MTV: An Open Letter To Van Halen: Please Do Not Make An Album

[Va Beach VH Fan]

I must admit, he has some valid points....

http://newsroom.mtv.com/2010/08/11/van-halen-new-album/

Understand this: I love Van Halen. Like, seriously adore them. Whereas I have a deep understanding of bands like Radiohead and the Hold Steady and Soundgarden, my feelings for Van Halen are entirely visceral. Whatever chemical reaction happens when you really like a song happens thirty times stronger every time I queue up "Panama" or "Hot for Teacher." According to my pleasure centers, those first few Van Halen albums are absolutely perfect. I recognize that they are sort of empty (frontman David Lee Roth really only sang about his sexual conquests and his potential sexual conquests), but they make me feel good anyway. Let me put it this way: If I were to rank my 20 favorite songs of all time, there would probably be three Van Halen songs in there ("Panama" and "Runnin' With the Devil" would be shoo-ins, with "Everybody Wants Some!!" probably sneaking in there towards the end).

So it would be logical that I would be excited about the concept of the band hitting the studio for a new album with David Lee Roth at the helm. But really, it just fills me with dread. And it fills me with dread because even though I love Van Halen, their batting average with new music is way, way down over the past, oh, 20 years or so.

Let's make another thing clear: As soon as Roth left the band to pursue solo work, Van Halen ceased being Van Halen. They became Van Hagar, and they became infinitely less interesting. Sure, they had moments of occasional transcendence (OU812 has some reasonable moments, and "Poundcake" pretty much rules), but they mostly trafficked in stuff like "Why Can't This Be Love" and "Right Now" — huge hits, to be sure, but lacking in the fierceness of their early work.

But with Roth back on vocals, shouldn't that be cause for rejoicing? Not necessarily. Back in 1996, Van Halen released Best Of Volume I, which contained a bunch of the band's hits and a pair of new tracks with Roth on vocals (this was after they had that one disastrous album with Extreme's Gary Cherone singing lead). They made a big deal out of Roth's (short-lived) return (the "reunion" lasted only a little longer than their appearance at the MTV Video Music Awards in 1996), but one thing that sort of got overlooked was the fact those two new songs — "Can't Get This Stuff No More" and "Me Wise Magic" — aren't any good at all. "Me Wise Magic" definitely tries to hit the heights of the earlier work, but ultimately the stuff comes up short. It's possible that Roth wasn't really ready to work at the time, or it's possible that the band was still in the mindset of writing for Cherone, or it's possible that they just forgot what made them great in the first place.

So you could approach this one of two ways. Either you think that Eddie Van Halen has been writing continuously for a decade-and-a-half and will have his pick of hundreds of compositions for a great album, or you think that Eddie lost his touch years ago and has no hope. Either way, I only want to live with Van Halen II and Fair Warning and Diver Down. Roth and Eddie are both icons, so making new music will only diminish their legacy. Because once you're written "Jump," all you can do is fall.

What do you think of an idea of a new Van Halen album? Let us know in the comments!

[Va Beach VH Fan]

My .02...

1) The gap between 1984 and 2010 cannot be overlooked, in several viewpoints. Not only in the age of the band themselves, but with Roth's voice, a possible lack of fire/energy, etc....

2) Specifically pointing towards MWM and CGTSNM is unfair as to what we would see with a new album. Contrary to what many people say here, I agree with this dude, I don't like either of them.... On MWM, they had Dave singing way too high, and it sounded like crap....

[chefcraig]

Yeah, when Dave goes for that upper register stuff, you really feel like cringing. And he was doing it as recently as the Diamond Dave album, on the "Thug Pop" track. I didn't notice it so much on "MWM", mainly because his vocals had so many treatments on them it could have been Robert Plant toward the end of Led Zeppelin.

[Romeo Delight]

Some of my favourite moments from the last tour were the blues influenced improvisations.

They should do what comes naturally now...not necessarily trying to recreate what they did in the past.

I think VH is capable of an incredible album, but not if it is bogged down in a vision that some producer buddy Edward hand-picked.

Chances are pretty slim it will be great but not impossible.

[indeedido]

Back in 1996, Van Halen released Best Of Volume I, which contained a bunch of the band's hits and a pair of new tracks with Roth on vocals (this was after they had that one disastrous album with Extreme's Gary Cherone singing lead). ........ It's possible that Roth wasn't really ready to work at the time, or it's possible that the band was still in the mindset of writing for Cherone, or it's possible that they just forgot what made them great in the first place.

