Poundcake (song)

Last updated
"Poundcake"
Van Halen - Poundcake.jpg
Single by Van Halen
from the album For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
B-side "Pleasure Dome"
ReleasedJune 1991 (1991-06) [1]
Recorded1990–1991
Studio 5150 Studios, Studio City, California
Genre
Length5:22
Label Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Van Halen singles chronology
"Feels So Good"
(1989)		"Poundcake"
(1991)		"Runaround"
(1991)

"Poundcake" is a Van Halen song and the opening track on their 1991 album For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge . "Poundcake" was the first song to be released as a single from the album, reaching number one on the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart and number 74 on the UK Singles Chart.

Contents

The CD Single provides an 'interview with Van Halen' which begins with hearing Eddie say, "Hey, this is Eddie Van Halen...". In addition, "Poundcake" begins immediately with the drill and omits the sound of Edward plugging his guitar cable into the amplifier.

Composition

Eddie Van Halen recalls that the song did not earn much of a reaction until producer Andy Johns suggested that he play the rhythm tracks with a 12-string guitar. Afterwards the band helped the composition of the song over the two electric 12-strings doubled beneath Eddie's usual dirty guitar. Regarding the guitar solo, Eddie said that "The solo goes four bars, another four bars, then two bars. Al kept insisting that it wasn't finished. He likes to count, and I never do. I'm strictly feel. I'm always screwing around with time, because I never count." [2] The song is in the key of E major, with the guitar solo in the key of F♯ minor, having a moderate rock common time tempo of 108 beats per minute. [3]

Power drill

The song features Eddie Van Halen using the sound of a Makita 6012HD power drill in the introduction and during the guitar solo. According to Eddie, a guitar technician was operating one of these drills at 5150 Studios while he was playing, and the sound captured was akin to "kick starting your engine". Subsequently, Eddie painted a drill with the Frankenstrat stripes to use during concerts. [4] [5]

Music video

The official music video for "Poundcake," directed by Andy Morahan, [6] shows Eddie using the technique with a Makita cordless power drill painted in his trademark red, black and white stripes. The video, itself, cuts between scenes of the band playing and a demure young lady - played by Diane Manzo - who has shown up for an audition (a handmade sign on the wall says "Van Halen Casting"). [7] While waiting, she spies on the other girls through a hole in the changing room door and is fascinated by their provocative dress and behavior. When they finally notice her, one - played by Tania Coleridge - uses a power drill to create a hole in the door and harass her, ultimately scaring her off.

The video is also preceded with a young girl reciting a poem of "What Are Little Boys Made Of?". The video ends with a blooper of the girl making a mistake and the director saying they will do another take.

Reception

Chuck Klosterman of Vulture.com ranked it the 35th-best Van Halen song, largely praising the song but calling the lyrics "straight-up sewage-drain awful". [8]

Charts

Chart performance for "Poundcake"
Chart (1991)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [9] 55
UK Singles (Official Charts Company) [10] 74
US Billboard Mainstream Rock [10] 1

Related Research Articles

<i>Van Halen</i> (album) 1978 studio album by Van Halen

Van Halen is the debut studio album by American rock band Van Halen, released on February 10, 1978, by Warner Bros. Records. Widely regarded as one of the greatest debut albums in rock music, the album was a major commercial success, peaking at number 19 on the Billboard 200. It has sold more than 10 million copies in the United States, receiving a Diamond certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and making it one of the best-selling albums in the country.

<i>For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge</i> 1991 studio album by Van Halen

For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge is the ninth studio album by American rock band Van Halen. It was released on June 17, 1991, on Warner Bros. Records and is the third to feature vocalist Sammy Hagar. It debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart and maintained the position for three consecutive weeks. The album marked a record in the band's history, seeing seven of its eleven tracks released as singles.

<i>Live: Right Here, Right Now</i> 1993 live album by Van Halen

Live: Right Here, Right Now. is the first live album by American rock band Van Halen, released in 1993. It is the band's only live album featuring Sammy Hagar and the only live album by Van Halen until the release of Tokyo Dome Live in Concert in 2015.

"Eruption" is a guitar solo performed by Eddie Van Halen and the second track from Van Halen's self-titled 1978 debut album. It is widely considered to be one of the greatest guitar solos of all time, having popularized tapping. It segues into a cover of the Kinks' "You Really Got Me", and the two songs are usually played together by radio stations and in concert. The song was later included as the B-side to the group's second single, "Runnin' with the Devil".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jump (Van Halen song)</span> 1983 single by Van Halen

"Jump" is a song by American rock band Van Halen. It was released in December 1983 as the lead single of their sixth studio album, 1984. It is Van Halen's most successful single, reaching number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song differs from earlier Van Halen songs in that it is driven by a keyboard riff, although the song does contain a guitar solo. David Lee Roth dedicated the song to martial artist Benny "The Jet" Urquidez, of whom he was a student. In 2021, Rolling Stone ranked "Jump" at number 177 on its updated list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".

