The goal of most musicians is to create songs that people will remember for years to come. There will always be those pieces that defy trends and feel relevant years after you’re gone. However, it’s one thing to briefly tap into the zeitgeist. It’s another to follow the trends that everyone else is wearing. While Sammy Hagar acknowledged that there were ups and downs while working with Van Halen, he acknowledged that “Right Now” is a timeless work of art.
Even before Hagar assembled the next Van Halen lineup, she faced an uphill battle. Although he didn’t necessarily aim to emulate David Lee Roth, his tremendous work on 5150 gave the impression that he could honor the band’s past material. He also added his own unique touch to it all.
OU812 seemed like a step down for a group that started with such gusto. Although the album still had some incredible songs, some of the tracks, like “Finish What Ya Started,” sounded more like a group of dads jamming in a garage. This was rather than a gritty rock and roll group.
‘Right Now‘ is as close to the truth as they’ve ever gotten. However, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge is already assumed to be corny based on the title. While the party was still going strong during the Roth era, the band didn’t really need to worry about writing anything deeper. However, Hagar wanted to take this song in a new direction.
He had already experienced a few difficult years with his wife. The song “Right Now” came about as a result of him suddenly entering a dream state just before entering the recording studio. Eddie preferred something more akin to Joe Cocker’s song “Feelin’ Alright“. But the grand piano introduction is still among the best musical passages from their catalogue.
“Right Now” is still one of the highlights of Hagar’s career. He said, even after the group severed ties following the release of the album Balance. “Right Now” is a timeless song. It will endure eternally. Sometimes, when you improvise and work on it intermittently, you come up with a smart line. Those songs, in my opinion, don’t really last forever.
Understanding Hagar’s perspective is simple, and it becomes even clearer when you look at the lyrics in print. Lyrics about wanting to preserve the magic moment you’re in and finding a way to live in the here and now are far more profound than 90% of what the Roth era discussed. This is surprising coming from someone whose biggest solo hit was about complaining that the speed limit was too low.
And maybe even more memorable than Eddie’s guitar performance here was Hagar’s. Despite having one of the world’s best guitarists at his disposal, Hagar’s performance stood out. There are some incredible moments when Hagar’s guitar playing spirals out of control, but whenever he raises his voice to a high pitched shriek, it sounds as though those words are coming from deep inside his soul.
1 comment
Finish what ya started sounded like a bunch of dads jamming, who is this bird-brained skank that thinks she knows music.