7 Incredible Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About Van Halen’s ‘Right Now’
David Lee Roth (left) and Eddie Van Halen of the band Van Halen, performing in concert. They are standing back to back. Eddie is playing the guitar and smiling and David is holding a microphone betwen his legs. Both men are wearing multicolored outfits. (Photo by Lynn Goldsmith/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images)
Van Halen’s “Right Now” was first featured on their 1991 album “For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge”. It was then released as a single on February 15, 1992. Credited to Van Halen members of the Sammy Hagar era, here are interesting facts about it:
1. Eddie Van Halen actually wrote its music during the David Lee Roth era.
But Diamond Dave wasn’t interested.
2. Hagar wanted to write a song that wasn’t about sex or hedonism.
He came up with the concept and lyrics. He was working in the studio when he heard EVH playing a piano melody. He realized they “were writing the same song”. Hagar and EVH quickly completed the track together.
3. Hagar cited this song as one of the best he’s written for the band.
“I was tired of writing cheap sex songs,” he explained. “Eddie and I wanted to get serious and talk about world issues.”
4. The music reflected events and issues at the time and featured subtitles. Hagar didn’t like it.
“I said, ‘I am not doing it,'” he recalled. “I said, ‘I wrote the best lyric I’ve ever written in Van Halen, I’m trying to upgrade this band’s image with lyrics to where we’re finally not just a party band that can play instruments, and they wanna put words underneath? Why don’t they use the words I wrote?”
“They’re great words,” he added. “It’s a statement. It’s gonna be confusing!'”
5. Van Halen took home three awards at the MTV Video Music Awards in 1992, including the award for Video of the Year.
Bassist Michael Anthony claimed that for him, it was the best video Van Halen had ever done.
6. EVH told Guitar World in 1991 that Joe Cocker would’ve sounded great on the song.
“If there was any other vocalist I’d like to make a record with, it would be Joe,” the late guitarist revealed. “That song has that classic ‘Feelin’ Alright’ groove.”
7. It was used during the 2008 presidential campaign. Hagar reacted positively.
“When I wrote the lyrics to ‘Right Now’ I intended them to inspire people to not sit around and wait for something they believed in but to go out and get it – to make a change however they needed to,” he noted. “Whether it was McCain who used the song or if Obama had chosen to use the song, with the current political climate, the lyrics still have the same meaning, and we all need to do something to make a difference, every action counts.”
