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"If historically, 1984 will represent for Van Halen and for many fans the album of the consecration, it will also be the last opus with David Lee Roth on vocals."
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5/5
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1984. A year in which Marvin Gaye is shot by his father in the head and Indira Gandhi is murdered by members of his own security. But in this same year another major event, artistic this time and much more positive, will arrive: the release of the sixth album of the group Van Halen.
The formation at that time is well known - especially for its antics - but it has not yet managed to release the album that would allow them to enter the "Hall Of Fame" of Rock. The previous work "Diver Down" was not to the liking of all the members and in particular of Eddie Van Halen who wished to be able to emancipate himself from any form of external - and internal - constraint and thus release a more personal record. To do so, he had his own studio built in his home which he named 5150 (code of psychiatric emergency to intern a person against his will) and locked himself in it to produce the album containing one of the most famous titles in the history of rock music... This title is obviously "Jump" which, along with "Hot For The Teacher" and "Panama", will be played on a loop on the new music channel MTV.
In spite of its miserable length of 33 minutes, 1984 is a huge success. It went platinum six times. It must be said that on the one hand it is a factory of hits and on the other hand it is a sharp contrast to previous productions of Van Halen with its synthesizers that will make the "Van Halen" sound of that time.
Beginning with an entirely synthetic intro, the album proposes from the start the cult song "Jump", almost exclusively constructed by the synthesizers on which is placed one of the famous thundering solos that Eddie has the secret. Then comes the second hit "Panama" which could have gone unnoticed without the solo and especially at the end of the song a break which makes the pressure suddenly to make it rise crescendo via a guitar game all in restraint and feeling.
Let's skip " Top Jimmy " and " Dead Legs " to arrive on a completely delirious " Hot For Teacher " with its drums strongly emphasized, ultra swift and a David Lee Roth who jokes on the verses - accompanied by offbeat sounds - and goes wild on the choruses, but especially to interest us in a track that I personally find rhythmically amazing: " Girls Gone Bad ". This track is the proof that one can bring a lot of speed to a composition without getting excited on the double pedal... This track is four minutes of emergency, four minutes where guitar and drums unite to draw the listener into a whirlwind of sound that will be, as in Panama, only very briefly soothed for a few seconds to start again... In short, four minutes of pure happiness.
If historically, 1984 will thus represent for Van Halen and for many fans the album of consecration, it will also turn out to be the album of consternation and rupture. It will indeed be the last opus with David Lee Roth on vocals. The strong tensions between him and Eddie Van Halen will be solved by the departure of Roth and serious questions about the future of this now mythical formation... - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. 1984
02. Jump
03. Panama
04. Top Jimmy
05. Drop Dead Legs
06. Hot For Teacher
07. I'll Wait
08. Girl Gone Bad
09. House Of Pain
LINEUP:
Alex Van Halen: Batterie
David Lee Roth: Chant
Edward Van Halen: Guitares
Michael Anthony: Basse
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(0) MIND(S) FROM OUR READERS
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(0) COMMENT(S)
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READERS
4.4/5 (8 view(s))
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STAFF:
4.5/5 (14 view(s))
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IN RELATION WITH VAN HALEN
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OTHER REVIEWS
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OTHER(S) REVIEWS ABOUT VAN HALEN
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