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Jump (Van Halen song)

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"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.[1] 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.[2] In 2021, Rolling Stone ranked "Jump" at number 177 on its updated list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".[3]

"Jump"
Single by Van Halen
from the album 1984
B-side"House of Pain"
ReleasedDecember 1983
Recorded1983
Studio5150 Studios, Studio City, California
Genre
Length4:02
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Ted Templeman
Van Halen singles chronology
"Secrets"
(1982) 		"Jump"
(1983) 		"I'll Wait"
(1984)
Audio sample
Music video
"Jump" on YouTube

"Jump" was one of the few Van Halen songs originally recorded by Roth that Sammy Hagar would perform live during his tenures with the band.

Writing and composition

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The synth line was written circa 1981 by Eddie Van Halen, but it was rejected by the other members of the band. In 1983, producer Ted Templeman asked Roth to listen to the unused song idea. Riding around in the back of his 1951 Mercury, with band roadie Larry Hostler driving, Roth listened repeatedly to the tune. To come up with a lyric for it, he remembered seeing a TV news report the night before about a suicidal jumper. Roth thought that one of the onlookers at such an event would inevitably yell "go ahead and jump". Roth bounced this suggestion off Hostler who agreed it was good; however, instead of describing a potential suicide, the lyrics were written as an ontological invitation to action, life and love. Roth later told Musician magazine that Hostler was "probably the most responsible for how it came out."[4] The song is set in the key of C major, with the guitar solo in the key of B♭ minor. "Jump" has a moderate common time tempo of 129 beats per minute.[5]

Ted Templeman recalls that "Jump" was recorded at Eddie Van Halen's newly constructed home studio. "Engineer Donn Landee and Ed put the track down alone in the middle of the night. We recut it once in one take for sonic reasons. Dave wrote the lyrics that afternoon in the backseat of his Mercury convertible. We finished all vocals that afternoon and mixed it that evening."[6]

The keyboard part was performed on an Oberheim OB-Xa.[7] Live performances began with Eddie's synthesizer solo "1984". During the reunion tour with Roth, the two songs were used for the band's encore.

According to Daryl Hall of Hall & Oates, "[Eddie] Van Halen told me that he copied the synth part from 'Kiss on My List' and used it in 'Jump.' I don't have a problem with that at all."[8]

Musically, the song was a departure from the band's original style,[9] embracing more of a popular and radio-friendly sound. "Jump" has been described as a "synth-rocker",[10] as a combination of hard rock and pop,[11] as exemplifying pop rock of the 1980s, built on a classic rock foundation of repeated bass notes and having standard rock instrumentation,[12] and as "a true rock masterpiece."[13] The song has been also described as a pop/glam metal anthem.[14][15][16][17][18]

 
Van Halen performs "Jump", November 10, 2007

Music video

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The music video for "Jump" was directed by Pete Angelus and David Lee Roth. It is a straightforward performance clip. It was nominated for three MTV Video Music Awards, and won "Best Stage Performance" for the video. The audio mix of the song in video version has an extra "Ah oh oh!" yell from Roth before the last chorus.

In the 2011 book MTV Ruled the World: The Early Years of Music Video by Greg Prato, Angelus discussed the video. "'Jump' really was just about personality, really. It was a very simple video. We shot it for nothing. David wanted to incorporate his karate-flipping — that he loved so much — into the whole thing. The initial concept was just to film them in a very simple live setting, and let the personalities show through. We did it very quickly. Seriously, I think that we probably spent more money on pizza delivery than we did on the video itself. But that was the intention — make it a very intimate, personal feeling, with a very big band."[19]

Sporting anthem

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Since December 1986, before every home game at the Stade Vélodrome, Olympique de Marseille players enter to Van Halen's song.[20]

As part of the goal celebrations it is also played every time A.C. Milan scores a goal at their home ground San Siro.[21]

The song is a staple at Detroit Pistons NBA games whenever a jump ball is called.

