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Hello, I'm a student at Cal State Fullerton in CA. I am working towards a Bachelors degree in Arts and Music and I'm seeking some information on Van Halen for a paper I'm writing for Music History. While searching the name "Van Halen" this site came up. I searched around and came up with a idea. Would any of you be willng to answer some questions about Van Halen for me. Questions like "What made them so popular?", "What makes you still love them?" Things like that. I haven't really put the list together since I just got this idea. I could post the questions here or email them to you if you'd like to help.
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Post your questions here. I'm sure you'll get some answers.Same ole song and dance... -
Yep, post them here, people will answer....
I wish I had been able to write papers on topics like that in college!The Power Of The Riff Compels MeComment
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Unfortunately it looks like your questions are rather subjective, so you'll probably get more "opinions" than you will "information."
But what the fuck...give it a shot.Originally posted by perilouspete
fryingdutchman you pretty much own everyone.....sick comebacks, well put. top class wit.Comment
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You Gotta MoveComment
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Yes indeed, Lyndsey, post your questions here, you'll sure get what you're looking for.Originally posted by Lyndsey
Would any of you be willng to answer some questions about Van Halen for me. Questions like "What made them so popular?", "What makes you still love them?" Things like that.
In no time. Nodoubt.
You knocked the right door.
posted by Ellyllions Men say, "I'll never understand women." That's a very lonely place to be if you're a woman because we don't understand half of what we do either.posted by ALinChainz Katy, Pipe down, pump off, and fly back to your cave you old bat.Comment
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When you've written your paper, post that here too!The Power Of The Riff Compels MeComment
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Wow cool.
By all means, ask away.
We here at the Army are some of the most knowleageable VH/DLR fans on the planet!
No need for Wikipedia!
=V V=
ole No.1 The finest
EAT US AND SMILEComment
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Oh great! Thanks.
I'm leaving for the weekend to go jet skiing with my friends. I'll work on the list of questions there and put it up when I get back.
Here's one to get it started maybe.
What is it about this band that allows them to hold on to their fan base long after the band has put out a new record.
This was my brothers answer.
"It's like having the best sex of your life but it happens to be with your ex-girlfriend. Sure you'll have sex again but it will never be as good and it will always be compared to the best, making it less exciting and satisfying. You can't help but go back to it."Comment
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Post some pics of your trip when you get back.
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"What is it about this band that allows them to hold on to their fan base long after the band has put out a new record?"
During the Roth years, I'd say it was the continuity combined with the progression. The band not only grew from album to album, but also delivered the goods that Van Halen I (the debut album, 1978) set the groundwork for.
It was a growth of ideas and experimentation musically, yes, but it also stayed true to the thematic elements of the music that Van Halen I laid down - in this way, the fans always saw the recognizable features of Van Halen (Michael Anthony's bass lines and backing vocals, Alex Van Halen's distinctive percussion, Edward Van Halen's guitar virtuosity and David Lee Roth's lyrical wit and allegory)...but they also saw a growth from those parameters into new fields, taking the sound and the attitude with it.
Van Halen was...in it's sound and imagery...the ongoing summer party on the beach that started in the afternoon and went on until next week...or whenever...and what's not to love about that?
It's important to state that all four of them had a major hand in it, but the faces of the band were David and Edward...in their own right, they were the "star power" and the magazine covers to sell to the kids...action, drama, suspense...what kind of unimaginable guitar trickery would Eddie pull off next? What on Earth could David say to top that?
They kept the audience rapt and did it with talent, chemistry and showmanship.
That declined for me, personally, in later years - essentially, the Van Hagar era..."5150" seemed a lazy affair, opting to become more radio-friendly (i.e. "safer") instead of pursuing the same oneupmanship of themselves as they had done 1978-1985. Subsequent releases with Sammy Hagar, in my opinion, showed more laziness than progression...Twistin' by the pool.Comment
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Well said Lord Vader!!!!!!!!Comment
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I know!Originally posted by ULTRAMAN VH
Well said Lord Vader!!!!!!!!
And people think all I talk about is Sheep Pen!
Ha, I say! Ha!Twistin' by the pool.Comment
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Good question.Originally posted by Lyndsey
What is it about this band that allows them to hold on to their fan base long after the band has put out a new record?
A lot of people would probably say i's about how great the songs were, or about how influencial and unique Eddie's playing was. Whilst both those facotrs probably have something to do with it, I think there is another more crucial aspect: feeling.
Great music is timeless. The reason for that is the communication of a feeling, an emotion, that a wide vairety of people can identify with. With the Roth-era VH you had this unbelievable energy that just does not age, everytime you play one of those records you feeli it and it makes me grin from ear to ear.
The Roth records also had a spontanaeity to them, a crackle and pop - most of the music was recorded live in the studio with the band playing together, and that means there is a really human element to it, you can feel four guys playing music, the oneness of a band.
On top of that you have songs about sex, frugs and rock n roll: the fun factor was always on 11 with those guys, every night is Saturday night.
In short, the longevity of the fanbase is due to the timeless energy of the music.The Power Of The Riff Compels MeComment
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