"Runnin' with the Devil" is a song by the American hard rock band Van Halen. Released as the second single from the band's 1978 eponymous debut album. The song lyrics were inspired by the funk band Ohio Players 1974 song "Runnin' from the Devil".[2] In 2009, "Runnin' with the Devil" was named the 9th greatest hard rock song of all time by VH1.[1] Chuck Klosterman of Vulture ranked it the eighth-best Van Halen song, praising the staccato bass playing as well as David Lee Roth's vocal performance.[3]
The song begins with a collection of car horns sounding. The horns were taken from the band's own cars and mounted in a box and powered by two car batteries, with a foot switch. Producer Ted Templeman slowed the horns down before adding them to the track. This same idea was first used during the band's club sets and appeared on the Gene Simmons-recorded demo of the song, as well as the song "House of Pain" which preceded it on the demo.[4] A four-measure guitar solo is played after the second and third chorus.[5]
Initial pressings of the Van Halen compilation Best Of, Vol.1 contained an alternate edit of "Runnin' with the Devil" where the verses, chorus and solos were arranged in a different order than that of the original album version. It was reported that this was accidental and subsequent pressings have replaced this version with the one found on Van Halen.
Background
The song's lyrics have often been misinterpreted as being satanic, yet the band members have never revealed the full meaning of the song. It is usually interpreted as being about the life of a touring young band. The song's verses deal with an individual's experience, including learning that a "simple" lifestyle is not as simple as it appears. The lyrics "Runnin' with the devil" are usually interpreted as being a reference to freedom. In the song freedom is portrayed as a lack of social ties and living in the present.[5] The song's meaning has also been interpreted as being an attempt to convince a person that the theme of a simple life is not wrong as it appears. Therefore, the lyrics of "Runnin' with the devil" would not be serious.[6]
Reception
Cash Box said it has "driving guitar work, tough jaunty beat and excellent lead and backing vocals."[7]
^Klosterman, Chuck (October 6, 2020). "All 131 Van Halen Songs, Ranked From Worst to Best A look back at the band's formidable legacy". Vulture.com. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
^"Runnin' With The Devil". VHND.com. Van Halen News Desk. 6 May 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
^ abWalser, Robert (1 April 2013). Running with the Devil: Power, Gender, and Madness in Heavy Metal Music. Wesleyan University Press. ISBN9780819574213. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
^Brackett, Nathan; Howard, Christian David (2004). "The New Rolling Stone Album Guide". Rolling Stone. Simon and Schuster. ISBN9780743201698. Retrieved 6 October 2014. van halen runnin' with the devil rollingstone.
^"CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. April 15, 1978. p. 46. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
^. Top30-2.radio2.be. Archived from the original on 2012-04-09. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
^Hung, Steffen. "Van Halen - Runnin' With The Devil". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
^"Van Halen - Runnin' With The Devil". Top40.nl. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
^"Van Halen - Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
^"VAN HALEN | Artist". Official Charts. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
^"Van Halen Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
^"Lucky's Disco-bar voor wie houdt van feesten". Luckysdb.be. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
^"SINGLE TOP lOO : 1980" (PDF). Top40.nl. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
Further reading
Van Halen Guitar Anthology. Van Nuys, California: Alfred. 2006. pp. 40–45. ISBN9780897246729. OCLC 605214049.
