Top 10 Best Songs by Van Halen

The synthesizer riff that everyone knows. Eddie was called crazy by the band members for wanting to play keyboards, but it resulted in their biggest hit. It combines pop perfection with a rock attitude.nnDespite the synths, there's still a great guitar solo in there. Roth sings with a smile you can almost hear. It's the ultimate 80s anthem: cheerful, bouncy and full of lust for life.

The drum intro of Alex van Halen sounds like an idling Harley Davidson. This is the band at their fastest and wildest. A boogie-woogie at high speed.nnThe most impressive part is the endless key changes at the end. Roth sings with confidence and the lyrics are pure teenage fantasy. The interplay between guitar and drums is phenomenal.

The opening of their debut album. That slow, heavy bass line and the siren-like guitar sounds announced a new era. Roth's squeals are iconic here.nnThe tempo is slow and threatening. The chorus is simple but effective. It's the soundtrack of the sunset on the Sunset Strip, full of promise of danger and pleasure.

The first hit with Sammy Hagar. The synthesizer hook is unmistakable and catchy. It showed that the band could be successful without Roth, by moving more in the pop direction.nnHagar's raw voice gives a nice contrast with the smooth production. It's a feel-good rock song that fit perfectly in the stadiums where they were now the masters.

A power ballad with Sammy Hagar reaching the stratosphere with his voice. The synthesizers are prominent, giving it typical 80s grandeur.nnIt's a song full of optimism and power, often used in films (like Power Rangers). The melody is sweet, but Eddie's guitar solo gives it the necessary bite. An anthem to dream away to.

The Kinks cover that broke them through. They took a British classic and injected it with American steroids. The sound is fuller, harder and meaner than the original.nnEddie's guitar sounds like a chainsaw and Roth's singing is pure theater. It set the tone for their career: respect for the past, but with the gaze (and volume) on the future.

Not a "song", but the guitar solo that changed the world. In less than two minutes, Eddie van Halen redefined what was possible on six strings. His "tapping" technique sounded like alien technology.nnIt's an explosion of virtuosity that sounds like a volcanic eruption. Even after 40 years, jaws still drop when hearing this track.

An ode to a car (and perhaps a stripper), this is Van Halen at their most decadent. The riff is heavy and swinging at the same time. During the bridge, you literally hear the engine of Eddie's Lamborghini revving.nnRoth is in top form here as the ringmaster of the circus. It's grand, crass and fantastic. The ultimate rock song to play loud with the windows down.

A riff so dirty and raw it almost sounds punk. This is the essence of early Van Halen: two chords, pure attitude and David Lee Roth screaming and groaning.nnThe guitar solo (with sitar effect) is short but powerful. The song radiates a streetwise arrogance that is irresistible. A blueprint for 80s hard rock.

From the Sammy Hagar era. Driven by a compelling piano riff (which Eddie had been lying around for years). The lyrics are more serious and socially critical than we're used to from them.nnThe song has motivating power. Hagar sings with conviction about seizing the moment. The video with text was revolutionary, but the music stands as a house here too.