Wasn't Ghey Halen circa 1998? Nice fact findings from a big fan that "adores" them.

[ThrillsNSpills]

I'm having She's My Machine flashbacks when I see you guys bring up Dave singing high. He sounded like he was doing Robert Plant moves with the Uh Yeah and at the time I thought he was responding from the criticism of years past about his range. I agree that that doesn't work for him.
However, whether you like or even remember Take Savara it's proof that he can still deliver in the studio even though that was a couple years ago at this point. it comes down to the quality of the songs, and there's got to be a lot to choose from. I don't care if the lyrics are any good or not, just the general vibe of the song and the quality of the performance has to be there obviously, and I think they'll do all they can not to deliver a bad album.

And seriously, for the guy who wrote that piece, if the thought of them doing another album is something he can't handle, then just don't buy or listen to the damn thing. Fuck the tarnished legacy shit, everyone has ups and downs.

[FORD]

OU812 has some reasonable moments???

That guy's on crack. That album was the third worst thing Eddie ever put his name on. VDIII was the worst for a while, but the three Van Hagar songs from 2004 definitely stole the title.

5150 has some reasonable moments, because half the songs were originally written as Van HALEN songs. FUCK even has some reasonable moments, aside from the lyrics and vocals. But OU812?? Totally unlistenable. (Sad thing is, Dave didn't do all that better in 1988, as Skycrapper was his weakest album.)

But there are NO Van Hagar or Van Danniels songs better than the two Van HALEN songs from 1996. None. Only a sheep would say otherwise.

[chefcraig]

Wasn't Ghey Halen circa 1998? Nice fact findings from a big fan that "adores" them.

I mentioned that to the nitwit, in the "comments" section.

[GAR]

My .02... On MWM, they had Dave singing way too high, and it sounded like crap....

Sounded fine to me! But then again, I DIDNT buy it due to yet another split.

[ThrillsNSpills]

And seriously, isn't MTV a reality channel now?
What right do they have to comment, when's the last time they even played a Van Halen video?

[GAR]

OU812 has some reasonable moments??? OU812?? Totally unlistenable.

Girlfriend of mine had a copy, so while I can't say I never listened to it at least once, I can't recall anything likable.

I do remember alot of UN-likable screaming, and having to track-advance the next song.

Guess I skipped right thru some "reasonable moments"..

You know what? Come to think about it: I really HAVENT heard the whole thing thru and I don't give a shit either way if there was a toe-tapper or two in there because of all the shrieking shit on it from the singer.

UNPALATABLE should have been the operative word here in the article..

[GAR]

And seriously.. when's the last time they even played a Van Halen video?

Oh that's an easy answer: Last Weekend.

You see, the parent owner of MTV created a bait-n-switch channel called VH1. Sometimes you see MTV sitcom reruns, sometimes rock-docu movies interviews or actual Music Videos there.

[sadaist]

OU812 has some reasonable moments???

That guy's on crack. That album was the third worst thing Eddie ever put his name on. VDIII was the worst for a while, but the three Van Hagar songs from 2004 definitely stole the title.

5150 has some reasonable moments, because half the songs were originally written as Van HALEN songs. FUCK even has some reasonable moments, aside from the lyrics and vocals. But OU812?? Totally unlistenable. (Sad thing is, Dave didn't do all that better in 1988, as Skycrapper was his weakest album.)

But there are NO Van Hagar or Van Danniels songs better than the two Van HALEN songs from 1996. None. Only a sheep would say otherwise.

ABSOFUCKINLUTELY CORRECT!

It's like you & me share our VH brain cells. (Although i think you have been more mean to yours with the microbrews)


The only difference is with the 3 Hagar songs from 2004 and Cherone III album. How can you really say which is worse? I mean, once something is so bad, it is really indecipherable from something else just as bad. I'm having a hard time explaining, but I think you catch my drift. Both equally awful groups of songs and it makes me sick to think of listening to them carefully enough to say which group is worse.

I actually liked Eddies porn songs better than Up For Breakfast or It's About Time.

[BITEYOASS]

BITEYOASS: Open letter to MTV.

