Why Can't This Be Love
Encyclopedia
"Why Can't This Be Love" is a song by Van Halen
, off the album 5150
, the band's first with lead singer Sammy Hagar
, who had replaced founding member David Lee Roth
in late 1985. It was the initial single from that album, released in March 1986.
The song, driven by bouncy lead keyboard work from Eddie Van Halen
performed on an Oberheim OB-8
, rose to number 3 on the US Billboard
singles chart, and helped 5150 reach the number one slot on the albums chart, a first for the band.
During the 5150 and OU812
tours, Eddie Van Halen played the keyboard parts while Hagar played the guitar parts and the solo. Since the For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
tour, Van Halen has taken over the guitar parts and the keyboards are played backstage. Starting during the 1995 Balance tour, Michael Anthony
and Eddie Van Halen would sing the second verse of the song during live performances. They would continue to do this on both the 1998
and 2004
tours.
The song was covered by Gigolo Aunts
on Everybody Wants Some! (of Van Halen), released in 1997 by CherryDisc Records
(Catalog Number: CH 5794-2).
In 2010, a two-parts episode from the Canadian hit show Degrassi: The Next Generation
was named after this song.
Van Halen
Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
, off the album 5150
5150 (album)
5150 is the seventh studio album by American hard rock band Van Halen, released in 1986 through Warner Bros. Records. The album was the first to be recorded with new lead singer Sammy Hagar who replaced David Lee Roth....
, the band's first with lead singer Sammy Hagar
Sammy Hagar
Sam Roy "Sammy" Hagar , also known as The Red Rocker, is an American rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Also sings Country Music....
, who had replaced founding member David Lee Roth
David Lee Roth
David Lee Roth is an American rock vocalist, songwriter, actor, author, and former radio personality. Roth was ranked nineteenth by Hit Parader on their list of the 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Singers of All Time....
in late 1985. It was the initial single from that album, released in March 1986.
The song, driven by bouncy lead keyboard work from Eddie Van Halen
Eddie Van Halen
Edward Lodewijk "Eddie" Van Halen is a Dutch-American guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter and producer, best known as the lead guitarist and co-founder of the hard rock band Van Halen, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...
performed on an Oberheim OB-8
Oberheim OB-8
The Oberheim OB-8 is a subtractive analog synthesizer launched by Oberheim in 1983 and discontinued in 1985. It belongs to the OB-X product line of polyphonic compacts synthesizers and is successor to the OB-Xa...
, rose to number 3 on the US Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
singles chart, and helped 5150 reach the number one slot on the albums chart, a first for the band.
During the 5150 and OU812
OU812
OU812 is the 8th studio album by American hard rock band Van Halen, released in 1988. The album title is allegedly a joke on Van Halen's previous lead singer David Lee Roth's 1986 album Eat 'Em and Smile . However, "OU812" was also seen in the 70s sitcom Taxi written on a wall...
tours, Eddie Van Halen played the keyboard parts while Hagar played the guitar parts and the solo. Since the For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge is the ninth studio album by American hard rock band Van Halen, released in 1991 through Warner Bros. Records. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart and maintained the position for three weeks...
tour, Van Halen has taken over the guitar parts and the keyboards are played backstage. Starting during the 1995 Balance tour, Michael Anthony
Michael Anthony
Michael Anthony Sobolewski , known professionally as Michael Anthony, is an American musician who is currently the bass player in the rock supergroup Chickenfoot...
and Eddie Van Halen would sing the second verse of the song during live performances. They would continue to do this on both the 1998
III Tour
The III Tour was a 1998 concert tour by hard rock band Van Halen. It was the band's first and only tour with vocalist Gary Cherone, in support of the only album he recorded with the band—the poor-selling Van Halen III.-History:...
and 2004
Van Halen Summer Tour 2004
The Van Halen Summer Tour 2004 was a North American concert tour by hard rock band Van Halen. It was the band's first tour since 1998, and saw the return of lead singer Sammy Hagar who left the band in 1996 on bad terms.- History :...
tours.
The song was covered by Gigolo Aunts
Gigolo Aunts
-Early history:The band was formed by middle school students Steve Hurley, Dave Gibbs, Phil Hurley and Paul Brouwer in 1981 in Potsdam, New York, originally known as Sniper...
on Everybody Wants Some! (of Van Halen), released in 1997 by CherryDisc Records
CherryDisc Records
CherryDisc Records was a Boston-based independent record label in the mid- to late-1990s. It gained notoriety by moving acts such as Letters to Cleo, Big Catholic Guilt, Smackmelon, Tracy Bonham, The Sheila Divine, Quintaine Americana, and Semisonic on to major labels.Cherrydisc was founded in 1991...
(Catalog Number: CH 5794-2).
In 2010, a two-parts episode from the Canadian hit show Degrassi: The Next Generation
Degrassi: The Next Generation
Degrassi: The Next Generation is a Canadian teen drama television series set in the Degrassi universe, which was created by Linda Schuyler and Kit Hood in 1979. Degrassi is the fourth fictional series in the Degrassi franchise, and follows The Kids of Degrassi Street, Degrassi Junior High, and...
was named after this song.