Jump by Van Halen
Released in December of 1983 as the first single off the band's sixth album, 1984. It reached #1 on the US charts and sold over 1 million copies.
The song was based around a keyboard riff from guitarist Eddie Van Halen. Lead singer, David Lee Roth, rejected the keyboard riff at first as not being the right direction for the band but Eddie had built a studio at his own home and completed the song anyway. Roth listened to the completed song while riding around in the back of an old car and came up with lyrics which he added to the song and this huge hit was born. The home studio led to conflict between Roth and Eddie and eventually to Roth leaving the band....only to return....and leave.....and return again (currently the band is ....together? Who knows?)
The video was directed by Roth and set the standard for "live" performance videos. Previously, bands would either film an actual live performance or would use multiple cameras to film a single performance. Roth filmed the band playing the song all the way through several times and then filmed a few insert shots of solos and the band goofing around and a new video style was born. The easiest way to tell how many times the band played along to the song is to count the different stage outfits Roth wears throughout the video. Because of Roth, spandex became the fashion for hard rock and metal bands......we have him to blame.
Please enjoy.
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