Yeah this is about a car, Panama Express. A reporter wrote a hack piece on Van Halen saying they only write songs about women, partying and fast cars” so Roth realized they didn’t have a song about a car so he wrote it. Early Troll move by David Lee Roth!

One thing I miss about seeing Eddie is he always had a smile on his face while playing. You could tell he loved it b

The Van Halen concert I attended in 1982 was the LOUDEST environment I was ever in. My ears were ringing for three days, and I couldn't sleep for two of them. Been to over 500 concerts, and this was the most hyped up crowd I was ever a part of. There was an opening act, but we couldn't hear them. A real ROCK AND ROLL show!

There will only ever be ONE Diamond Dave.

David Lee Roth is a martial artist. He has been training in kenjutsu since he was 12 years old, and he also practices kenpō and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Panama, although it has some suggestive lyrics, it is about a car that Roth saw at a race in Las Vegas

Old school Van Halen running with the devil, beautiful girls, and the cradle will rock, where have all the good times gone.

I was 20 in 1984.......what a great time it was~!!❤️‍🔥

This video was recorded at the Philadelphia Spectrum over two nights. I was fortunate enough to be at both shows. This is DLR’s last year with VH.

Panama is a car! 😉

Panama City Beach spring breaks in the late 80's... What a time to be a teenager

Talking about a car. The engine revving in the song is David Lee Roth's '72 Lambo. Sammy's most popular solo songs are probably "I Can't Drive 55" and "Heavy Metal". My favorite Hagar solo work is the album he did to get out of the contract with Geffen Records so he could join Van Halen. It's now called "I Never Said Goodbye" but didn't have a name when it was released. The cassette I still have is untitled. My absolute favorite song lyrics comes from "Give To Live" on that. It's not my favorite song because it's a ballad. But the lyrics are phenomenal.

Dave is also a certified EMT in NYC.

14 year old me, a fresh cassette of 1984 in my Walkman, sitting in the back seat of dad’s ‘77 Ford LTD, 8 year old little brother beside me, waiting in the parking lot for mom to get back from the grocery store, jamming to this song. Dad sees me in the back and asks “what are you listening to?” so I tell him Van Halen, he has no idea who it is, he’s the 60’s “softer music” type, Mama’s & Papa’s, Peter, Paul & Mary, Simon & Garfunkel, etc. Nothing against that style, love it as well, but it’s not Van Halen. Anyways, he says “let’s hear it”, so, I hand him the cassette at the Panama spot where it goes slow, “ease the seat back” and he puts it on. The look on his face, and my little brother’s, is seared into my brain. That’s the moment I learned Van Halen was our generation’s music and the old farts just couldn’t get it. Mind you, Dad’s like barely 40 there, so not old, but in my teenage mind, he was and it was mine, all mine, this music defined our generation, and in many ways, continues to. Now here’s the ironic part, I’m now in my 50’s and manage a LOT of younger team members, many (most?) in their 20’s, all of them know my background and what music I grew up on. What I most often hear from them is “dude, I am so jealous you got to grow up then, it really does seem like it was a blast”. Yes. It was.

Roth and VH parted company when 1984 album came out...Jump,Panama. Hagar joined 1985 and that Eruption solo was from Without A Net show( on DVD). Story goes,EVH was hammered during that show...and did THAT!!! He,in an interview,can't recall doing it. Also,story goes,because Eddie did Beat It with Jackson...it cause a riff that was already building.Roth wanted to take the band one way,and EV wanted to go another.They never really got along from the beginning. 5150 came out ,with Hagar,and it became their first #1 album.Panama is about a car.

It was about a car. "In an interview with Howard Stern, lead singer David Lee Roth explained the meaning behind the song. Although the song features some suggestive lyrics, it is about a car that Roth saw race in Las Vegas; its name was "Panama Express", hence the title of the song."

Van Halen-Right Now & Why Can’t This Be Love are my favorites

David Roth had a super good, well trained voice and had some serious non-rock singing

It's about a car he saw at a drag race in Las Vegas called "The Panama Express". Cars are usually referred to as female, so it's easy to see how this song could be interpreted either way. He wrote it in response to a reporter claiming he only wrote songs about partying, women, and fast cars.

Yes, it’s about a car. People often refer to cars as her/she.

"Mean Streets," is one of their best songs lyrically.

Love watching Eddie Van Halen. And to know that he changed Beat It and Michael Jackson liked it is a cool bit of trivia.

I'm in my fifties and I can say I cannot recall ANYONE suspended above the stage before David did it.