The original Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League played "Jump" on the arena PA system as the team came onto the ice. They used the song until the team's departure for Phoenix after the 1995–96 season. On the team's return in 2011, public outcry for use of the song initially was ignored, as the team's management company True North Sports and Entertainment wished to create a break with the past, considering the previous Jets a different organization from the new Jets (the former Atlanta Thrashers). However, in 2016 True North resumed the use of "Jump", this time as the team's goal song whenever the Jets score a goal at Bell MTS Place.[22]

"Jump" was the theme song for the introduction of Chicago Cubs broadcasts on WGN-TV in 1984 and 1985, and was formerly what the team would run onto the field to before the top of the 1st inning.[23][24]

Reception

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"Jump" was ranked number 15 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the 1980s. The song was listed by The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum as one of the "500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll."[25] Chuck Klosterman of Vulture.com ranked it the 16th-best Van Halen song, calling it "an articulation of unadulterated joy and the unprecedented power of six rudimentary keyboard chords arranged in the best possible sequence."[15] Ahead of the 2012 Summer Olympics, the song was voted as the favourite sporting anthem, in a poll of members of PRS for Music.[26]

Appearances in film and television

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The song was used in the soundtrack of the 2015 biopic Eddie the Eagle, being described by Blake Goble of Consequence of Sound as "the most on-the-nose use of Van Halen's 'Jump' ever committed to celluloid".[27] "Jump" appears in the 2018 science fiction film Ready Player One. The song was used in the opening credits of the film and in the trailer for the film,[28][29] and considered an "inspired choice" by Joe Reid of Decider.com.[30]

The song was featured by McDonald's, in their United Kingdom 2023 Christmas television commercial, titled Fancy a McDonald's Christmas.[31][32]

The song is heard in a scene of the 2005 film Herbie: Fully Loaded where the titular character competes in a demolition derby.[citation needed]

Awards and nominations

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"Jump" was nominated at the 27th Annual Grammy Awards (1984) in the "Best Rock Performance By a Duo or Group with Vocal" category, losing to "Purple Rain" by Prince & The Revolution.[33]

Armin van Buuren remix

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Dutch DJ Armin van Buuren debuted his own private remix of "Jump" at the 2019 Miami Ultra Music Festival with David Lee Roth on stage.[34] This remix was finally released through Big Beat Records on May 17, 2019.[35]

Personnel

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Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[64] Platinum 90,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[65] Platinum 50,000‡
Japan (RIAJ)[66] Gold 100,000*
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[67] Platinum 60,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[68] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[69] Gold 1,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Live version

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"Live: Jump"
Single by Van Halen
from the album Live: Right Here, Right Now
B-side"Love Walks In (Live)"
Released1993
GenreHard rock
Length4:27
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Van Halen, Andy Johns, Donn Landee

"Live: Jump" was released as a single in 1993. The performance was recorded at the Selland Arena in Fresno, California, in May 1992, during the For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge Tour. "Jump" and the B-side, "Love Walks In", are the same versions that appear on the album Live: Right Here, Right Now. On the compact disc release of the single, "Mine All Mine" and "Eagles Fly" are previously unreleased live versions. All songs were produced by Van Halen and Andy Johns, except "Mine All Mine", which was produced by Van Halen and Donn Landee.[70]

Weekly chart performance

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Chart (1993) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[71] 93
Ireland (IRMA)[72] 13
Netherlands[73] 17
UK Singles[74] 26

Personnel (1993)

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Track listings

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7" single

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  1. Jump (Live) – 4:27
  2. Love Walks In (Live) – 5:14

CD single

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  1. Jump (Live) – 4:27
  2. Love Walks In (Live) – 5:14
  3. Mine All Mine (Live) – 5:24
  4. Eagles Fly (Live) – 6:01