Go fuck yourselves! And play some fuckin music for a change, preferably music that doesn't deep throat donkey dick. While your at it, take those stupid fuckin reality shows off the air, NOW!

Miserably Yours,

BITEYOASS

P.S. If you don't like that, then go eat a dick!

[sadaist]

I suppose the only "moment" OU812 had was Cabo Wabo. Not that I like the song mind you. But any tune a guy can take and turn into a $100 million + idea could be considered a "moment". He took 1 song idea, turned it into quite the lifestyle and empire. Funny thing though...nowadays I bet most people that go to that bar in Cabo San Lucas during Spring Break have not even heard the song.

[sadaist]

I don't give a shit either way if there was a toe-tapper or two in there

LMFAO!

I don't know dude, but for some reason "toe-tapper" made me spit my soda out laughing. Fucking grate!

[Terry]

Outside of getting the chronology of the BOV1 tracks and the recording of the Cherone album wrong (a simple case of sloppy fact checking) and some complimentary comments directed towards a couple of Van Hagar tracks (more a matter of taste than anything else), I can't say as I don't share some of the same feelings with the main point of the article: Ed, from all appearances, has been washed up on the creative front for years.

By this I mean that while Ed has come up with new music since Roth quit in 1985, very little of it has meant much of anything to me and the last full length album released under the name Van Halen didn't even the merit of many fully realized song ideas. Just a bunch of wanking. If I am honest, Dave hasn't really done much on the creative front in the last ten years that has floored me, either. Solid live performances, but in the end solid live performances reprising past glories.

Put in another way, I might not share the opinion that Van Halen shouldn't make an album at this juncture, but my expectations for such a venture are so low that it wouldn't have to be in the same league as the 6-pack to be considered decent since for me the bar is set WAY fucking low for these guys these days.

However, even a less-than-stellar Roth/Ed album isn't going to tarnish what the band did from 1974 to 1984. If a decade of Hagar didn't diminish what CVH meant to me, nothing will. The curious part is why "MTV" in the form of the person writing the letter would even give a shit. MTV doesn't have anything to do with music anymore, and hasn't for at least a decade. On the other hand, neither has Van Halen really.

[what waz zat]

A new album could be great or just average although average for VH is still good for most. The reason I think it will be good is because Dave is involved from the start and he will not want to sign on a VH album that does not sound good or have the "VH sound" to it. It is probably why they are taking their time and going bacvk and forth about what sounds good. That's what make the DLR and EVH combo great.

[GAR]

BITEYOASS: Open letter to MTV.

Go fuck yourselves! And play some fuckin music for a change!

What he sz Viacom: You haven't been relevant to modern music in two decades, go eat DICK or play some fucking MUSIC

[Northern Girl]

The reason I think it will be good is because Dave is involved from the start and he will not want to sign on a VH album that does not sound good or have the "VH sound" to it.

I hope that is true, because Dave likes some bad shit IMO. He likes all that techno pop crap.

I'm apprehensive to say the least. I'd rather have no music than bad music.

[Hardrock69]

VH is going through what Led Zep is....(what's left of it anyway).

They have to compete with their younger selves.

And that is a tough proposition.

[VanHalenFan5150]

i must admit, he has some valid points....

http://newsroom.mtv.com/2010/08/11/van-halen-new-album/

understand this: I love van halen. Like, seriously adore them. Whereas i have a deep understanding of bands like radiohead and the hold steady and soundgarden, my feelings for van halen are entirely visceral. Whatever chemical reaction happens when you really like a song happens thirty times stronger every time i queue up "panama" or "hot for teacher." according to my pleasure centers, those first few van halen albums are absolutely perfect. I recognize that they are sort of empty (frontman david lee roth really only sang about his sexual conquests and his potential sexual conquests), but they make me feel good anyway. Let me put it this way: If i were to rank my 20 favorite songs of all time, there would probably be three van halen songs in there ("panama" and "runnin' with the devil" would be shoo-ins, with "everybody wants some!!" probably sneaking in there towards the end).

So it would be logical that i would be excited about the concept of the band hitting the studio for a new album with david lee roth at the helm. But really, it just fills me with dread. And it fills me with dread because even though i love van halen, their batting average with new music is way, way down over the past, oh, 20 years or so.

