| "Best of Both Worlds" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Van Halen | ||||
| from the album 5150 | ||||
| B-side | "Best of Both Worlds (Live)" | |||
| Released | October 1986 | |||
| Recorded | 1985-1986 | |||
| Genre | Hard rock [1] | |||
| Length | 3:58 (single version) 4:49 (album version) | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Sammy Hagar, Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, Michael Anthony | |||
| Van Halen singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Best of Both Worlds" is a song by American rock band Van Halen on their album 5150 that was later released as a single in October 1986. [2] A music video taken from the Live Without a Net concert video [3] was in heavy rotation on MTV. [4]
Background
The song is about Sammy's optimistic look on Van Halen's future, and creating your own luck. Primarily a guitar-driven song, the second verse includes a few keyboard chords as incidental backing sounds. [5]
Reception
Cash Box said that "the guitar wizardry of Eddie Van Halen charges through the grooves of this song" and also praised Sammy Hagar's vocal performance. [6] Billboard said it has a "strong pop hook and hedonist philosophy." [7]
In 2011, the song was ranked at #5 on Ultimate Classic Rock's list of the Top 10 Van Hagar Songs. [8] They also ranked the song as best song from 5150. [9]
Personnel
- Sammy Hagar — lead and backing vocals
- Eddie Van Halen — guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
- Michael Anthony — bass guitar, backing vocals
- Alex Van Halen — electronic drums
Charts
| Chart (1986) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock [10] | 12 |
References
- ^ Elliott, Paul (January 5, 2021). "The battle for Van Halen: how Sammy Hagar triumphed over Dave Lee Roth". Classic Rock. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
- ^ Strong, Martin Charles (1995). The Great Rock Discography. Canongate Press. p. 866. ISBN 9780862415419.
-
^ Inc, Nielsen Business Media (1986-11-29).
Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.
{{ cite book}}:|last=has generic name ( help) - ^ MTV Programming Billboard December 13, 1986
- ^ Wilkening, Matthew (May 6, 2011). "Van Halen, 'Best of Both Worlds' – Lyrics Uncovered". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
- ^ "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. November 22, 1986. p. 9. Retrieved 2022-08-07.
- ^ "Reviews". Billboard. November 22, 1986. p. 79. Retrieved 2022-08-07.
- ^ Wilkening, Matthew (March 31, 2011). "Top 10 Van Hagar Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
- ^ Wilkening, Matthew (December 13, 2018). "The Best Song From Every Van Halen Album". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
- ^ "Mainstream Rock". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
| Studio albums | |
|---|---|
| Compilation albums | |
| Live albums | |
| Singles |
|
| Other songs |
|
| Videography | |
| Tours | |
| Related | |
| "Best of Both Worlds" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| ||||
| Single by Van Halen | ||||
| from the album 5150 | ||||
| B-side | "Best of Both Worlds (Live)" | |||
| Released | October 1986 | |||
| Recorded | 1985-1986 | |||
| Genre | Hard rock [1] | |||
| Length | 3:58 (single version) 4:49 (album version) | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Sammy Hagar, Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, Michael Anthony | |||
| Van Halen singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Best of Both Worlds" is a song by American rock band Van Halen on their album 5150 that was later released as a single in October 1986. [2] A music video taken from the Live Without a Net concert video [3] was in heavy rotation on MTV. [4]
Background
The song is about Sammy's optimistic look on Van Halen's future, and creating your own luck. Primarily a guitar-driven song, the second verse includes a few keyboard chords as incidental backing sounds. [5]
Reception
Cash Box said that "the guitar wizardry of Eddie Van Halen charges through the grooves of this song" and also praised Sammy Hagar's vocal performance. [6] Billboard said it has a "strong pop hook and hedonist philosophy." [7]
In 2011, the song was ranked at #5 on Ultimate Classic Rock's list of the Top 10 Van Hagar Songs. [8] They also ranked the song as best song from 5150. [9]
Personnel
- Sammy Hagar — lead and backing vocals
- Eddie Van Halen — guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
- Michael Anthony — bass guitar, backing vocals
- Alex Van Halen — electronic drums
Charts
| Chart (1986) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock [10] | 12 |
References
- ^ Elliott, Paul (January 5, 2021). "The battle for Van Halen: how Sammy Hagar triumphed over Dave Lee Roth". Classic Rock. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
- ^ Strong, Martin Charles (1995). The Great Rock Discography. Canongate Press. p. 866. ISBN 9780862415419.
-
^ Inc, Nielsen Business Media (1986-11-29).
Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.
{{ cite book}}:|last=has generic name ( help) - ^ MTV Programming Billboard December 13, 1986
- ^ Wilkening, Matthew (May 6, 2011). "Van Halen, 'Best of Both Worlds' – Lyrics Uncovered". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
- ^ "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. November 22, 1986. p. 9. Retrieved 2022-08-07.
- ^ "Reviews". Billboard. November 22, 1986. p. 79. Retrieved 2022-08-07.
- ^ Wilkening, Matthew (March 31, 2011). "Top 10 Van Hagar Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
- ^ Wilkening, Matthew (December 13, 2018). "The Best Song From Every Van Halen Album". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
- ^ "Mainstream Rock". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
| Studio albums | |
|---|---|
| Compilation albums | |
| Live albums | |
| Singles |
|
| Other songs |
|
| Videography | |
| Tours | |
| Related | |