#most played songs | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

fuckyeahvanhalen86-95 · 1 year

Text

Counting down the songs Van Halen has played the most in concert offers an interesting perspective on the band's two distinct main eras.

Songs from the band's early years with original singer David Lee Roth dominate the ranking. But Sammy Hagar earns more spots than you might expect, sometimes even with songs that come from his solo career. Even Gary Cherone's brief time in the band affected how high certain songs wind up on the chart.

Seventeen of the 25 songs Van Halen have performed most frequently are taken from the six albums they recorded with Roth between 1978 and 1984, including 14 originals and three covers. Another five come from the four records they released with Hagar over the next 10 years; three more were drawn from Hagar's solo career.

Unsurprisingly, nothing from 1998's Van Halen III, the band's only album with third singer Cherone, made the list. But the 86 shows he played with the band add an extra and occasionally unexpected boost to the totals for several Roth- and Hagar-era songs. Set lists from the Hagar years had even more impact on the fate of several Roth songs. You'd expect Van Halen's lone No. 1 single "Jump" to be the most played song from the band's 1984 album, but Hagar's early and continued support of "Panama" flips that race on its head.

The song counts are courtesy of Setlist.fm and represent Van Halen's live appearances through their 2015 North American tour. Guitar, bass and drum solos are not included in the ranking unless they boast an actual song title.

25. "I Can't Drive 55" (304)

Sammy Hagar's career-defining anthem "I Can't Drive 55" was barely a year old when he joined Van Halen. The song's momentum and popularity could not be denied, so Van Halen kept it in their set lists throughout Hagar's original decade-long tenure with the group, though it was left behind when he came back for an ill-fated reunion tour in 2004.

24 (Tie). "Little Guitars" (310)

One of only a handful of new original songs on 1982's hastily assembled 'Diver Down,' "Little Guitars" has raced up this chart in the 2000s. The 2007 return of Roth brought the unexpectedly sincere and sweet track back into the show, where it has remained for two of their three new-century tours.

24 (Tie). "Feel Your Love Tonight" (310)

Seven of the 11 songs on Van Halen's 1978 debut album have earned a spot on this list, and if Eddie Van Halen's guitar solo "Eruption" was credited as a stand-alone track, that number would be eight. The importance of Michael Anthony's background vocals are on full display here, as he punctuates every one of Roth's verses and serves as a near-equal partner on the choruses.

22. "Dreams" (313)

The second single from 1986's '5150' is the first of five songs from the "Van Hagar" era to appear on this list. Depending on your perspective, this is also either the textbook example of a song that could not or would not happened if Roth had remained in the band. Hagar's fans will contend that Roth could never hit those soaring high notes so smoothly, while Roth's fans would counter by asking exactly why the world's greatest hard-rock guitarist wanted to pretend he was the keyboard player in Journey.

21. "Eagles Fly" (328)

In order to break his recording contract and join Van Halen, Hagar had to promise to make one more album for his record label. Because his bandmates already took extended bass, drum and guitar showcases every night, Hagar would instead perform an acoustic version of this song from that farewell album as his solo spotlight.

20. "Bottoms Up!" (331)

Frequently used as the encore number on Van Halen's 1978 tour, "Bottoms Up!" is one of three songs from 'Van Halen II' to make this list. That ties the album in second place alongside '5150.' They stand just ahead of "Women and Children First," "1984" and "Diver Down," which each place two songs on this list.

19. "Oh, Pretty Woman" (341)

After releasing four albums in as many years, and touring all over the world practically every second in between, Van Halen wanted a break. So, they agreed to record a stand-alone cover of Roy Orbison's "Oh, Pretty Woman" to get their label off their back for a few months. The plan backfired when the song became an unexpected big hit and the label forced the band to quickly assemble a corresponding album. Frustrated by this loss of control, Eddie Van Halen built a recording studio at his house and vowed to fail or succeed with his own material from that point on. This move yielded the band's next big step forward with the '1984' album, but it also kicked off a turf war that contributed to Roth's departure.

18. "Right Now" (345)

After releasing three increasingly keyboard-heavy albums to close out the '80s, Van Halen went back to basic hard-rock guitar on 1991's 'For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge' ... with one exception. The album's big hit single was a piano-based anthem, made even more popular by an innovative, text-heavy video. While the group had previously performed the keyboards live on songs like "Jump" and "Love Walks In," they performed "Right Now" with the help of backing tapes, to allow Eddie Van Halen to focus on his guitar parts.

