Comedy gold: “Running with the Devil,” a capella
posted at 7:17 pm on February 1, 2008 by Allahpundit
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Coolness quotient without the guitar? 1 percent. Click the image to listen.
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OMG…!
SouthernGent on February 1, 2008 at 7:24 PM
Oh, come on. It’s out of context. And consider it’s from the 70s, when they didn’t have all the computers to hide a weak voice. He had pipes.
albo on February 1, 2008 at 7:24 PM
Oy, that “after” photo looks rough.
Tzetzes on February 1, 2008 at 7:26 PM
I saw absolutely nothing terribly funny about that. I mean, I could “hear” the rest of the song too while listening, and don’t hear anything that is cringe-worthy.
‘Course, now I gotta go listen to the song, dammit. Thanks!
(And btw, I’m not even a guitar lover – but I loved me some VH. “Does it seem cold in here to you?”)
tickleddragon on February 1, 2008 at 7:27 PM
i used to drive my neighbors crazy with VH, blasting it on my record player as loud as it would go lol
trailortrash on February 1, 2008 at 7:27 PM
Long live Diamond Dave – he was the soul of that band. Read his book – very entertaining.
JC in CA on February 1, 2008 at 7:28 PM
Oh…but just for the record, Allah…
THANKS for the non-political entry. ‘Desperate for some these days with all the serious political snarking.
I know the politics is necessary and important, but I’m having nostalgia for the simpler more silly days of HA.
:)
tickleddragon on February 1, 2008 at 7:29 PM
exactly. and this is why they call it a “rock band” and not “rock a capella.” every element together makes it rock. oh, sorry, “rawk”
/ties onions to belt
albo on February 1, 2008 at 7:29 PM
To think I used to sing along w/ that & play air guitar…embarrassing!
jgapinoy on February 1, 2008 at 7:33 PM
His best song and video
Kini on February 1, 2008 at 7:35 PM
Even without all the noise in the background, I still couldn’t understand all the words. Oh well, to each his own. My style is more Vangelis and Kitaro.
RushBaby on February 1, 2008 at 7:36 PM
Too funny. :D
I think we have the raw materials for a remix here.
PolitiNOOB on February 1, 2008 at 7:41 PM
RushBaby on February 1, 2008 at 7:36 PM
Blade Runner
Kini on February 1, 2008 at 7:42 PM
Why there is no Van Halen Edition of “Rock Band” or “Guitar Hero” is completely beyond me…
ScottMcC on February 1, 2008 at 7:46 PM
I am a professional vocalist, and in his defense (I heard this the other day, kind of peripherally – can’t remember if it was dry or not, but I think it probably was), you could isolate almost any vocal track, listen to it dry, and it would sound unbelievably stupid. I’ve heard myself like this a couple hundred times, and even if the performance is good, there’s just something about it.
capitalist piglet on February 1, 2008 at 7:49 PM
…I’m still waiting for the funny part. If you wanted to illustrate the funny high notes of certain 80’s bands, there are a lot of better choices.
Vigilante on February 1, 2008 at 7:50 PM
Yeah, I really miss the robots.
RedWinged Blackbird on February 1, 2008 at 7:50 PM
My guess is licensing issues surrounding money. Anything the band does financially with their copyrighted material has to be agreed upon by all the boys probably and sometimes they don’t play together well! They seem to be getting along lately for the sake of the tour (millions) but that could change in a heartbeat.
Tim Zank on February 1, 2008 at 7:53 PM
That was very,very disturbing,and Van Halen,running with
the devil brings back fond memories of cruising and banging
through the gears in my ss Chevelle,oh those were the days!
And is it me or does the image look like the Canadian flag,
minus the leaf,or is it symbolic as to whats happening to
Canada,so many ideas,so little time,hehe.
canopfor on February 1, 2008 at 7:55 PM
DLR RULES.
He’s an attitude, not a singer. He defines those of us who came of age in the 1980s.
Best rock frontman of the last 30 years, hands down.
Metro on February 1, 2008 at 7:56 PM
I would have like that better if it linked to You Tube.
Buy Danish on February 1, 2008 at 7:57 PM
In college, I had a roomate eat 4 bags of sunflower seeds in one sitting while watching sports…….SHELLS AND ALL…..