Let's make another thing clear: As soon as roth left the band to pursue solo work, van halen ceased being van halen. They became van hagar, and they became infinitely less interesting. Sure, they had moments of occasional transcendence (ou812 has some reasonable moments, and "poundcake" pretty much rules), but they mostly trafficked in stuff like "why can't this be love" and "right now" — huge hits, to be sure, but lacking in the fierceness of their early work.

But with roth back on vocals, shouldn't that be cause for rejoicing? Not necessarily. Back in 1996, van halen released best of volume i, which contained a bunch of the band's hits and a pair of new tracks with roth on vocals (this was after they had that one disastrous album with extreme's gary cherone singing lead). They made a big deal out of roth's (short-lived) return (the "reunion" lasted only a little longer than their appearance at the mtv video music awards in 1996), but one thing that sort of got overlooked was the fact those two new songs — "can't get this stuff no more" and "me wise magic" — aren't any good at all. "me wise magic" definitely tries to hit the heights of the earlier work, but ultimately the stuff comes up short. It's possible that roth wasn't really ready to work at the time, or it's possible that the band was still in the mindset of writing for cherone, or it's possible that they just forgot what made them great in the first place.

So you could approach this one of two ways. Either you think that eddie van halen has been writing continuously for a decade-and-a-half and will have his pick of hundreds of compositions for a great album, or you think that eddie lost his touch years ago and has no hope. Either way, i only want to live with van halen ii and fair warning and diver down. Roth and eddie are both icons, so making new music will only diminish their legacy. Because once you're written "jump," all you can do is fall.

What do you think of an idea of a new van halen album? Let us know in the comments!

fuck mtv!

[fryingdutchman]

I think the thing that's most interesting is that someone from MTV is trying to appear credible as a source of "music critique." MTV ceased to have music as it's primary mission MANY years ago.

That said, I agree with VA Beach that there is some worthwhile reading in there.

There are parts of me that think it may no longer be the best idea to release new material. Perhaps if it came out closer to the heels of the tour, it would have been more accepted.

But now....the risk/reward scenario definitely leads toward the "unbelievable train wreck that totally mars the legacy of a band that once ruled the planet" outcome. Of course, VH has done plenty since 1984 to ruin their legacy. But that time with Roth between the early 70's and 1984 remains pristine and untouched for most of us, almost sacred....really.

Crashing, burning and embarrassing themselves now would taint whatever "good" is left in the legacy...

[sadaist]

I honestly believe Eddie & Dave still have it in them to make a record of 10 awesome songs. Remember, these are the guys that hummed Happy Trails while 3 sheets to the wind drunk and made it fucking cool. They didn't even need instruments. Something about the 2 together that just sounds right...no matter how sloppy, or drunk, or hastily recorded, or whatever.

I still believe.

[Va Beach VH Fan]

And seriously, isn't MTV a reality channel now?
What right do they have to comment, when's the last time they even played a Van Halen video?

I made the mistake of watching about 10 minutes of Jersey Shore with my son last week....

I was so miserable, besides the dumbass show..... I told my son, "you realize how GREAT MTV used to be ?? We'd watch MTV for hours and hours, sometimes all night, just watching great videos !!"

His response, "yeah, but you're old".....

[Dr. Love]

Ou812 has no redeeming songs on it whatsoever. In fact, it has one of the most vile songs I've ever heard in my life on it -- Feels So Good. All of VH 3 was better than that steaming pile (though marginally) I can give him a pass for not knowing the chronology, as he seems to be interested in VH timeline, not Van Hagar or Van Gaylen.

Other than that, I thought MWM and CGTSNM were not THAT bad ... it's easy to hear the strain with Dave but he was given songs with no input on how they were put together. And they were Van Hagar left overs. I think if Dave was involved in the writing it would be better.

[Terry]

I'd like to still believe anything is possible with Roth back in the band too, but the results thus far haven't been astounding.

I mean, at the very least with Dave in the fold one would have hoped it would have produced some restored classic live video releases authorized/sanctioned by the band. Nada even on that front.

[FORD]

Well, admittedly it's not the best situation when you have a band that hasn't made an album in 27 years, haven't recorded together at all in 14 years, and neither of the two principal songwriters involved have written a full album since 1998 (DLR Band and VDIII)

Since then, Eddie's done three Van Hagar songs which were complete shit, even by Van Hagar "standards" and two porno soundtrack instrumentals.

Dave did a full album in 2003, but there was only one original song on it. (Thug Pop). And the Bluegrass thing.