17. "There's Only One Way to Rock" (387)

Hagar's 1982 solo celebration of all things "rawk" earned itself more Van Halen stage time than "I Can't Drive 55" by serving as the home for a nightly guitar duel between himself and Eddie Van Halen. You might picture Hagar putting on a Washington Generals jersey before each match, but Van Halen was always quick to praise his bandmate's playing. "He gets the point across very well," he said of Hagar in a 1987 'Guitar World' interview. "He's a soulful player."

16. "When It's Love" (388)

The only entry on this list from 1988's 'OU812' may also be Van Halen's most traditional power ballad, right down to the ending "nah nah nah"s. It was the second biggest chart hit of the "Van Hagar" era, receiving an extra boost on this list by being performed nightly on the band's only tour with their third singer, Gary Cherone.

15. "On Fire" (404)

It's not accurate to say vocals are incidental on the closing track from 'Van Halen,' but it's fair to say they're mostly along for the ride. The song exists primarily as a showcase for Eddie Van Halen's arsenal of guitar tricks. It was used as the opening number for the group's 180-show tour in support of the debut album and remained in the set list throughout David Lee Roth's original tenure in Van Halen.

14. "Best of Both Worlds" (428)

This song was the emotional and creative centerpiece of Van Halen's first album with Sammy Hagar and was accordingly performed on every one of this lineup's tours, except for the 1995 run in support of what would become the breakup album, 'Balance.'

13. "Romeo Delight" (483)

"He saws his guitars in pieces and glues them back together and gets these strange sounds out of them," David Lee Roth said of Eddie Van Halen's creative methods in a 1980 interview with 'Rock Stars' magazine. "Romeo Delight" sounds like the result of one particularly inspired round of experiments and served as the band's opening number on both the 1980 World Invasion and 1982-83 Hide Your Sheep tours.

12. "Somebody Get Me a Doctor" (555)

Van Halen built a wealth of original material during their years of performing in Los Angeles clubs before securing a record deal. "Somebody Get Me a Doctor" appeared on both the 1976 demo they recorded with assistance from Gene Simmons and the 25-song tape they made with producer Ted Templeman. Before the song appeared on 'Van Halen II,' the group would occasionally preview it for audiences on the 10-month world tour mounted in support of the 1978 debut LP.

11. "Everybody Wants Some!!" (571)

After burning through the best of their backlog of original songs on their first two albums, Van Halen proved they could also turn around new material quickly, releasing 'Women and Children First' just five months after their 1979 tour ended. This song's tribal-drum introduction and spoken interludes made it a live favorite. Hagar and Cherone never went near it, but it's been featured on every tour with Roth, including the three they've taken since his return in 2007.

10. "Why Can't This Be Love?" (585)

This was the first Sammy Hagar-fronted song Van Halen shared with the world. It was a resounding hit, peaking at No. 3, below only "Jump" in the band's singles chart history. They've played it on every tour with Hagar, as well as on their 1998 shows with Cherone. Roth has never performed a "Van Hagar" song live with Van Halen, though in the group's early days, it covered "Make It Last' by the Hagar-fronted Montrose.

9. "Ice Cream Man" (604)

After "Ice Cream Man" appeared on their debut album, Van Halen's cover of Chicago blues guitarist John Brim's song has become one of the most dependable parts of any Roth-fronted show. Like Hagar's "Eagles Fly," it serves as Diamond Dave's solo showcase each night. Roth plays acoustic guitar and tells stories over an extended version of the song's opening section before being joined by his bandmates for the electric finale.

8. "Dance the Night Away" (606)

The only song written in the studio for 'Van Halen II' became the band's first Top 20 hit. It stayed in their set list until being dropped for the 1984 tour, reemerged with Cherone in 1998 and returned for all reunion tours with Roth.

7. "Jamie's Cryin'" (612)

Long before it was sampled for Tone Loc's 1989 mega-hit "Wild Thing," "Jamie's Cryin'" was one of Van Halen's most popular songs, appearing on their debut LP and on the tours in support of the band's next five albums. It vanished during the Hagar and Cherone years but returned for two of the reunion treks with Roth.

