suit is you!
Woo-whee! You'll get some leg tonight for sure!
Tell us how you do! Hoo hoo hoo!
(Come on Dave, gimme a break)
Hey hey hey hey! One break, comin' up!
Change, ain't nothin' stays the same
Unchained, yeah ya hit the ground runnin'
Changed, ain't nothin' stays the same
Unchained, yeah ya hit the ground runnin'
Change, ain't nothin' stays the same
Unchained, yeah ya hit the ground runnin'
Change, ain't nothin' stays the same
Unchained
07 Jump (04:04)
Owwww!
I get up, and nothin' gets me down
You got it tough, I've seen the toughest around
And I know, baby, just how you feel
You got to roll with the punches and get to what's real
Ah, can't ya see me standin' here
I got my back against the record machine
I ain't the worst that you've seen
Ah, can't ya see what I mean?
Ah, might as well jump (Jump!)
Might as well jump
Go ahead an' jump (Jump!)
Go ahead and jump
Ow-oh! Hey you! Who said that? Baby, how you been?
You say you don't know, you won't know until you begin
So can't ya see me standing here
I got my back against the record machine
I ain't the worst that you've seen
Ah, can't ya see what I mean?
Ah, might as well jump (Jump!)
Go ahead and jump
Might as well jump (Jump!)
Go ahead and jump
Jump!
Might as well jump (Jump!)
Go ahead and jump
Get in and jump (Jump!)
Go ahead and jump
Jump!
Jump!
Jump!
Jump!
08 Panama (03:31)
Ooh!
Oh yeah!
Ah-huh!
Jump back, what's that sound?
Here she comes, full blast and top down
Hot shoe, burnin' down the avenue
Model citizen, zero discipline
Don't you know she's coming home with me
You'll lose her in that turn
I'll get her
Panama
Panama
Panama
Panama
Ain't nothin' like it, her shiny machine
Got the feel for the wheel, keep the movin' parts clean
Hot shoe, burnin' down the avenue
Got an on-ramp comin' through my bedroom
Don't you know she's coming home with me
You'll lose her in that turn
I'll get her
(Uhhhh-ohhhhhh!)
Panama
Panama, oww!
Panama
Panama, oh-oh-oh-oh
Woo!
Yeah, we're runnin' a little bit hot tonight
I can barely see the road from the heat comin' off, you know what I'm sayin'
Ah, reach down between my legs and ease the seat back
She's runnin', I'm flyin'
Right behind in the rearview mirror now
Got the fearin', power steerin'
Pistons poppin', ain't no stoppin' now
Panama
Panama
Panama
Panama, oh-oh-oh-oh
Panama
Panama, oh-oh-oh-oh
Panama!
09 Hot for Teacher (04:42)
Oh, wow, man, wait a second, man.
What do you think the teacher's gonna look like this year?
My butt, man.
Whoooa!
Ooh!
Oh yeah!
T-t-teacher stop that screamin'
Teacher don't you see?
Don't wanna be no uptown fool
Maybe I should go to hell
But I'm doin' well
Teacher needs to see me after school
I think of all the education that I've missed
But then my homework was never quite like this!
Ow! Got it bad
Got it bad
Got it bad
I'm hot for teacher
I've got it bad, so bad
I'm hot for teacher
Hey, I heard you missed us, we're back!
Hey!
I brought my pencil... Give me something to write on, dude!
Whoa!
Uh!
Ooo-oo-ooo!
I heard about your lessons
But lessons are so cold
I know about this school
Little girl from Cherry Lawn
How can you be so bold?
How did you know that golden rule?
I think of all the education that I've missed
But then my homework was never quite like this!
Whoa! Got it bad
Got it bad
Got it bad
I'm hot for teacher
I've got it bad, so bad
I'm hot for teacher
Whoa!
Oh man, I think the clock is slow.
I don't feel tardy.
Class dismissed!
Ooh yeah! I've got it bad
Got it bad
Got it bad
I'm hot for teacher
Whoa!
Oh! Oh, yes, I'm hot
Wow!
Oh my God!
Woo!
10 Why Can't This Be Love (03:45)
Whoa, here it comes
That funny feeling again
Winding me up inside
Every time we touch
Hey, I don't know
Oh, tell me where to begin
'Cause I never ever
Felt so much
And I can't recall
Any love at all
Ah baby, this blows 'em all away
It's got what it takes
So tell me why can't this be love?
Straight from my heart
Oh, tell me why can't this be love?
I tell myself
Hey, only fools rush in
And only time will tell
If we stand the test of time
All I know
You've got to run to win
And I'll be damned if I'll get
Hung up on the line
Hey!
No, I can't recall
Anything at all
Oh, baby this blows them all away
Woo!
It's got what it takes
So tell me why can't this be love?
You want it straight from the heart
Oh, tell me why can't this be love?
Woo!
It's got what it takes
So tell me why can't this be love?
Straight from my heart
Oh, tell me why can't this be love?
Baby why can't this be love
Got to know why can't this be love?
I wanna know why can't this be love?
11 Dreams (04:54)
World turns black and white
Pictures in an empty room
Your love starts fallin' down
Better change your tune
Yeah, you reach for the golden ring
Reach for the sky
Baby, just spread your wings
We'll get higher and higher
Straight up we'll climb
We'll get higher and higher
Leave it all behind
Run, run, run away
Like a train runnin' off the track
Got the truth bein' left behind
Falls between the cracks
Standin' on broken dreams
Never losin' sight, ah
Well, just spread your wings
We'll get higher and higher
Straight up we'll climb
We'll get higher and higher
Leave it all behind
So baby dry your eyes
Save all the tears you've cried
Oh, that's what dreams are made of
'Cause we belong in a world that must be strong
Oh, that's what dreams are made of
Yeah, we'll get higher and higher
Straight up we'll climb
Higher and higher
Leave it all behind
Oh, we'll get higher and higher
Who knows what we'll find?
