Van Halen‘s first album was a massive hit, gaining tons of popularity. But Van Halen’s momentum slowed down throughout their next four albums. They have some great songs on those albums, but they didn’t get as much spotlight as the first. However, 1984, their sixth studio album, was a massive success. Though maybe not in the same way. 1984 appealed more to the mainstream media than their last 5 albums, which frustrated some hardcore fans, who call 1984 overrated to this day. Fans. This was also the last album with lead singer David Lee Roth, as he left for a solo career in 1985. Before I make any conclusions, I will review every song in this album and decide if it’s really a good album or if it is overrated.

1984

This is a complete waste of a track. This is supposed to be an “intro” to the album, but to me, it is just out of place and not necessary. The song is purely synthesizer and keyboard, and the album would be better off without it. It is not a common opinion, but to me it just feels off. Nothing much else to say, I give this song a 3/10.

Jump

If you ask the average person to name a Van Halen song, the answer would more often than not be this song. You saw the shift from the core of Van Halen to more synthesizer and keyboard in the first true song of this album, something that hardcore fans criticized. Jump is not a bad song by any means, but it’s nowhere near Van Halen’s best song. My main issue with this song is that it’s extremely overplayed. This is a core example of Van Halen buying into the mainstream media. Overall, the song itself is solid, but the number of times it’s played definitely brings it down. This song gets a 6/10.

Panama

This is another song that got massive media attention, but the difference is that it has more of a classic rock feel. Legendary guitarist Eddie Van Halen‘s riffs are amazing in this song, and Roth’s vocals, as always, bring a ton of energy. I personally like this song way more than Jump, as it feels much more like Van Halen. However, the same issues with this song are the same as the last; it is very overplayed. Still, I like this song, and it’s very good, so I give it an 8/10.

Top Jimmy

This song is a hidden gem within an album heavily influenced by synthesisers and keyboards. This feels way more like Van Halen compared to the other songs on this album. Eddie is incredible in this song; his riffs are very catchy. Once again, it is a high-energy song. This song is criminally underrated and one of my favorite songs on this album. I give it a 9/10.

Drop Dead Legs

This song, instead of a high-energy vibe, feels heavier and a tad bit slow for Van Halen. The highlight of this song is definitely the outro. Eddie and Alex Van Halen combine their excellent drum and guitar playing to create an amazing sound. Roth is pretty good, too. Overall, the song is at its best towards the end, but it’s very solid as a whole. With that, I give this song a 7/10.

Hot for Teacher

This is another song that is very overplayed. This song, combined with Jump and Panama, is the 3 songs I hear the most by far on the radio. The message of this song is not good, but it is a funny and entertaining story told through song. The tone of the song is amazing. It is very fast-paced and upbeat. Alex’s drum intro is iconic, and Eddie’s riff throughout the song is very catchy. It is definitely my favorite of the 3 “popular’ songs on this album, and ignoring the overplayed nature, I give this song a 10/10.

I’ll Wait

This is my favorite song on the album. Roth’s vocals are, in my opinion, at their best in this song. They make the song flow great. This song does include a keyboard, but it’s not overused like in other songs on this album. Eddie’s solo in the middle third of the song is amazing as always. To me, this song is my favorite because of Alex. His heavy drumming keeps the song from sounding too different and newer. Because this is my favorite song, I give it a 10/10.

Girl Gone Bad

For an album known for the new age synthesizers, there is surprisingly a good amount of songs on this album that do not include them. Girl Gone Bad is another good example of this. This song is very heavy and is keyed by Alex’s fills. Eddie’s best solo of the album is in this song, and his riffs throughout deepen the tone of the song. Girl Gone Bad is another one of those underrated songs covered by mainstream songs. I give this song an 8/10.

House of Pain

There are officially heavier and classic rock-like songs here than the synthesizer pop; the reason fans remember this album that way is that the most popular songs are exactly that. But the core of the album feels much more like the old Van Halen, and because of this, these songs are underrated. House of Pain is no exception. Everyone is good here, and the song is just plain good. Not much else to say, so my rating for this song is an 8/10.

Looking back at this album, the perception that 1984 is buying into the mainstream media is only somewhat true. The songs that were huge successes were indeed the songs that used keyboards and synthesizers. However, the majority of the songs have the classic Van Halen sound. These songs are extremely underrated and overshadowed. 1984 was the peak of fame for Van Halen, and even after Roth left, they stood at the top of the rock world for the remainder of the decade. 1984 is a good album, and my final ranking for this album is an 8/10.