Right Now (Van Halen song)

Infobox Single
Name = Right Now
Artist = Van Halen
from Album = For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
Released = Start date|1992|02|15
Length = 5:21
Genre = Rock
Label = Warner Bros.
Writer = Van Halen
Producer = Van Halen
Ted Templeman
Andy Johns
Chart position = * 2 (Mainstream Rock Tracks)
Last single = "Poundcake"
(1991)
This single = "Right Now"
(1991)
Next single = "Runaround"
(1991)

"Right Now" is a rock song written by the group Van Halen for their 1991 album "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge". The song reflects on living for the moment and not being afraid of making a change. The music video won several awards and reflected on events that were occurring at the time, both within the band and social issues in the world around them. Vocalist Sammy Hagar has said that he was writing the lyrics to this song at the studio very late one night, and he heard Eddie Van Halen in an adjacent room working on a piano melody. Hagar said he suddenly realized that "we were writing the same song," so he walked into the room and began singing his words over Van Halen's music.

The music video for "Right Now" won three awards at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards, including the award for Video of the Year. [ [http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1588679&vid=47618 MTV movie awards] ] It was later used in Crystal Pepsi commercials between 1992 and 1993. [ [http://football.ugo.com/?cur=crystalpepsi Best Super Bowl commercials: Crystal Pepsi] , ugo.com] [ [http://www.retrojunk.com/details_articles/1469/ Crystal Pepsi ...Excuse me?!] , RetroJunk.com]

Political Uses

The song has also been used a number of times by U.S. political candidates. For example, in the presidential campaign of the then Texas Governor George W. Bush the song was used as one of his theme songs, often playing it at ralliesFacts|date=September 2008. On August 29, 2008 during a campaign rally in Ohio, after Senator John S. McCain's announcement of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate and her remarks, this song was played over the sound system. [MSNBC, [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/26457563#26457563 video] . Plays right after speech.] Band members reportedly disagreed about it's use at the McCain rally— Alex and Eddie Van Halen issued a statement saying "Permission was not sought or granted nor would it have been given", [http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/09/12/gops-use-of-right-now-leads-to-sammy-hagar-eddie-van-halen-phone-tag/] however Sammy Hager later issued a statement in regards to the controversy supporting use of the song by either major 2008 presidential candidate. [cite news|url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/statement-sammy-hagar-regarding-right/story.aspx?guid={FC96A36B-1027-41ED-BB87-BEC94B4F2556}&dist=hppr|title=Statement From Sammy Hagar Regarding 'Right Now' Usage by John McCain|date=August 29, 2008|work=MarketWatch|publisher=Wall Street Journal|accessdate=2008-09-18]

The band has also used the song for political statements. Although Van Halen vocalist Sammy Hagar, was a financial supporter of President George W. Bush in his 2004 re-election campaign, [http://www.newsmeat.com/celebrity_political_donations/Sammy_Hagar.php] during the 2004 reunion tour, the band projected the "Right Now" music video, with a few extra modern scenes, on a large screen behind them while they performed the song. According to Boston Globe music critic Sarah Rodman, one of the updates was a new image of the then contemporary U.S. President, George W. Bush. The photo was accompanied by a caption which read "right now nothing is more expensive than regret." [ [http://www.afgrant.com/concerts/vh_04.htm 2004 concert review] ]

References