Typography

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The typeface used for the cover is Cristal, created by the French designer Rémy Peignot [fr].[76]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel. The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 6th ed, Billboard Publications, Inc. 1996. ISBN 0-8230-7632-6
  2. ^ Christe, Ian (2009). Everybody Wants Some: The Van Halen Saga. John Wiley & Sons. p. 97. ISBN 978-0-470-53618-6.
  3. ^ "Jump ranked #177 on Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs List". Rolling Stone. September 15, 2021. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  4. ^ Crouse, Richard (2012). Who Wrote The Book Of Love?. Doubleday Canada. p. 144. ISBN 9780385674423.
  5. ^ Van Halen Guitar Anthology. Van Nuys, California: Alfred. 2006. pp. 148–53. ISBN 9780897246729. OCLC 605214049.
  6. ^ Van Halen: A visual history: 1978-1984, Neil Zlozower, 2008
  7. ^ "Hear David Lee Roth and Dutch DJ Armin Van Buuren's EDM Version of Van Halen's "Jump"". Guitar World. April 1, 2019. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
  8. ^ "Classic Tracks: Hall & Oates "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)" Archived 2006-08-30 at the Wayback Machine". mixonline.com, 2006.
  9. ^ Prown, Pete; Newquist, HP (1997). Legends of Rock Guitar: The Essential Reference of Rock's Greatest Guitarists. Hal Leonard. p. 165. ISBN 9780793540426.
  10. ^ Jackson, Josh (February 1, 2012). "The 80 Best Albums of the 1980s". Paste. Archived from the original on February 4, 2012. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  11. ^ Cramer, Alfred William (2009). Musicians and Composers of the 20th Century. Salem Press. p. 1540. ISBN 9781587655173. In 1984 the song 'Jump' reached number one on the Billboard charts. The radio-friendly song combined hard rock with synthesizer-driven pop music.
  12. ^ Campbell, Michael (2008). Popular Music in America: And The Beat Goes On (3 ed.). Cengage Learning. p. 305. ISBN 9780495505303.
  13. ^ Sumrall, Harry (1994). Pioneers of Rock and Roll: 100 artists who changed the face of rock. Billboard Books. p. 274. ISBN 9780823076284.
  14. ^ Popoff, Martin (2014). The Big Book of Hair Metal. Voyageur Press. p. 58. ISBN 9781627883757.
  15. ^ a b Klosterman, Chuck (October 6, 2020). "All 131 Van Halen Songs, Ranked From Worst to Best". Vulture. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  16. ^ Zaleski, Annie (October 7, 2020). "Eddie Van Halen: 10 of his best songs". The Guardian. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  17. ^ Begrand, Adrien (April 5, 2017). "36 Essential '80s Pop Metal Tracks". Stereogum. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  18. ^ Comaratta, Len (January 7, 2012). "Dusting 'Em Off: Van Halen - 1984". Consequence. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  19. ^ Prato, Greg (2011). MTV Ruled the World: The Early Years of Music Video. Kindle Direct. p. 240. ISBN 9780578071978.
  20. ^ "French football team unveils Eddie Van Halen tribute". vhnd.com. October 20, 2020. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  21. ^ "The songs of soccer, from stadium anthems to Ronaldo's solo". DW.com. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  22. ^ Minuk, David (October 14, 2016). "Winnipeg Jets pick Jump by Van Halen as new goal song". Illegal Curve. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  23. ^ Hawley, Larry (October 7, 2020). "Van Halen's 'Jump' has a special meaning for the Cubs and their WGN-TV broadcasts". WGNTV.com. Nexstar Inc. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  24. ^ NBC Sports Bay Area Staff (October 6, 2020). "Nine best Van Halen sports anthems ranked, in Eddie's memory". NBCSports.com. Comcast SportsNet California, LLC. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  25. ^ "500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll Archived May 2, 2007, at the Wayback Machine." The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, 2007.
  26. ^ Cooper, Leonie (July 26, 2012). "Van Halen's 'Jump' voted most popular sporting song". NME. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  27. ^ Goble, Blake (February 25, 2016). "Film Review: Eddie the Eagle". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  28. ^ Hudak, Dan (March 30, 2018). "Steven Spielberg's Ready Player One Delivers Plenty of Action, Pop Culture References". San Antonio Current. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  29. ^ Munro, Scott (December 12, 2017). "Van Halen's Jump used in spectacular Ready Player One trailer". Classic Rock. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  30. ^ "'Ready Player One' Is a Blockbuster That's Perfectly Sized for Home Viewing". Decider. July 27, 2018. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  31. ^ "VAN HALEN's 'Jump' Featured In Christmas Commercial From U.K. Branch Of McDonald's". Blabbermouth.net. November 10, 2023. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  32. ^ Leeson, Lucy (November 10, 2023). "McDonald's unveils Love Actually-inspired Christmas advert". Independent. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  33. ^ "GRAMMY Awards - Van Halen". Grammy.com. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  34. ^ "David Lee Roth Joins Armin van Buuren for 'Jump' at 2019 Ultra Music Festival". Loudwire. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  35. ^ Jump (Armin van Buuren Extended Mix) by Van Halen at Beatport
