Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love
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"Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" is one of the best known songs from Van Halen. Appearing on their 1978 eponymous debut, it is considered one of the rawest songs the band has ever recorded. The song almost has a "punk" feel, yet the solo and guitar virtuosity of Eddie Van Halen shines throughout the record. It has a distinct and raw sounding intro, structured around a palm-muted and arpeggiated chord progression of I, IV, VII in the key of A minor with harmonics.
It is especially interesting considering the fact that when Eddie originally wrote the song a year before the album was released, he didn't even think it was good enough to show his bandmates. When he finally did show it, he was proven wrong and it was recorded for the debut album. During the solo, Eddie even played an electric sitar to create a slightly middle-eastern-styled melody.
This song is also one of the few David Lee Roth era songs that onetime replacement Sammy Hagar was willing to sing in concert when he joined the band in the mid-80's. It's rumored that Hagar was willing to perform this song live due to its having the word "Love" in the title.
The beginning of the song is a very popular riff and is often learned by beginning guitarists. It is simply three arpeggiated chords: A minor followed by F then G ending with a bass hook. In order to get the proper 'vibe' however, one needs to palm mute (placing the picking hand firmly where the strings enter the bridge) and apply an echo effect before the distortion/overdrive stage of the signal chain (1 repeat, ~330ms, 2% wet). If played at the right tempo, the riff gives a strange ethereal feel. Other effects on the song include a flanger (bass hook) and phaser (solos) (these two are also placed before the distortion/overdrive stage).
[edit] Covers and Samples
- The R&B/Hip-hop group Pretty Ricky sampled the song's intro for its song Never Let You Go.
- Virtuoso Guitarist Paul Gilbert uses the song's intro when he plays the Mr. Big hit To Be With You live.
- This song has also been covered by other artists such as The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Minutemen (who play a chorus-free version of the song).
- Rappers Tone Loc and 2 Live Crew also sampled the main riff.
- British dance act Apollo 440 sampled it as well, with their 1997 single "Ain't Talkin' 'bout Dub."
- Velvet Revolver played the song when inducting Van Halen in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.
- Die Hunns Covered the song on their album Live Fast, highliting the song's somewhat punk feel.
