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"Love Walks In" is a power ballad[1][2][3] by American rock band Van Halen released as the third single from the band's seventh studio album, 5150 (1986). It was the first song the band wrote with vocalist Sammy Hagar.[4][5][6] It peaked at number 4 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart,[7] and reached number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100.[8]

Background

To quote Hagar:

I'm a firm believer - have seen, have felt, have been contacted three or four different times. I have received information that has been valuable in my life from those people (extraterrestrial life), and they have used me. I'm gonna sound like a complete nut here, but they have used me in an experimental fashion. The easiest way to put it is that they downloaded my brain information.[9]

Hagar wrote the lyrics on the spot and sang it live with a hand-held mic.[10][11]

Billboard called it a "tricky little tune" that goes "from hard-rock swagger to a graceful chorus hook."[12]

Charts

Chart (1986–1987) Peak
position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[13] 65
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[14] 4
US Billboard Hot 100[15] 22

Personnel

References

  1. ^ "The new van Halen: Revamped, revitalized and ready to rock".
  2. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2 November 2020). "Eddie Van Halen: Happy Trails". sterlewine.substack.com.
  3. ^ "Van Halen's '5150' VS. David Lee Roth's 'Eat 'Em And Smile' – Great Rock Debates". Van Halen News Desk. October 24, 2013.
  4. ^ "Van Halen - "Love Walks In" - Live Without A Net (1986)". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-12. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  5. ^ Tannenbaum, Rob (October 6, 2020). "Eddie Van Halen's 12 Essential Songs". New York Times.
  6. ^ III, J. C. Macek (29 February 2016). "The Most Unintentionally Terrifying "Love Songs" Ever Written, PopMatters". PopMatters. Retrieved 2021-06-21.
  7. ^ "Van Halen - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  8. ^ "Van Halen - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  9. ^ "Love Walks In by Van Halen - Songfacts".
  10. ^ Elliott, Paul (March 2014). "The best of both worlds". Classic Rock. No. 194. p. 48.
  11. ^ Blabbermouth (2019-03-25). "SAMMY HAGAR Looks Back On VAN HALEN's '5150' Album (Video)". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 2021-06-21.
  12. ^ "Reviews". Billboard. August 16, 1986. p. 69. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  13. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0734." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  14. ^ "Van Halen Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  15. ^ "Van Halen Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
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