The next day….ALL DAY….he was on he crapper SOUNDING EXACTLY LIKE THAT VH STUDIO CLIP…..
awesum on February 1, 2008 at 8:01 PM
PS…….in 1977 I saw BLack Sabbath and VH here in st. pete…….BS was the headliner and Ozzie was stumbling all over with a bottle of Jack in his hand…..
awesum on February 1, 2008 at 8:03 PM
Lacks a little something without Eddie’s guitar huh?
I saw these guys before they got real big. They were the opening act for Black Sabbath I believe in 78. They came out and blew everyone away. Half the crowd left during Black Sabbath, including me. They sucked.
conservnut on February 1, 2008 at 8:12 PM
tickleddragon on February 1, 2008 at 7:27 PM
lol, i was acually playing out the rest of the song while listening, it seemed perfect to me, really… I love VH..
Though i’d have to agree, Simon would pwn him today..
stlpatriot on February 1, 2008 at 8:17 PM
Forgot, they were my first concert.. Motley Crue opened for them… I believe it was the “1984″ tour….
stlpatriot on February 1, 2008 at 8:19 PM
Ditto!
I heard this while listening to Walton and Johnson either this morning or yesterday. Yes it is quite comical listening to him screech and holler all alone…sounds like some madman. But truth to power, VH was a building block in my musical journey of life.
Again, Ditto!
lsutiger on February 1, 2008 at 8:34 PM
I think humpy will only appear if Mitt makes a -huge- comeback. If he doesn’t, ole hump is gonna have a limp 4 years :(
lorien1973 on February 1, 2008 at 8:35 PM
Seeing them again a week from tonight in New Orleans – then on Sunday night in Atlanta. Great show. Better with Mike – but ya take what you can get I suppose.
Sometimes it’s fun to relive the soundtrack of the summers growing up.
The “WOO! WOOOO!” at the end had me in stitches though…
Oh, and YEAH!
erik on February 1, 2008 at 8:36 PM
Ah, Van Halen. Although I remember them best as the sound that came leaking out of my brother’s closed bedroom door. Van Halen and AC/DC were his bands of choice for a while. I was more of a Duran Duran girl.
TX Mom on February 1, 2008 at 8:38 PM
David Lee Roth sings Jump bluegrass style!
Jay on February 1, 2008 at 8:42 PM
My husband and I got a good laugh out of this the other night, and we’re big (pre-Hagar) VH fans. Anytime you listen to an isolated track it’s going to sound stupid. But like someone else said, really all it made me do is just want to listen to the full song. DLR’s still great in my book.
Missy on February 1, 2008 at 8:47 PM
I liked it.
a capella on February 1, 2008 at 8:48 PM
Like making sausage. The individual steps aren’t pretty, but the end product isn’t so bad. I’d hate to hear the outtakes.
What was this, 1978 or ‘79?
Damn, I saw VH live in the summer of 1981 for about a $6 ticket at the old Aud in Buffalo. They rocked.
JammieWearingFool on February 1, 2008 at 8:57 PM
Was he screaming “Allah! Allah!” there around 3:00 or was I imagining things? David Lee Roth, secret jihadist (I’m kidding, I’m kidding).
srhoades on February 1, 2008 at 8:59 PM
The Rothman was a true performer in his day
Ugly on February 1, 2008 at 9:21 PM
A VH gem.
I grabbed it off of another site middle of last month before it was taken down.
MrC_5150 on February 1, 2008 at 9:34 PM
I clicked on it expecting to cringe. Dude. Who’s gonna sound better than that in that part? Try it. Sure, the other vocals completed the song, but DLR brought the goods too. I ain’t hating on the Roth man. He da man.
Sugar Land on February 1, 2008 at 9:40 PM
Thanks to Debbie Schlussel, not mentioned here, for the video.
MsUnderestimated on February 1, 2008 at 9:42 PM
He sounded awesome!
I thought there would be some pitch problems or cracks that were corrected after the fact or something. He laid down a sweet track. What’s the problem?
nottakingsides on February 1, 2008 at 9:50 PM
Listen everyone, I saw VH last November in KC. It was an awesome show. Dave sounded great and Micheal was not missed, at least not performance wise. I would have liked to see him but it was the best show I have ever seen. Go if you can.
kahall on February 1, 2008 at 9:56 PM
Original VAN HALEN rules!
