Jumps, Synths, and Eddie Van Halen’s Smile: How ‘Jump’ Changed Hard Rock Forever

What is new, in this case, is what breaks down patterns, schemas, concepts, and dogmas. Van Halen, possibly the most successful hard rock band in the United States of those years. They found success after designing a new type of sound, and especially with their impeccable, creative and innovative style. Eddie Van Halen in the use of electric guitar. That theme was named Bounceand he died Van Halen’s first and only number 1 on best-seller lists throughout its history. However, nothing has been the same since its launch. Not for the band, nor for the metal orthodoxy that had hitherto considered the use of a synthesizer unthinkable.

“Damn how good it sounds, but is this Va Halen? No, it’s impossible, it can’t be.” explosion Bounce It created an unprecedented controversy in the ranks of the group, among fans of the group. hard as a rock, in the music industry, and even in the formation itself. Many did not admit that the band used keyboards in their compositions. It was a direct attack on the principles and flow of a musical genre characterized by sounding heavy. The slightest approach to pop, an almost cursed word for millions of rockers, was neither understood nor accepted. It was the 80s and the musical thinking that dominated many environments made it necessary to choose sides. The band’s own producer, ted temple manI never participated in the introduction of that keyboard and David Lee Rothsinger and songwriter BounceHe left Van Halen after it was aired. 1984album with this song.

Beginnings on the piano

Inside Bounce absolute hero Oberheim OB-Xais an analog synthesizer released in 1980 that delivers full, full-sounding sounds. In fact, Eddie Van Halen already had the song’s chords in mind in 1981, but the rest of the band (apart from David Lee Roth, Alex Van Halendrummer and Eddie’s older brother and Michael Anthony, bassist) had gotten the idea out of his head. Eddie’s relationship with keyboards dates back to his childhood. The Van Halen brothers were born in the Netherlands and their father was a jazz musician. At the age of six, Eddie started playing the piano.

A year later the family would move to Pasadena (California) in the United States. There, little Eddie would continue piano lessons and even give a recital, but soon tried other instruments. While his brother Alex chose the guitar, he chose the drums. Eventually they would exchange instruments and Eddie would show a dedication to the guitar that led him to be an absolute innovator. for his distinctive playing style and unquestionable ability to extract sounds, including characteristic by touching Although he did not invent it, he popularized and consolidated it as a frequently used resource. Eddie’s fingers swept across the curtains extremely quickly, but only then did he make such a sound.

named group creation (they had to leave this sect when they learned that there was already a group with that name) and MammothIt was founded in 1972 before it definitively chose Van Halen. A few years later he released his first recordings (Van Halen1978; And van still ii, 1979) Eddie’s guitar sounded strong, precise, fast, like a cylinder. Both albums were a huge success in the United States. Subsequent recording efforts would cement them as one of the greatest rock bands in the world. states. Therefore, it was extremely paradoxical that Van Halen chose to use a synthesizer in his sixth studio work. It was heavy, punchy music, but this time Eddie wasn’t going to throw in the towel. Equal He built a recording studio in his house.Numbers corresponding to the Los Angeles Police code to warn of cases involving people with mental disorders, which he calls 5150.

One night, Eddie called the band’s producer, Ted Templeman, and told him to listen to his own words. riff synthesis. Van Halen came to Templeman’s house at three in the morning and took him to the studio in his Porsche to demonstrate the chords. The producer eventually gave up and asked Van Halen’s weirdo singer, David Lee Roth, to write the lyrics for the song. There are several theories about this, but the most accepted theory is The vocalist was inspired by a news story that a man she saw on TV threatened to jump off a building. Angeles cityscape. David Lee Roth translated the lyrics to direct the meaning of “Jump” towards “Take the risk” and also “Go for what you want”.

Disk 1984It was published on January 9 of that year and was a entrance synthesizer through presentation without half measures, without ambiguity. This was Eddie Van Halen’s strictly personal claim, and he was unwilling to hide the reality, philosophy, and concept of the album. He believed that hard rock could use a more innovative element., bypassing an unwritten rule. And he definitely won the bet. 10 million copies have been sold worldwide, and Van Halen’s success has spread to every corner of the planet.

lubricated tape

Bounce It was a round, magnetic theme. the synthesizer produced an imperial sound above the rest of the instruments. Chords created by Eddie (Daryl Hall said he understood they were inspired by the ones in his song. The Kiss on My List) conveyed absolute energy and was a real incentive to jump. The catchy keyboard melody was accompanied by a rhythm section where the drums made the typical sound of Alex Van Halen hitting the drums hard. toms and gracefully the bass drum, supplemented by a seemingly simple bass line by Michael Anthony, with a voice overspeed. Eddie Van Halen’s guitar roared raw as if it had been broken, until the solo came, where he went crazy and produced that dizzying sound so characteristic and personal. Then came the keyboard arpeggios, an act of juggling that brought the song to the top. And David Lee Roth, who sends the message, conveys all the dynamism of the piece, with his unique vocal style, by making long pauses in his interventions.

most of his success Bounce because of Video clip that the band released to promote the album and is one of the band’s most released albums. MTV. Simulating a live show, the band members took the stage looking at the cameras with smiles, gestures and gestures that could convey a high dose of energy, vitality and good vibes. The image joined the music to infect the audience with this splash. Like this Video clip Eddie Van Halen came out playing keyboards and guitar, but best of all, what had even more visual power was, He smiled and his enthusiasm was contagious. this, no doubt, had enabled him to finally record it. Bounce with the inclusion of a keyboard, bypassing the unwritten laws, ignoring the clichés and enjoying a melody that today, forty years later, ranks among the best representatives of the eighties.

The guitar genius had fun playing a synthesizer, the song was number one on the charts and the record was just income by michael jackson (By the way, Eddie Van Halen collaborated on playing the song’s guitar solo. beat it). to complete its visual power Video clip David Lee Roth, who co-directed the film for less than $1,000, decided to add some spectacular stratospheric jumps. The Van Halen vocalist may not be a vocal prodigy or a virtuoso, but few like him could take the reins of the show on stage.

But these were to be his final signs of outburst and pirouette. front man Despite the album’s resounding success, David, unaware of Van Halen’s new path, decided to go in other directions and left the band to start a solo career, taking his place. sammy hagar.

a long track

HE 1984, It was a recording marked by Oberheim OB-Xa, but with much stronger songs without the use of a keyboard. For example, Panama anyone the best jimmyone of the most recognizable songs in the history of Van Halen with its regulars. riffs crackling guitar sounds, Michael Anthony’s harmonies, and the strength of Alex Van Halen’s drumsticks. Moreover house of painanyone hot for teacherwith an amazing battery start.

But Van Halen’s success went beyond the band itself, establishing itself as a reference or indicator for hard rock or other hard rock bands. Heavy metal they did not contradict the use of synthesizers. The emergence of later formations such as Judas Priest anyone iron maiden they used synthesizers in their work or such formations Bon Jovi They are already born with a keyboard player. Kee MarcelloFormer guitarist of the Swedish band EuropeHe said his success was great. the final Countdown probably wouldn’t exist without the background Bounce.

From this line of synthesizers came many who later became immersed in the work of Van Halen. 5150 (1986) or OU812 (1988) and similar hits Why This Can’t Be Love, dreams anyone love comes in. After all, with Bounce It could be said that Eddie, who named his only son Wolfgangand needless to say who he respected, he pressed the button. Quite a paradox for someone remembered as the hero of the guitar, but above all as the musician who always smiled as he slid his fingers across the frets with lightning speed.