6. "Unchained" (679)

Many of the songs on this list got a four-tour head start. Still, the most popular live cut from 1981's 'Fair Warning' has made some serious gains. In addition to appearing at every Roth-fronted show since its debut, it was featured as the opening song on the Cherone-fronted III tour. Even Hagar sang a version on Van Halen's 80-date 2004 summer tour.

5. "Jump" (680)

Hagar tried to avoid singing his predecessor's biggest hit on his first tour with Van Halen. After he spent early shows on the 5150 run recruiting audience members to take lead vocals on "Jump" for him, the band dropped the song from its set. Hagar handled the singing when the band brought the song back for 1991's 'For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge' tour, and it hasn't left their shows since.

4. "Runnin' With the Devil" (816)

In addition to being a staple at each Roth show, the opening track from Van Halen's debut album got some stage time during the Hagar years: He sang it on the OU812 and 2004 runs. On the latter tour, bassist Michael Anthony would sometimes take over lead-vocal duties. Even after leaving Van Halen, Hagar and Anthony have occasionally performed the song together at Hagar's solo shows.

3. "Panama" (860)

Like "Jump" before it, '1984''s "Panama" overcame a relatively late start by earning unanimous support from all three Van Halen singers. Hagar started performing it at his first show with the band, though, as far as we know, neither he nor Cherone ever swung across the stage with a boombox in his hand while doing so.

1 (Tie). "You Really Got Me" (1224)

Although Eddie Van Halen told 'Guitar World' "it bummed me out" that his label chose a cover as Van Halen's first-ever single, the group certainly didn't hold anything against the Kinks classic when it came time to perform the song live. It has appeared on every Roth and Hagar tour, serving as the opening number on the band's 2007-08 reunion shows with Roth.

1 (Tie). "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" (1224)

One of only two Roth-era originals (along with "Panama") that earned a permanent spot onstage in both the early Hagar years and on the Cherone tour, "Ain't Talkin' Bout Love" is described by longtime producer Ted Templeman as "the perfect rock song, in a way. The guitar part is timeless. You can't get a better riff, Roth's lyrics about disease and standing on the edge are so good." Hagar would live on the edge during performances of the song on the 5150 tour, singing it while dangling high above the crowd on the scaffolding above the stage, as seen in the 'Live Without a Net' home video.

#2020 #lists #van halen #eddie van halen #michael anthony #sammy hagar #david lee roth #alex van halen #wolfgang van halen #gary cherone #most played songs #setlist.fm #rip eddie

9 notes · View notes

qtboni · 11 months

Text

╰﹒ 𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐇𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐒 !

PAIRING: Ooc!Simon 'Ghost' Riley X Reader

OVERVIEW: He lashes out on you + very dismissive over your efforts for him :((

C/W: Angst, no comfort (see p2 for comfort!), mentions of toxic behavior (bcz words), offensive languages, depictions of mental health struggles (anxiety, but js tiny amount). [ fanart credits : ave661 on tumblr ]

W/C: 1.1k bubs

Simon had been going through a lot lately, and you could tell it was taking a toll on him. He had been working overtime at work, and you could see the exhaustion in his eyes every time he came home.

You want to do something special for him, something to lift his spirits up.

The air was charged with anticipation as Simon stepped through the door, making you want to burst out of happiness.

You had been eagerly awaiting his arrival, eager to show him what you'd been working on all day. You had been so excited to do something special for him, and you had gone the extra mile to make this night perfect!

The air, still thick with tension, Simon walked through the hallway. He'd had a long, hard day at work, and the last thing he wanted was to deal with anything else.

Price had been nagging him more than usual on the mission. Simon was tired and just wanted to rest, but Price's constant barrage of questions and commands was starting to get on his nerves.

He tried his best to keep his cool, but he couldn't help feeling a little bit frustrated. Despite his best efforts, he managed to keep his emotions in check and focus on the task at hand.

After the mission was over, Simon was relieved to finally have a moment to himself. He just wanted to rest and have a good night, but there you were, being a nuisance to him.

You could see the weariness in his eyes, as if he were carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. He shrugged off your attempts to engage him, not wanting to deal with the small talk.

As Simon dropped his collection of his military wears in the near cabinet, you approached him, your heart still pounding with excitement.

