Diver Down, Van Halen
Updated: Aug 7
"Rocking into Puberty: Van Halen's Diver Down Unleashed!"
When I stumbled upon Van Halen at the tender age of 15, little did I know that I was about to unlock the door to a world of electrifying rock 'n' roll enchantment. Eddie Van Halen, the ultimate "guitar hero," effortlessly proved his mastery time and time again. But the mesmerizing rendition of Roy Orbison's '50s classic, "Pretty Woman," reimagined by Van Halen, hooked me, with an introduction that makes it impossible not to crank the volume up. It was one of their anthems, igniting arena concerts as they closed their sets which I could not witness until years later with a different group alignment, including Sammy Hagar.
The serendipitous moment happened during a routine grocery shopping trip to "Aurrera" with my mom. As she kindly indulged me with a purchase to stop me from whining, I chose an album from the "new" rack with the most captivating cover - a choice I couldn't comprehend until years later during my first scuba diving adventure. Little did I realize that listening to "Diver Down" a few times would transform me from a child to a full-fledged rock 'n' roll-obsessed teenager, adorning my room with a wild collection of posters.
"Diver Down" may not be Van Halen's magnum opus, but every track serves as a testament to Eddie's hypnotic guitar mastery. The album showcases the band's versatility, blending their signature hard rock sound with captivating covers and mesmerizing instrumental tracks. In addition to Orbison's timeless hit, the album boasts several other covers, though back then, I wasn't interested in knowing the original artists - all I cared about was the electrifying experience.
Over the years, "Diver Down" has remained a constant in my list of all-time favorites. Van Halen opened up a treasure trove of their past, and as they continued to surprise us with their musical evolution, the love and fascination only deepened.
"Diver Down" is a timeless gem that's always worth a listen, a portal into the rock 'n' roll magic that forever reverberates through the halls of Van Halen's legendary career. So, crank up the volume and let yourself be carried away by the electrifying energy of this unforgettable album.