  36. ^ "Cash Box - International Best Sellers" (PDF). worldradiohistory.com. Cash Box. 2 June 1984. p. 30.
  37. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  38. ^ "Van Halen – Jump" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  39. ^ "Van Halen – Jump" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  40. ^ "Las canciones más populares en América Latina". La Opinión (Los Angeles) (in Spanish). April 9, 1984. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  41. ^ Nanda Lwin (1999). Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide. Music Data Canada. ISBN 1-896594-13-1.
  42. ^ Lesueur, InfoDisc, Daniel Lesueur, Dominic Durand. "InfoDisc: Bilan des Ventes par Artiste". infodisc.fr. Retrieved January 16, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  43. ^ "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". Archived from the original on October 18, 2013. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
  44. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Van Halen" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  45. ^ "Van Halen – Jump". Top 40 Singles.
  46. ^ "Los éxitos en Latinoamérica". La Opinión (Los Angeles) (in Spanish). May 12, 1984. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  47. ^ "Las canciones más populares en América Latina". La Opinión (Los Angeles) (in Spanish). April 9, 1984. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  48. ^ "Van Halen – Jump". Singles Top 100.
  49. ^ "Van Halen – Jump". Swiss Singles Chart.
  50. ^ "UK Top 40 Chart Archive, British Singles & Album Charts". everyHit.com. March 16, 2000. Retrieved November 3, 2011.
  51. ^ "Las canciones más populares en América Latina". La Opinión (Los Angeles) (in Spanish). April 22, 1984. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  52. ^ a b c "Van Halen Songs ••• Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". musicvf.com. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  53. ^ "Las canciones más populares en América Latina". La Opinión (Los Angeles) (in Spanish). April 9, 1984. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  54. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Van Halen – Jump" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  55. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of January 11, 2023". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  56. ^ "Van Halen Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  57. ^ "Kent Music Report No 548 – 31 December 1984 > National Top 100 Singles for 1984". Kent Music Report. Retrieved January 23, 2023 – via Imgur.com.
  58. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  59. ^ Currin, Brian. "South African Rock Lists Website - Hits 1984". rock.co.za. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  60. ^ "Top 100 Singles 1984" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  61. ^ "Talent Almanac 1985: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 96, no. 51. December 22, 1984. p. TA-19.
  62. ^ "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1984". cashboxcountdowns. December 29, 1984. Archived from the original on July 11, 2012.
  63. ^ "Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  64. ^ "Danish single certifications – Van Halen – Jump". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  65. ^ "Italian single certifications – Van Halen – Jump" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  66. ^ "Japanese digital single certifications – Van Halen – Jump" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved May 20, 2021. Select 2014年1月 on the drop-down menu
  67. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Van Halen – Jump". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  68. ^ "British single certifications – Van Halen – Jump". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  69. ^ "American single certifications – Van Halen – Jump". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  70. ^ Live: Jump (Media notes). Van Halen. Germany: Warner Bros. Records Inc. 1993. W0155CD.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  71. ^ Kent, David (2006). Australian Chart Book 1993–2005. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-45889-2.
  72. ^ "Irish Singles Chart – Search for song". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  73. ^ "Van Halen: Top 40-hits". top40.nl. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  74. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  75. ^ Renoff, Greg (January 26, 2015). "The History of Eddie Van Halen and Keyboards". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  76. ^ "Cristal in use". Fonts in Use. Retrieved November 27, 2022.

Further reading

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