So baby dry your eyes
Save all the tears you've cried
Oh, that's what dreams are made of
Oh baby, we belong in a world that must be strong
Oh, that's what dreams are made of
And in the end, on dreams we will depend
'Cause that's what love is made of
13 Poundcake (05:22)
Ahh, yeah
Yeah, she's gotta have soul
Or it won't feel right
We'll just play, clean and simple
Wrapped up, nice and tight
In a home grown and down home
That makes a woman
Cookin' up that old time, long lost recipe, for me
It's gettin' hard to find
Guess it ain't hip enough now
You take an average guy
Who can't identify
And there's a short supply
Ooh, of the fine, fine stuff
Lemme get on, lemme get on, lemme get on some of that
Shake it up, pick it out nice
Lemme get on, lemme get on, lemme get on outta there
I still love my baby's poundcake
Home grown and down home
Yeah, that's the woman
Still cookin' up an old time, long lost recipe
Lemme get on some of that
Uh ha, uh ha, ho
Uh ha, uh ha, ho
I want some of that
Uh ha, uh ha, ho
Gimme some of that
Uh ha, uh ha, ha
Oh, got some real fine poundcake
I've been out there
Tried a little bit of everything
But it's all sex without love
I found the real thing is poundcake
Home grown and down home
Yeah, that's the woman
Still cookin' with that old time, long lost recipe, yeah, woo
She's down home and down home
Ohh, that's my woman
Gimme some of that
Uh ha, uh ha, ho
Uh ha, uh ha, ho
Lemme hold that
Uh ha, uh ha, ho, uh!
Uh ha, uh ha ho, yeah
Home grown and down home, woo
C'mon, baby
Gimme some of that
Gimme some of that
Home grown, way down home, yeah
Uh ha, uh ha, ho, yeah
Gimme some of that, woo
C'mon baby
14 Right Now (05:21)
Don't wanna wait 'til tomorrow
Why put it off another day?
One by one, little problems
Build up, and stand in our way, oh!
One step ahead, one step behind it
Now you gotta run to get even
Make future plans I'll dream about yesterday, hey!
Come on turn, turn this thing around
(Right now)
Hey! It's your tomorrow
(Right now)
Come on, it's everything
(Right now)
Catch your magic moment
Do it right here and now
It means everything
Miss a beat, you lose the rhythm
And nothin' falls into place, aah
Only missed by a fraction
Slipped a little off your pace, oh!
The more things you get, the more you want
Just trade in one for another
Workin' so hard to make it easy
Whoa, got to turn, come on, turn this thing around
(Right now)
Hey! It's your tomorrow
(Right now)
Come on, it's everything
(Right now)
Catch that magic moment
Do it right here and now
It means everything
It's enlightened me
Right now
What are you waitin' for?
Ohh, yeah
Right now
(Right now)
Hey! It's your tomorrow
(Right now)
Come on, it's everything
(Right now)
Catch that magic moment
And do it right
(Right now)
Ohh, right now
It's what's happening
Right here and now
Right now, it's right now
Ohh
Tell me, what are you waitin' for?
Turn this thing around
15 Can't Stop Lovin' You (04:08)
Hah!
There's a time and place for everything, for everyone
We can push with all our might, but nothin's gonna come
Oh no, nothin's gonna change
And if I asked you not to try
Oh, could you let be?
I wanna hold you and say
We can't throw this all away
Tell me you won't go, you won't go
Do you have to hear me say?
I can't stop lovin' you
And no matter what I say or do
You know my heart is true, ohh
I can't stop loving you
You change your friends, your place in life, you can change your mind
We can change the way we say and do anytime
Oh no, but I think you'll find
That when you look inside your heart
Oh baby, I'll be there, yeah!
Hold on
I'm holding on
Baby, just come on, come on, come on
I just wanna hear you say
I can't stop lovin' you
And no matter what you say or do
You know my heart is true, ohh
I can't stop lovin' you
Oh, I'm so twisted and tied
And all I remember
Was how hard we tried
Only to surrender
And when it's over
I know how it's gonna be
And true love will never die
Ohh, not fade away
And I can't stop lovin' you
No matter what I say or do
You know my heart is true, ohh
I can't stop lovin' you
And I know what I got to do
Hey Ray, what you said is true, ohh
I can't stop lovin' you, ohh
Ohh, I can't stop lovin' you
16 Humans Being (05:10)
There is just enough Christ in me
To make me feel almost guilty
Is that why God made us breed
To make us see we're humans being?
You break this, I'll break all that
You break my balls with all your crap
Spread your disease like lemmings breeding
That's what makes us humans being
Shine on, shine on
Shine on, shine on
Yeah, some low life flat head scum infects
The sickness in his eyes reflects
You wonder why your life is screaming
Wonder why you're humans being
Shine on, shine on
Shine on, shine on
Humans
Humans being
We're just humans (That's what makes us)
Humans being (That's what makes us)
We're just humans (That's what makes us)
Humans being (That's what makes us)
We're just humans (That's what makes us)
Humans being (That's what makes us humans being)
We're just humans (That's what makes us)
Humans being (That's what makes us humans being)
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