So you don't just have two guys here who haven't written together for a long time. You have two guys who really haven't done much writing, period.

Can the old chemistry come back? The chemistry that fueled 4 goddamn perfect albums, and then two more that weren't bad either, despite their flaws (one with too many covers, the other with too many keyboards)

Jesus, we ask you for this miracle in Your name, Amen.

[GAR]

I honestly believe Eddie & Dave still have it in them to make a record of 10 awesome songs.

I forget where exactly I heard this little piece of trivia, but EVH supposedly has 10 albums.

And they're "in the can" to quote the source. I cannot recall exactly, what that source is, but if you go an average of 9 VH tunes per disc that's actually 90 tunes.

In the can. Like tuna. As in, salted, packed in water and done, right?

(ah so much bullshit on this WebTV you just don't know who's lie it was: EVH drunk, EVH cracked-out, or EVH sober... so many possiblities I no longer am a believer)

[GAR]

http://newsroom.mtv.com/2010/08/11/van-halen-new-album/
What do you think of an idea of a new Van Halen album? Let us know in the comments!

I have only one thing to say to MTV when fetching public comment on VH: Us Festival. Okay, you got you idiots?

[Terry]

Well, admittedly it's not the best situation when you have a band that hasn't made an album in 27 years, haven't recorded together at all in 14 years, and neither of the two principal songwriters involved have written a full album since 1998 (DLR Band and VDIII)

Since then, Eddie's done three Van Hagar songs which were complete shit, even by Van Hagar "standards" and two porno soundtrack instrumentals.

Dave did a full album in 2003, but there was only one original song on it. (Thug Pop). And the Bluegrass thing.

So you don't just have two guys here who haven't written together for a long time. You have two guys who really haven't done much writing, period.

Can the old chemistry come back? The chemistry that fueled 4 goddamn perfect albums, and then two more that weren't bad either, despite their flaws (one with too many covers, the other with too many keyboards)

Jesus, we ask you for this miracle in Your name, Amen.

The old chemistry probably had much to do with the youth of the band and the desire to make it. The band ain't young no more, and when you can sell out a tour of sizable arenas without a lick of new music recorded, it's all too easy to go that route.

Just trying to live up to those first 6 albums...I mean, and you're 100% right that even the last two albums of the 6-pack displayed signs that the band had already slightly peaked back in 1981...gotta be tough to live up to a legend, agreed.

Then again, if they're gonna flog that legend to make a cash grab the questions of "when are they gonna record new stuff" will persist...fuck, as long as Roth and Eddie are still vertical the questions are gonna persist. Even when Ed was at his meth-mouthed worst in 2006 and Roth had tanked commerically with his radio show stint and was doing bluegrass versions of Jump, people still would ask them when they were getting back together.

[BITEYOASS]

I made the mistake of watching about 10 minutes of Jersey Shore with my son last week....

I was so miserable, besides the dumbass show..... I told my son, "you realize how GREAT MTV used to be ?? We'd watch MTV for hours and hours, sometimes all night, just watching great videos !!"

His response, "yeah, but you're old".....

Well here's a few comeback lines you could try:

Yeah, but you have no balls.

Yep I'm old, but I've have more pussy than you've had square meals. The only pussy you've had is the one you came out of.

No I'm just wise, and your just gay.

[Unchainme]

You're not going to be able to touch any of the six pack, period.

however, it's not out of the question that they could still make a decent rock record. Just depends on the angle..

Guns N' Roses were able to pull it off, the record sounded very UYI-esque, and turned out great. It's all but an Axl-solo project, but still it didn't

Aerosmith did okay when they went for a blues-based sound on "Honkin' on bobo".

AC/DC was terrible, though I think that can be said about every other album they've made since "On the Razor's Edge".

And Nikki Sixx's solo project is the case and point of what to avoid. The bitchy "open your eyes" song was fucking pathetic, trying to hard to sound like the whine-rock nickelback/three days grace shit.

The key is just to stick to a record that would be something they would make, not to cater to the masses.

[redblkwht]

First and formost, MTV IS NOT MTV anymore..
2ndly, If the asshole doesn't want music, don't buy the fucking Cd!

Remember its 1 person's opinion & ya'll know what opinions are..lol
MTV is nonsense Television, & not musicically interested in anything they used to be
except survivor, & kardashian plastic superficial people shit on the tube..they suck IMO
next thread!

thx Va..

