Top 5 Van Halen videos

The nearly original lineup of Van Halen hits Tampa's St. Pete Times Forum on Monday, Feb. 18. Have your tickets already? (It's not sold out, strangely enough.)

If you're still sitting on the fence about whether to catch them live, maybe you need a little refresher course in the power of Diamond Dave and the VH boys.

Van Halen isn't a threat to win a video pioneer award during the annual MTV awards, but they had some memorable feats.

TOP 5 VIDEOS FROM VAN HALEN:

5. JUMP: Love the leopard-print jacket, Eddie. Between that and your beloved keyboard, you look like a lounge act. I'm just bitter because this video inspired me to take keyboard lessons (back then, we called them "organ lessons.") Too bad I only learned to play the theme to "Oklahoma!" (Watch it)

4. RUNNING WITH THE DEVIL: Just a straight-forward, lip-synced "stage" performance. But Dave's got his hips swaying wider than three Elvises, and it's always cheesy fun to watch Michael Anthony pick the bass line with his teeth. (Watch it)

3. PANAMA: The band in all its "1984" glory. Eddie with the sleeveless "dice" shirt, Michael with his Jack Daniels bass. Dave's goof-ball stage persona is really starting to show. "Yeah, we're running a little bit hot tonight..." (Watch it)

2. HOT FOR THE TEACHER: Early MTV at its finest. Kid versions of each band member and teachers throwing off clothing - classic. Basically a porn video for those of us in our formative years. "Sweet, sweet Waldo." I'd like to think Waldo grew up to be an 80s blogger. (Watch it)

1. RIGHT NOW: The only Van Hagar video on the list, but it's the best one. Right now, someone is agreeing with every word I'm writing. Right now, someone is deleting the "Stuck in the 80s" bookmark from their web browser. (Watch it)

Comments

[Ray]

I love the Panama Video. Great stuff!

[Spears]

Panama is total 80s cheesy goodness. It's like a three-minute time machine to our favorite decade. I've watched it a dozen times since I wrote this blog item.

You can totally see the "Just a Gigolo" Diamond Dave is days away from emerging from the cocoon.

[jane]

Right now, I'm totally agreeing with Mr. Spears.

It had been eons since I'd watched "Right Now" and I'd forgotten how great it is. A lot of the sentiment shared in it still holds up -- for better or for worse.

[Jeff in Cuba]

I've often opined that "Right Now" was the apogee of the Van Hagar oeuvre; a position influenced in no small way by the video.

Classic.

[Hamptune]

Steve, no love for “Pretty Woman”? Come on – its got Midgets, Dave as the Hunchback AND Napoleon, Alex as the Cowboy, Michael as the Samurai, Eddie as the sunglass wearing caveman (or whatever). Looks like a music video from AV class back in high school. So bad it’s good!!!!

[Al]

I'd have to go with Panama.......but Steve makes an excellent point. Right Now is quite good.

[Al]

Steve,

Just remembered this: In 1st year university, I convinced my teammates in Poly Sci to do a presentation on "Panama".

One of the other kids had actually brought in an AMP, so we ended on the last "Pistons poppin'.....to the end part." It was freakin' loud as hell.

Our teacher didn't know whether to clap or kick us out. It was gold!

I ended with "Thanks to Van Halen and Diamond Dave for summing up our presentation."

[Mike in Austin]

Wow! Dana Lee Roth in Running with the Devil! As I looked over Dana from top to bottom: long blonde hair, some make-up, pearls hanging and the flashy shirt reminding me of prom dress colors of the 80's.....hang on folks, I'm wrong.....those chest hairs clued me in. In fact, it is Dave, her twin. so sorry. Panama video rocks but I have to stay with Jump. Why? Well, who didn't come to school the next day and say "did you see Eddie on keyboards, what is up with that, how cool?"

[Spears]

"Pretty Woman" -- to be honest, I can't sit through that video. It's beyond creepy. And I really can't stand the song either. I'm no big fan of their second album.

[Brad]

Misposted in the Indiana Jones thread:

When I hear "Right Now" I think "Crystal Pepsi"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgQx1fA3ZDc

(I'll try to keep my conversations straight.)

[chase]

I think Dave's real fun side popped up after he left VH and did some videos on his own ... "Not if you were the Laaassst immigrant grocer on earth, HON-NAY" ...

"Dave, you've got Charahhhsma!"

[Tonianne]

"Give me a bottle of anything...and a glazed doughnut...to go."

Classic Dave.

[specialk]

I have been told that they do an awesome concert and even Wolfie does well on the guitar. My SIL saw them recently in Seattle and would go see them again if she could.
Sounds like a fabulous time to me.
I love the Hot For Teacher video despite the half naked teacher; it's my favortie by them. Love the kids, love the suits

[Spiky Sandy]

LOVE the video for Right Now. Come to think of it, I LOVE the song too!

[Manchester Mike]

I will admit to "Hot for teacher". it played on "Friday Night Videos" for those of us too poor to afford MTV. They played that damn video all the time and I loved every minute of it.

[Spears]

I hear ya Manchester Mike -- I didn't get cable or MTV until I was a senior in high school. I lived off VHS tapes of MTV that friends made for me.

I really struggled choosing between Hot for the Teacher and Right Now.

[Big Tex]

Mike and Steve - we didn't have MTV at my house either. But we did have one of those new-fangled top-loading VHS recorders with a hardwired remote. I would record Friday Night Videos so I would have something to watch all week. All hail VH1 Classic!

As for VH, Panama has always been my favorite VH song and video. Right Now always came off as a little too serious and self-important for my tastes.

[Spears]

Panama is pure pleasure, no doubt about it. I hope they don't butcher it in Monday's concert.

[Scott]

My favorite VH videos have to be the 3 "live" ones shot in Oakland. They are "Hear About It Later", "So This Is Love", and "Unchained". To me that was Van Halen at their finest....although I agree with your choices as far as 80's style videos go.