Eddie Van Halen with some wise words to the prelates of the One True Church

Eddie Van Halen passed away last week. I was a big fan back in the day, so I had to write something. We can’t know the state of Eddie’s soul, and I realize it probably isn’t good, but we are allowed to pray that somehow he made it.

He was famous for his guitar work, or course, but he also played piano and organ/synth, overdubbing almost every song in the studio, with drums and bass coming later. I provide a delightful example below.

The original band with David Lee Roth at lead vocals came roaring out of the gate outrageously in 1978. They had been signed by the label as much for their showmanship as for the music. Alas, this became somewhat tiresome toward the end, IMHO, and the last album with this lineup, 1984, is pure garbage oversynth pop. I can’t even listen to it. Opinions may vary.

The band came back two years later with Sammy Hagar up front, and a new sound, which sits much better in my ear to this day. The synth was back in check, and eventually gave way to more piano and straight organ to accompany the always excellent guitar. The song I present here is off the third album with this lineup, and is one of my favorites. It is notable for the “cold open” piano solo that transitions from soft melody into a hard blitz mixed with guitar licks. Lyrics finally kick in at 1:18, followed by some soaring organ at 1:38. Remember, the guitar, piano, organ… that’s all Eddie.

I do hope there are some prelates reading this RIGHT NOW who might consider the lyrics and do something RIGHT NOW about the Bergoglian Antipapacy. This one goes out to Pope Benedict XVI, the one and only living pope RIGHT NOW, and since April 2005.

Right Now

Don’t want to wait ’til tomorrow
Why put it off another day
One more walk through the problem
Built up, and stand in our way

One step ahead, one step behind
Now you gotta run to get even
Make future plans, don’t dream about yesterday,
C’mon turn, turn this thing around

Right now,
It’s your tomorrow
Right now,
It’s everything
Right now,
Catch a magic moment, do it
Right here and now
It means everything

7 thoughts on “Eddie Van Halen with some wise words to the prelates of the One True Church”

  1. I’ve been thinking a lot about Eddie since the news last week. I liked Van Halen back in the day but I can’t say that I loved them. That was mostly because I didn’t think David Lee Roth was a good singer and his flamboyancy was revolting – not a likable guy at all. Eddie on the other hand, despite his very public battles with booze, drugs, divorce and re-marriage, did seem likable. Not only was he a talented musician (apparently he could not read sheet music) but he always had a smile on his face despite his self-inflicted pain. When God causes you to think about someone so much who you aren’t attached to, I think it’s His way of saying that this person (or their soul) needs your prayers to compensate for the people not praying for them. And so, I’ve said a Rosary for him to be purified in the fullness of time and ultimately, achieve the Beatific Vision.

  2. Van Halen transitioned from one “irreplaceable” lead singer to another better than any band since Genesis transitioned from Gabriel to Collins. I enjoy a lot of the early VH catalog, but the Van Hagar years are superior to my ears. They were just more even-keeled with Hagar out front, and always managed to deliver accessible, well-crafted, distinctive rock music. Obviously, EVH was the creative force behind it. He was a special talent.

    RIP, Eddie.
    https://youtu.be/mN8Ncoenewg

  3. O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of Hell; lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy Mercy.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.