January 28, 2023
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Not to be confused with Running with the Devil Runnin with the Devil is a song by the American hard rock band Van Halen Released as the second single from the band s 1978 eponymous debut album The song lyrics were inspired by the funk band Ohio Players 1974 song Runnin from the Devil 2 In 2009 Runnin with the Devil was named the 9th greatest hard rock song of all time by VH1 1 Chuck Klosterman of Vulture ranked it the eighth best Van Halen song praising the staccato bass playing as well as David Lee Roth s vocal performance 3 Runnin with the Devil Single by Van Halenfrom the album Van HalenB side Eruption ReleasedApril 1978 1978 04 Recorded1977GenreHard rock 1 Length3 34LabelWarner Bros Songwriter s Michael Anthony David Lee Roth Alex Van Halen Eddie Van HalenProducer s Ted TemplemanVan Halen singles chronology You Really Got Me 1978 Runnin with the Devil 1978 Ain t Talkin bout Love 1978 Music video Runnin with the Devil on YouTube Contents 1 Composition 2 Background 3 Reception 4 Personnel 4 1 Van Halen 5 Chart positions 6 References 7 Further readingComposition EditThe song begins with a collection of car horns sounding The horns were taken from the band s own cars and mounted in a box and powered by two car batteries with a foot switch Producer Ted Templeman slowed the horns down before adding them to the track This same idea was first used during the band s club sets and appeared on the Gene Simmons recorded demo of the song as well as the song House of Pain which preceded it on the demo 4 A four measure guitar solo is played after the second and third chorus 5 Initial pressings of the Van Halen compilation Best Of Vol 1 contained an alternate edit of Runnin with the Devil where the verses chorus and solos were arranged in a different order than that of the original album version It was reported that this was accidental and subsequent pressings have replaced this version with the one found on Van Halen Background EditThe song s lyrics have often been misinterpreted as being satanic yet the band members have never revealed the full meaning of the song It is usually interpreted as being about the life of a touring young band The song s verses deal with an individual s experience including learning that a simple lifestyle is not as simple as it appears The lyrics Runnin with the devil are usually interpreted as being a reference to freedom In the song freedom is portrayed as a lack of social ties and living in the present 5 The song s meaning has also been interpreted as being an attempt to convince a person that the theme of a simple life is not wrong as it appears Therefore the lyrics of Runnin with the devil would not be serious 6 Reception EditCash Box said it has driving guitar work tough jaunty beat and excellent lead and backing vocals 7 Personnel EditVan Halen Edit David Lee Roth vocals Eddie Van Halen guitar backing vocals Michael Anthony bass backing vocals Alex Van Halen drumsChart positions Edit1978 1980 Weekly Chart PeakpositionBelgian VRT Top 30 8 11Dutch Mega Charts 9 2Dutch Top 40 10 8U S Billboard Hot 100 11 84U K Singles Chart 12 52Chart 2020 PeakpositionUS Hot Rock amp Alternative Songs Billboard 13 141980 Year End Chart PositionBelgian VRT Top 30 14 76Dutch Megacharts 15 30Dutch Top 40 16 53References Edit a b Vh1 Top 100 Hard Rock Songs Archived from the original on May 14 2016 Retrieved November 20 2018 Van Halen I Classicvanhalen com Klosterman Chuck October 6 2020 All 131 Van Halen Songs Ranked From Worst to Best A look back at the band s formidable legacy Vulture com Retrieved October 9 2020 Runnin With The Devil VHND com Van Halen News Desk 6 May 2013 Retrieved 6 October 2014 a b Walser Robert 1 April 2013 Running with the Devil Power Gender and Madness in Heavy Metal Music Wesleyan University Press ISBN 9780819574213 Retrieved 6 October 2014 Brackett Nathan Howard Christian David 2004 The New Rolling Stone Album Guide Rolling Stone Simon and Schuster ISBN 9780743201698 Retrieved 6 October 2014 van halen runnin with the devil rollingstone CashBox Singles Reviews PDF Cash Box April 15 1978 p 46 Retrieved 2022 01 01 Radio2 top 30 8 oktober 2016 Radio2 Top30 2 radio2 be Archived from the original on 2012 04 09 Retrieved 2016 10 13 Hung Steffen Van Halen Runnin With The Devil dutchcharts nl Retrieved 2013 12 09 Van Halen Runnin With The Devil Top40 nl Retrieved 2013 12 09 Van Halen Chart history Billboard Retrieved 2016 10 13 VAN HALEN Artist Official Charts Retrieved 2013 12 09 Van Halen Chart History Hot Rock amp Alternative Songs Billboard Retrieved October 13 2020 Lucky s Disco bar voor wie houdt van feesten Luckysdb be Retrieved 2013 12 09 Hung Steffen Dutch charts portal dutchcharts nl Retrieved 2013 12 09 SINGLE TOP lOO 1980 PDF Top40 nl Retrieved 2016 10 13 Further reading EditVan Halen Guitar Anthology Van Nuys California Alfred 2006 pp 40 45 ISBN 9780897246729 OCLC 605214049 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Runnin 27 with the Devil amp oldid 1105618215, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