I am squarely in the David Lee Roth camp! I never cared for Sammy before or during VH! Love the throwbacks! Thanks BP!❤️‍🔥✌🏻🫶🏻

In an interview with Howard Stern, lead singer David Lee Roth explained the meaning behind the song. Although the song features some suggestive lyrics, it is about a car that Roth saw race in Las Vegas; its name was "Panama Express", hence the title of the song.

"Eruption" originated as the opening to Van Halen's first LP. Dave was the original lead singer. "1984" was the last LP Dave was lead singer. Sammy originated with the group Montrose & such hits like "Bad Motor Scooter". He then had a successful solo career before replacing Dave. My favorite Sammy will always be his Montrose & solo music. My favorite Van Halen will always be with Dave. Also, Dave had a successful solo career the first few years after Van Halen

Ace! This was the first Van Halen tune I learned to play on guitar, years ago. Absolute banging track.

Born in 1970 the 80’s were an amazing time to be alive..

Yeah you got Davids name right! 🤣😉💜 David was the original singer. He and Eddie had a falling out so David left the band and Sammy took over for a few years. Im so glad that the DLR and Eddie made up and toured one last time. That is when I got to finally see them live. I cherish that memory. I wasn't a fan of Van Hager as that are called sometimes. I liked Sammy's solo stuff before he joined the band though.

The album 1984 was played everyday when i was 13. I know every song on it. Hot for teacher was one of the best. I know every word of that video. Thanks MTV.

Panama was a striper van halen best of both worlds , run around ,standin on top of the world,can't stop lovin you

RIP Eddie Van Halen. One of the greatest guitarists of all time. Miss that dude already.

Undoubtedly "I Can't Drive 55" is Sammy Hagar's most popular solo hit before he joined Van Halen in 1985.

EASILY my fave Van Halen tune!!!

Layover is the word you're looking for. Love the channel!

Sammy Hagar solo song: I Can't Drive 55 Sammy Hagar with the band Montrose: Rock Candy Your stop in Panama was a, layover. 👍🏽😁

1984... MTV... this changed the game! Most bands tried to follow this.

What you need to do now is watch just a gigolo from David Lee Roth from his solo days, then watch Sammy Hagar I don't drive 55, then do a Sammy Van Halen song I recommend Dreams, then you need to check out the third Van Halen front man Gary Cherone and his band Extreme, I recommend he man woman hater or get the funk out, and finally Gary with Van Halen fire in the hole

Hagars singing in the band Montrose is my favorite Hagar era

Sammy Haggar's best known song is "I Can't Drive, 55"...later in the 90s he came out with "Mas Tequila" which is a banger

David Lee Roth studied w/ Benny "The Jet" Urdiquez (around this time), for years & had been involved in various martial arts disciplines from the age of around 12. A vast majority of his stage moves are adapted from such movements. -on the MCMLXXXIV tour he, even, did a stage segment (not nightly, perhaps, but: fairly often) with a Katana. 🤘🤘 [Because he was, also, improvising each time and doing flips & kicks during this, he cut himself on the edge of the blade several times during the tour (never severely).]

The David Lee Roth era is by far my favorite. Although I do love Sammy Hagar and his contribution it's a different band with him. As far as Sammy Hagar, he was awesome in the band Montrose. Their songs Bad Motor Scooter and Rock Candy are great. As far as his solo work, one of my favorite Sammy songs is Three Lock Box. I Can't Drive 55 is also a great big hit of his Anything off the album Standing Hampton, Three Lock Box or VOA is great!

check out "mean street" the guitar on that one is fantastic

In terms of Sammy Hagar solo stuff, definitely check out “I Can’t Drive 55”, “Heavy Metal”, “There’s Only One Way To Rock” and “Three Lock Box”

They parachuted in into Anaheim stadium before a concert in 1978 they badass

Written by Van Halen. 40 years 🎂. San Francisco native 🌁 here. Sammy Hagar was the lead singer of Montrose. Denny Carmassi was the drummer He left and joined Heart. Alan Fitzgerald was the bass guitarist 🎸 and keyboardist 🎹. He left and founded Night Ranger 🌙. The most popular song of Sammy Hagar is I Can't Drive 55 🚫. Suggested videos 📹.1 Van Halen performs Ain't Talking about Love live 2 Night Ranger performs When You Close Your Eyes 3 Heart performs Alone.

"I Can't Drive 55" is Sammy's most famous song! I have the album!

Love your reactions bro!

