Van Halen vs. Van Hagar

For Van Halen:

David Lee Roth

OK, he became a bit of a clown once parted ways with VH, riding giant inflatable microphones with an even bigger cartoon cowboy hat, smiling like a carnival sideshow huckster. But he also wrote "Running with the Devil", "Panama", "Jamie's Crying", "Everybody Wants Some", "Hot For Teacher", "Unchained", "And The Cradle Will Rock...", "Ain't Talkin' About Love", ETC.

Against Van Hagar:

Sammy Hagar wrote "Why Can't This Be Love", "Dreams", "Love Walks In", "When It's Love", (are you sensing a trend here yet? The guy really wants you to love him. DLR just wants to get in your pants and see how much trouble he can get you in) and a bunch of other stuff. I admit, I did like it when Eddie played the drill on that one song, I think it was "Poundcake".

How about albums? which one would you like to listen to right now?

Van Halen, Van Halen II, Women and Children First, Fair Warning, Diver Down, 1984.

-or-

OU812, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, Van Halen Live: Right Here, Right Now, Balance.

Sorry Gary Cherone, nobody heard your album (Van Halen III), so you don't count.

Here's a look at some lyrics for a couple of popular songs. I don't think it would be fair to pick some that aren't well-known from the radio:

It's got what it takes

so tell me why can't this be love?

straight from the 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

-or-

And when some local kid gets down

they try to drum him out of town

they say "you could have at least faked it boy"

at an early age he hits the street

and winds up tied to who he meets

and he's unemployed

and the cradle will rock

yeah, the cradle will rock

Some music is meant to entertain. It's a friday night and you're with your buds, the beer tastes good and the music rocks your socks off. That's Van Halen to me. Unfortunately, Van Hagar isn't that feeling. And it certainly isn't socially relevant. I don't know what it is, except average songs with a kick-ass guitar player who seems like he's not having nearly as much fun.

Jump back, what's that sound?

Here she comes, full blast and top down.

See you tonight, original Van Halen. Hope you don't let me down.