"Simon," you said, your voice trembling and a cheeky smile forming on your lips. "I've been working on a special surprise for you all day. I made your favorite snacks, decorated the living room, and even picked out a movie I know you'll love! I just wanted to make tonight special."

Simon looked up at you, his expression unreadable. "What?" he asked, his tone sharp and exhaustion palpable in his voice.

Despite his attitude, you pushed forward, eager to show him the cozy living room setup you'd created.

"Ta da!" you exclaimed, gesturing to the cozy space. "I wanted to make our movie night extra special tonight, so I went all out."

You'd decorated it with fairy lights, set out the popcorn and drinks, and made sure the couch was nice and toasty with a mountain of blankets.

"I just wanted to do something special for you," you added, your voice light and upbeat.

Simon's expression fell. He looked at the setup as if it were an annoyance, and you felt your feelings going down the drain.

You tried to hide your disappointment though and put on a cheerful smile, but it was hard to hide the hurt in your eyes. "What's wrong?" you asked hesitantly.

Simon shook his head, and for the first time, you saw the signs of his stress and turmoil. His lips were thin, his brow furrowed, and you could tell that he was struggling just to keep it all together.

"I can't take on one more thing right now," he said, his voice rising with frustration. "I'm exhausted. I can't deal with this right now."

You felt a lump form in your throat as you realized the full extent of your mistake.

"I..."

Your heart sank.

You couldn't believe you hadn't realized how tired he looked, how haggard and stressed. You had been so caught up in your excitement that you had missed the signs, the signals that he couldn't take on any more.

You had been so eager to do something nice for him, and in doing so, you had only added to his burden.

A tense silence fell over the room, and you could feel the tension rising between you. You wanted to comfort him, to make things right, but you didn't know how.

"I'm sorry," you said, your voice barely above a whisper. "I just wanted to do something nice for you."

As you stood there in silence, your heart racing and tears swimming in your eyes, he finally spoke.

"Well, don't," he snapped, his irritation evident in his tone. "I can take care of myself. And I didn't ask for any of these."

You watch as he points to the decorated living room. Your efforts. Your hopes of having a good night of movies with him.

You felt the tears spill over and course down your cheeks.

"I didn't mean to make things worse for you," you said, your voice trembling. "I just wanted to do something nice for you, to lift your spirits. I didn't realize..."

Simon sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"I appreciate the effort, really I do. It's just..." He trailed off, searching for the right words. "Can you just stop being a bother? I can't take on anything else right now. I'm already stretched so thin, and I can't..."

You felt your chest tighten at his words.

You had always known that Simon was a hard worker, but you had never truly appreciated the toll it took on him. You had always been there to support him, to lift him up when he was feeling low, and you had always assumed that he would do the same for you.

At that moment, you realized that you had been asking too much of him. You could see the exhaustion in his eyes and the slump of his shoulders.

The realization hit you like a punch to the gut.

Your voice barely above a whisper, you managed to say, "I... I understand. I shouldn't have pushed you like that."

You could feel the hurt in your chest, like a physical pain that made it hard to breathe.

“Stop being a bother.”

The tears were already falling down your face, and your heart ached with the weight of your mistakes. It was just a reminder of how much you loved him and how desperately you wanted to be with him.

Simon didn't utter another word, just nodded his head, but his silence spoke volumes. An oppressive and heavy sense of unease permeated the air, leaving no doubt that there was nothing else to be said.

You stood there, feeling numb and defeated as you watched him leave to the bedroom.

You had learned a difficult lesson that night, and one that you would never forget. The road to happiness was not always smooth, and sometimes, even the people we love the most can hurt us without meaning to.

Tears filled your eyes over and over again as you realized how much your effort was taken for granted.

In that moment, you didn't understand why he was being so cruel to you, especially when you had put so much thought into making him happy.

All you wanted was to see Simon smile.

A/N: okay.. well.. he was an ass.. HELP simon pookie why would u do this to us? :(( we even made you popcorns and and even bought you your favorite drinks :(( we had to even ask ur best bud soap what kind of movies you like :(( we did so much for you :(( but it's okay ig. . . as long as you can have your rest. . . and well. . . goodnight :((

lmk if you guys need a part 2 cuz i be crying in my sleep

EDIT! part 2 is posted !!

1K notes · View notes