I am 57 and this song was out in my teen years. That being said, talking about getting older. Best thing for your knees, against conventional wisdom. Heavey squats and heavy deadlifts like i do. 30 lbs short of deadlifting 500 lbs and only been weight training 5 years.

Panama was used pretty memorably in Superbad if you saw that movie. At the end when they destroy the police car. “I call this the upward spiraling pigtail!”

Nice reaction. Love VH!! If you get a chance react to Ain’t talkin bout love, or unchained. So many great Van Halen songs. So far you have only done songs of the 1984 album.

A car they saw in an auto race . Had Team Panama written on the car . Then wrote this song about it .

Panama is about a drag car, Diamond Dave wrote it at a drag race, you probably heard it if you watched Super Bad the movie

Saw this tour in 1984 in Toronto, the only show where instead of scalpers trying sell you tickets people were begging you to sell your tickets. This was the last year of the DLR era. Remember all the other 80s bands are imitating them, they are the originators.

Panama City Beach, Florida spring breaks! It was a great time to be a teenager! Loads of fun!

It was a big thing in the 80's they did it and bon jovi did it and alot of other big metal bands

Most rock bands write the lyrics after the song is made or at least the instrumental hook is made.

David Lee Roth had a car named "Panama Express" thats why the song is about racing in the street.

For Sammy Hagar, you've got to hear I Can't Drive 55 or Heavy Metal. And hearing you mention Eruption reminded me: if you want to see a master of a musical instrument put on a clinic you should watch Neil Peart's drum solo at the Rush 30th anniversary tour in Frankfurt.

Sammy Hagar was in Montrose originally, before he became a solo artist. "Bad Motor Scooter" and "Rock Candy" were two of Montrose's biggest hits out of many. When he went solo, he blew up with songs like "I Can't Drive 55". He was a huge solo artist before he replaced David Lee Roth in Van Halen. The "Van Hagar" era was a more serious side of Van Halen, lyrically. I like both eras but they are completely separate animals to me. For Sammy Hagar Van Halen check out "Right Now" or "Why Can't This Be Love".

If you plan to visit Hagar "pre Van Halen" visit some of his days with the band, Montrose first! This was before his solo career and VH obviously. You should start with his most popular hit "Rock Candy" then maybe "I've got the Fire" or "Bad Motor Scooter". After this, ease into his solo stuff like others have already mentioned.

It's about a car I believe.

David studied Northern Eagle Claw Kung Fu and Wu Shu. The Northern Styles a famous for high spinning kicks.

I was sad after hearing this song a couple days I got back from a vacation in my favorite place that has Panama in the name. Panama city Beach, Florida. I hate coming back to my hometown.

Panama is the car. Last two songs on this album, Girl Gone Bad, House of Pain, together, do it!

The car that you see David Lee Roth driving in the music video is a 1951 Mercury

lolol.... the Layover in Panama.... :)

I’m big Van Halen fan but I did like Sammy with Van Halen more bc of his vocal abilities

Love David's stage antics he incorporated in the shows. Hagar had similar antics with the band too. you should check out the live without a net show. he dangles himself above a crowd of thousands during the show as he performs with no harness or net. i've watched Ain't Talkin Bout Love so many times in awe of the balls it would take me to do that lol. would love to see you react to that. (full concert was uploaded in HD by the channel Rock Remastered)

From what I’ve read and saw in interviews and on his KZfaq channel the type of martial arts he’s into is an ancient form that was resurrected and mastered by him. I could be wrong but I’m pretty sure that is the story. I think he had taken another form and then ventured to this form.

Layover. LOL. You ain't old dude. Love ya.

In the slower part of the song you can hear Eddie’s Lamborghini rev up a few times

People have been flying during stage performances with ropes and cables since at least the middle ages, probably even ancient Greece. So it's kinda hard to say who inspired who lol

David has multiple black belts and others in many different disciplines.

Greatest band of all time!

The blow dryer is my favourite 😆

My preference is Van Halen with Sammy Hagar as lead singer (even though I love the David Lee Roth era also). Please react to Van Halen (Hagar on vocals) "WHEN IT'S LOVE" (original video). That's my favorite Van Halen song. 🔥

Speaking of 80's rock sound.... You should totally check out some Def Leppard. Not too long ago, I got to see them live with Journey, and that was a very memorable night.

This song is about a car. The part of the song “it’s running a lil bit hot tonight vrooooomm I can barely see the road fro the heat vroooomm” that vroom is a lambroghini 1972 I think. This is a great song imo.

