A Look At 'Me Wise Magic'

"Me Wise Magic" happens to be one of my favorite Van Halen songs (yes, I am serious). It is completely different from most other tracks by them... or any other rock band, really. I always thought it was very inventive yet kept that guitar tapping and tone Eddie Van Halen made famous... and those soaring Michael Anthony backing vocals!

The track is extra special because it is one of the last featuring the original lineup. It was also a number one hit for six weeks in 1996. There was never an official video for the song because the Roth-era reunion was too short. Still, I am thankful we got this track! I saw this post on Facebook and I thought it was too good not to share. I try to spend less than ten minutes per day on Facebook. I quickly scan music pages I like, check my messages and look at requests in my Buy Nothing Group. Then I bust out of that hellscape!

Here's the full text if you don't want to jump to Facebook to read it all (which I get, believe me):

25 years ago today, Van Halen sent a little Zen headed your way! “Me WISE MAGIC” became the band's 13th No. 1 Billboard Mainstream Rock Track, maintaining the # 1 position for 6 weeks during the autumn of 1996. It was the first of two highly anticipated tracks recorded by the band with its original lead vocalist and songwriter, David Lee Roth. Together with the other new song on the compilation album, "Can't Get This Stuff No More", it's the last song recorded by the original line-up. The lyrics were written in the first person. They present a series of questions and statements about self-awareness, religious belief and superstitions - alternating between the points of view of God and a human being. Eddie Van Halen said about the song, "I thought it was majestic; it takes you on a roller coaster because there are so many changes. I nicknamed it "The Three Faces of Shamus," because there is that first low part, the high part, and then the chorus. All three have completely different vibes going on."

Reunited...And It Feels So Good! (?)

Van Halen fans...pay attention.

A VH reunion is in the works, but the lineup might surprise you. Instead of Michael Anthony on bass, Eddie Van Halen's 15 year old son is said to fill the spot on a upcoming tour.

And still, no singer.

Eddie Van Halen wants David Lee Roth, but I don't think Roth wants Van Halen.

In a recent interview, Diamond Dave likened the Van Halen reunion to NASCAR...asking if fans just want to see the winner, or the crash.

Just this morning, Sammy Hagar (who initially replaced Roth) said he thinks an original Van Halen lineup reunion is a bad idea. Van Halen is nominated for a spot in the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame, and Hagar doesn't think the feuding bandmates can even make it through the televised ceremony without throwing punches. Get our your score cards kids, this could be the big one!

Are rock egos so big that musicians can't put aside their differences and get along for a 2 hour show? I mean, give me a break. Every day, millions of people get up and go to work with people they don't like!

Here's some other famous feuding glammers:

Motley Crue (but the "Route of All Evils" tour was a big success)
RATT (the entire band hates Stephen Pearcy, conversely, he hates all of them. The lawsuit says so!)
Skid Row (Sebastian Bach went nuts)
Warrant (Jani Lane went nuts. Warrant minus Jani Lane is NOT Warrant)

Sight. Can't we all just get along?

The Rock Hall induction ceremony is slated for March 12, 2007 in New York City. The five official inductees will be announced next month via press conference. Sources close to voting members of the Rock Hall say Van Halen took the majority of the votes. Score one for the Glammers!