It’s fun to hear his vocal track isolated…
eanax on February 1, 2008 at 10:03 PM
They should do this with “Air Supply.” HAHAHA
p40tiger on February 1, 2008 at 10:29 PM
Wow. That was unbelievably bad. Some guys were just meant to front heavy metal bands and some guys were meant to sing bluegrass, I guess.
TX Mom on February 1, 2008 at 11:28 PM
Van Halen was never the same after Roth left. He gave the band the personality it needed. Let’s face it, you don’t need a Pavarotti to front a rock n’ roll band.
packsoldier on February 1, 2008 at 11:31 PM
I appreciate Van Halen’s music as I get older. Van Halen ended after Roth left the band…period.
That being said, Runnin’ with the Devil’ ALWAYS sucked as a song, with the emphasis on ALWAYS, in case everyone didn’t get it.
‘Little Guitars’ might very well be my favorite combination of an understated yet efficent David Lee and the virtuoso of Eddie.
That’s just my opinion, anyway.
awake on February 1, 2008 at 11:45 PM
btw, RUSH owns Van Halen, and they are touring again off the same album this summer.
Just some food for thought.
awake on February 1, 2008 at 11:46 PM
RUSH!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrejJHPnVfk
Don Carne on February 2, 2008 at 12:33 AM
Um…. what? Dude. WTF was so awful about that?
That one’s lost on me. Sounded like every other time I’ve heard it for the past 30 years without the background music.
thareb on February 2, 2008 at 12:34 AM
Heh, could you imagine Rob Halford singing a capella?
It would be far scarier than this, I am sure.
Ken McCracken on February 2, 2008 at 12:38 AM
And by “scarier” I am sure you mean “more heart-achingly awesome.”
ScottMcC on February 2, 2008 at 12:57 AM
Heheh, yes indeed, actually.
Ken McCracken on February 2, 2008 at 1:16 AM
I thought it sounded great…not sure what’s funny about a studio vocal track.
I guess studio sessions must be pure comedy for some people.
Asher on February 2, 2008 at 1:22 AM
Soda spittin’ funny.
Mallard T. Drake on February 2, 2008 at 1:39 AM
I’d be willing to bet a single-track of that would sound just as bad.
It wasn’t the background vocals that made the song; it was Eddie Van Halen’s guitar. Get rid of the rest of those losers and that would sound terrific all by itself.
logis on February 2, 2008 at 1:47 AM
It’s Van Halen, so meh
- The Cat
MirCat on February 2, 2008 at 3:44 AM
So it IS in there – “Godda#n the Navy and all you lifers, I’m only gonna tell you one time!” I KNEW it!
JeffWeimer on February 2, 2008 at 8:41 AM
LOL!
BallisticBob on February 2, 2008 at 11:46 AM
what? that was greatness! ;)
not many singers out there today or yesterday whose ‘raw’ audio tracks (without compression, effects, tuning tweaks, etc) would sound a whole lot better.
what amazes me still today – like back in the day – is DLR’s screams are like a little ‘chord’ themselves – there’s more than one individual note/pitch happening there – some funky vocal cord/polytone thing.
Midas on February 2, 2008 at 12:31 PM
Agreed. THE sound of modern music is all the tricks used in a studio to improve a performance. I thought his performance was fine. I’ve been in and out of recording studios since the early 80’s. Dave’s “naked” take is what a good take sounds like.
Mojave Mark on February 2, 2008 at 11:05 PM
If the song were “Running with the Scissors,” the yelps and screams would make perfect sense.
Bill Ramey on February 3, 2008 at 11:46 AM
Yeah, if you only you would add electronic magic to his vocals, he’d sound great! Van Halen would sound great on his guitar too, if only he would use that electronic magic too… only he sounds great with or without it.
There’s a reason why Van Halen sells records with or without DLR, and why DLR flopped bigtime as a solo artist.
wahhaw on February 3, 2008 at 10:37 PM
Having listened to my own vocals ‘dry’ WAY too often,I can only wish that I sounded that ‘bad’ on my unprocessed tracks–or that I’d sold a fraction of a fraction as many albums.
EyeSurgeon on February 18, 2008 at 4:35 PM
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