The story is that a reporter once wrote that Van Halen only has songs about women, partying, and fast cars. It was meant as an insult, apparently. David Lee Roth took it as a challenge, realizing the group hadn't written a song about a car, fast or otherwise. Hence, the "she" in the song Panama is referring to a fast car! With, of course, a wee bit of suggestive double entendres!

When I was little I always thought they were singing “ready to roll” 😅 and not “Panama”

My favorite Van Halen song with Sammy Hagar is “When It’s Love”.

Sammy was also in a band called Montrose. Check out Bad Motor Scooter and Make It Last

Being as you are a rapper i would love to see you react to a rap song before rap was a thing. It is by Frankie Smith called " Double Dutch Bus". Most people heard it while roller skating.

Thank you for not accusing David of cultural appropriation. 😅

❤❤❤

Sammy Hagar's best-known song is "I Can't Drive 55," which ruled the airwaves for over a year. The official video is also a really kickin' mini movie. It would truly surprise me if you haven't heard the chorus at some point in your life, for real. Enjoy your reactions!✌️

My first ever concert was Van Halen!!!!

the song was reportedly written about a car. In an interview with Howard Stern, lead singer David Lee Roth explained the meaning behind the song. Although the song features some suggestive lyrics, it is about a car that Roth saw race in Las Vegas; its name was "Panama Express", hence the title of the song. Panama was also the name of Roth's Opel Kadett. Roth wrote the song after being accused by a reporter of "singing about only women, partying, and fast cars". He realized he had never written a song about fast cars and decided to write one

Layover (not overlay) but I love it - stuff I would do. Haha. Van Halen was epic (feuding aside) and I like DLR & SH as front men. Both work. I heard DLR (besides martial arts) learned from exotic dancers. Makes sense to me.

There is a difference between Van Halen and Van Hagar - not a Sammy Hagar fan (just being honest) --- it was two different bands, depending on the Front Man. Major Fan of the Van Halen brothers --- SoCal Rock.

Sammy Hagar was a veteran singer in the 70's before Van Halen even had a record out... Guitarist Eddie Van Halen was a fan of the band Montrose, which recorded 2 albums w/ Sammy Hagar on vocals in the 70's before he was fired... In 1976, Sammy Hagar put together a solo band... launched a solo career and built a solid fanbase (Montrose got a new singer, but fell into obscurity) In the early 80's, Sammy Hagar finally scored a platinum record 'Standing Hampton' w/ the single "There's only one way to rock"... His album 'VOA' yielded his biggest solo hit - "I can't drive 55". In 1985, tensions between David Lee Roth and the rest of Van Halen came to a head due to creative & personal differences... Eddie was using more keyboards in the new music and Roth did not like that direction... Van Halen fans were shocked when news broke that Roth was out of Van Halen after an EP 'Crazy from the heat' was released as a David Lee Roth solo record. Van Halen considered getting a new singer... while Sammy Hagar was contemplating taking time off from music... Eddie Van Halen got Sammy Hagar's phone number from a mutual mechanic and agreed to meet w/ the band for an audition... Hagar went to Eddie's 5150 studio and heard the music that would become the '5150' album and was impressed... he wrote melodies and lyrics and heard the demo tapes and decided to sign on as Van Halen's new singer in 1986... Van Halen enjoyed 4 albums w/ Hagar on vocals, all charting at #1 in the US before tensions between Eddie and Sammy led to a split in 1996 and a failed reunion attempt w/ David Lee Roth... Sammy Hagar did return in 2004 for a Van Halen tour... but Eddie Van Halen was abusing drugs and alcohol... playing terribly onstage on that tour... and both Hagar and bassist Michael Anthony left Van Halen by 2005.

Please react to Van Halen love walks in or when it’s love 2 great Van Halen songs with Sammy hagar

And yes it’s about a car it’s actually Eddie Van Halen‘s car he called Panama

🤘🤘

Panama is a dragster called The Panama Express. David Lee Roth based the song on that car and a male stripper he knew. Leave it to Dave to come up with that combo.

This song was the title song for Gran Turismo 4, if you ever played that.

Gotta check out 1981 Oakland live to get the true essence of VH . You won’t be disappointed 👍✌️

Its a car. Saw were you did steel panther. The singer Michael starr was in a van Halen tribute band

If you're gonna check Sammy out before Van Halen , you gotta start with his biggest hit. It's called "I can't drive 55" Great tune!! 👍

Also please check out the band Fuel. Like Hemorrage in my hands and Shimmer. Or Innocent