[DaveTheScott]

This whole discussion assumes, of course, that the album rumors are true...now that we've pushed the "I Believe" button...

I think one of the biggest questions in everyone's mind is how these fuckers are going to present themselves. On one hand, they might try to recreate the aura of CVH. Beer drinkin', limosine ridin, jet-plane flyin', fuck yer gurlfriend rock n roll. BAD IDEA. They haven't been that kind of band in 20 years. They have a 17 year-old kid in the band that would probably rather be playing Farmville on Facebook and jamming with Kings of Leon or some other whiney shit. They ditched one of their original members that, like it or not, was a staple of their sound AND their persona. Woofie can run around the stage sucking down Jack in a wife beater, and even though he's as sloppy (Hot Topic sloppy, not rock n roll sloppy) as Mike, it aint Mike and I aint buying it. Piped vocals or not.

They could "reinvent" themselves into some boutique, mod-indie-socially-conscious corporate machine (think U2 meets metallica) and throw a bunch of electronic overdubs, sound effects (hell, throw in some autotune too) and other shit on the record to make everything sound slick and cover up the shit they just can't do anymore. BAD IDEA. They're old. They're known for old shit. Didn't work for Aerosmith, and hasn't worked for anyone else. Hardcore fans don't wanna hear that shit, won't like that shit, and after the first listen we'll all be on here bitching about waiting around for so long only to be shit on. I think Dave could pull it off on his own, but not with the rest of the band.

They could release an album with a few remakes (TYWH or Romeo Delight get my vote), three or four new songs (MWM-esque is fine, but they can't hit those vocals anymore anyway) and maybe an attempt at another solo track from Ed, or better yet, give Woof a shot at a bass solo (which will be played by Ed on the album) - or howabout an acoustic number from Dave? NOT A GOOD IDEA, BUT PROBABLY THE SAFEST IDEA.

Bottom line, my fellow forum fuckers, fuckheads, fuck-offs and fucktards - if they don't knock whatever they decide to do completely out of the park, they're done. And they won't get any sympathy from me. Dave can go solo, the rest of the band can vanish for all I care and life will go on.

Cheers.

[GAR]

I hope they release Van Halen Guitar Hero 2 and piss everybody off with a MWM-2 type inclusion, then tour on the strength of that, pissing everyones expectations and ruining it for the remaining fans in 2011

No mikey- me no likey. I ain't goin.

[conmee]

Brethren and Sistren,

I just listened my way through OU812 and I rate it a "nine on a ten scale..." I'll often go to the OU812 well and play it loud enough to keep small children and stray animals out of the front yard.

That is all.

Icon©®™

[Halen High]

MWM and CGTSNM are not classics but I like them. Eddie had a fire in his playing that had been missing since 1984 and with Dave back they at least sounded like Van Halen again.

I think a new VH album will take a more mature approach with a couple of heavy rockin party tunes to really announce CVH is back, minus the bass player.

And remember - they made 6 great albums with Dave. A 100% success rate. So why think they won't give us a 7th?

[Halen High]

I believe Andrew at Melodicrock has credible sources and he has stated that VH have been recording with Dave on and off for months, working with several producers. I don't believe this means a new album is a sure thing - they almost finished an album about 10 years ago and we never heard it - but the signs are positive.

[ZahZoo]

Fuck the open letter... they got it all wrong.

Look, the legacy of the classic 6-pack is firmly cemented in histroy and our brains. It ain't goin no where!! No matter what Ed, Al & Dave can churn out today it can't take away the magic created in 78-84.

I don't expect today's VH to turn out another Panama, or Everybody Wants Some... I did see/hear some very fine magic from the 07/08 tour though that could produce some excellent results for new material. Take that 3-4 minutes of improv in the middle of the set in which Ed and Dave just farted around with Harley noises, a stiff shot of blues and some classic blues based covers. Take that stuff and throw it in the creative pot to be used as your base broth... then make some fucking soup.

That starting point to me and working within that gravel mouth blues register for Dave seems like the perfect springboard to launch some VH hits in 2010. We don't need them singing sappy love songs and creepy middle-aged sexual conquests with our daughters... Sing some happy blues like a man who knows it and lived it... then add some of Dave's humor and debatchary into the lyrics... make it fun and light... that's when VH is at it's best!!