<i>Live Without a Net</i> (Van Halen video) 1986 video by Van Halen

Live Without a Net is a live concert video of Van Halen recorded in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1986, and released later that year. It was of their performance on August 17, 1986 at New Haven's Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The 90-minute release removed a few songs from the full performance. While the band attempted to record the previous night, audio problems prevented it from being used, although some video footage from that night would later surface in music videos. The concerts were part of the 5150 Tour, supporting the album of the same name, Van Halen's first with lead singer Sammy Hagar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hot for Teacher</span> 1984 single by Van Halen

"Hot for Teacher" is a song by the American rock band Van Halen, taken from their sixth studio album, 1984. The song was written by band members Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, Michael Anthony and David Lee Roth, and produced by Ted Templeman. It was released as the fourth and final single from the album in October 1984, and was the final single released during the band's 1974–1985 era.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Runnin' with the Devil</span> 1978 single by Van Halen

"Runnin' with the Devil" is a song by the American hard rock band Van Halen, released as the second single from their 1978 eponymous debut album. The lyrics were inspired by Ohio Players 1974 song "Runnin' from the Devil". In 2009, "Runnin' with the Devil" was named the 9th greatest hard rock song of all time by VH1. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panama (song)</span> 1984 single by Van Halen

"Panama" is a song by the American rock band Van Halen. It was the third US single released from the album 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dance the Night Away (Van Halen song)</span> 1979 single by Van Halen

"Dance the Night Away" is a song by American hard rock band Van Halen, and written by its group members. It is the second song from their 1979 album Van Halen II. While the rest of the songs from this album had existed in various forms since their days doing demos and playing clubs, this song was possibly the only song written during the recording sessions for the album.

"Everybody Wants Some!!" is a song by the American hard rock band Van Halen it is the second track off their 1980 album Women and Children First. It is one of the band's most popular songs, starting as a concert highlight throughout the band's early career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'll Wait</span> 1984 single by Van Halen

"I'll Wait" is a song by American rock band Van Halen, taken from their sixth studio album, 1984 (1984). It was written by band members Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, Michael Anthony and David Lee Roth, along with Michael McDonald, and produced by Ted Templeman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamie's Cryin'</span> 1978 single by Van Halen

"Jamie's Cryin'" is a song written by the band Van Halen that was first released on the band's 1978 debut album. It was subsequently released as the third single from the album but did not chart. It has also been released on a Van Halen compilation album and was sampled for Tone Loc's 1988 song "Wild Thing".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Guitars</span> 1982 song by Van Halen

"Little Guitars" is a song performed by Van Halen. It was included on their album Diver Down.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Why Can't This Be Love</span> 1986 single by Van Halen

"Why Can't This Be Love" is a song by the American rock band Van Halen for their seventh studio album, 5150 (1986). The song was released as the lead single from 5150 through Warner Bros. Records. It was the group's first single with lead vocalist Sammy Hagar, who replaced founding member David Lee Roth. It was released on both 7" and 12" single formats, the 12" single featuring an extended version of the song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Humans Being</span> 1996 single by Van Halen

"Humans Being" is a song recorded and contributed by American rock band Van Halen for the 1996 disaster film Twister. The song marks the last recording to feature vocalist Sammy Hagar before his departure from the band in June 1996. "Humans Being" was released as a radio-only single in the United States on April 23, 1996, peaking atop the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for two weeks later that year. In Japan, the single was released on CD in July 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">And the Cradle Will Rock...</span> 1980 single by Van Halen

"And the Cradle Will Rock..." is a song written and performed by Van Halen. It appears on their 1980 album Women and Children First and was released as a single. It is also the first song released by the band that featured the keyboard playing of Eddie Van Halen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Somebody Get Me a Doctor</span> 1979 single by Van Halen

"Somebody Get Me a Doctor" is a 1979 song by Van Halen. It is the third song on their second album, Van Halen II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">So This Is Love? (song)</span> 1981 single by Van Halen

"So This Is Love?" is a rock song written by the group Van Halen for their 1981 album Fair Warning. It is one of four singles issued for the album, and is unique among Van Halen songs for being rooted in a swing beat. It peaked at number 110 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and number 15 on the U.S. Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eddie Van Halen</span> American rock guitarist (1955–2020)

Edward Lodewijk Van Halen was an American musician. He was the guitarist, keyboardist, backing vocalist, and primary songwriter of the rock band Van Halen, which he founded with his brother Alex in 1972.

References

  1. ↑ Christopher, Michael (October 2021). Van Halen: The Eruption and Resilience of Hard Rock Legends. ISBN   978-1493062096.
  2. ↑ Guitar World Staff (November 13, 2013). "Prime Cuts: Eddie Van Halen Breaks Down 10 Van Halen Classics, from "Eruption" to "Right Now"". Guitarworld.com . Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  3. ↑ Van Halen Guitar Anthology. Van Nuys, California: Alfred. 2006. pp. 216–28. ISBN   9780897246729. OCLC   605214049.
  4. ↑ Edward Van Halen: A Definitive Biography
  5. ↑ Everybody Wants Some: The Van Halen Saga
  6. ↑ Garcia, Alex S. "mvdbase.com - Van Halen - "Poundcake"". Music Video DataBase. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  7. ↑ Noblemania
  8. ↑ 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.
  9. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 292.
  10. 1 2 "Poundcake (song by Van Halen) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". MusicVF.com. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.