Classic Songs: ‘Jump’ by Van Halen.

The biggest albums of 1984 produced some of the biggest songs of the decade. Think about Bruce Springsteen’s Born In The USA, Prince’s Purple Rain,  Madonna’s Like A Virgin, Tina Turner’s Private Dancer and Van Halen’s aptly titled album 1984. On the latter, the late great guitar virtuoso, Eddie Van Halen did the unspeakable and defied expectation of what was rock ’n’ roll by adding synthesisers to the mix. The album’s first two heavy synth-laden singles Jump and I’ll Wait were a game-changer, broadening the appeal of the band. But diehard fans need not have worried about Van Halen having sold out to an entirely new sound, for they were still hard rockers through and through with fast-paced Panama and Hot for Teacher helping alleviate concerns of Van Halen’s rock credentials. It’s fair to say 1984 (arguably because of Jump) became the template Van Halen would use as inspiration for their follow up 5150 with a new frontman, Sammy Hagar.

It’s a given to say that Eddie Van Halen is one of the most influential guitarists of all time. He is often singled out for his two-handed tapping technique and revolutionary playing style and incessant experimentalism. Yet while many fans remember him as a rhythm guitar virtuoso, his talents also extended across other instruments notably the piano and keyboard. Originally trained as a classical pianist, Van Halen had a good ear, especially for improvisation. The most notable example of this is arguably Eddie’s famous synth line on Van Halen’s classic hit Jump, released in late December of 1983.

Within the band, the song’s famous synth line (which was first composed circa 1981) was a “crossing the rubicon” moment which saw Eddie finally convince his bandmates, notably singer and songwriter David Lee Roth, that synths weren’t just the domain of purveyors of pop or ‘New Wave’. That said, the lively instrumental presented Roth with a challenge, to write lyrics which would match its energy. Eventually inspiration struck when Roth remembered watching the five o’clock news on television one night. 

According to Roth, “…there was a fellow standing on top of the Arco Towers in Los Angeles and he was about to check out early, he was going to do the 33 stories drop – and there was a whole crowd of people in the parking lot downstairs yelling “Don’t jump, don’t jump” and I thought to myself, ‘Jump.’” 

But instead of it being a song about suicide, Roth turned the lyrics of Jump into an invitation for listeners to embrace life’s opportunities. The song’s opening line, “I get up, and nothin’ gets me down” in particular sets the stage for its life affirming message. 

In short, this song really kiss ass. But while we are for the most part hypnotised by Eddie’s synth riff and Roth’s call to arms, the unsung rhythm section of Michael Anthony’s bass and Alex Van Halen’s drum snare, really deserves a lot of praise for holding it all together. Of course, the song’s solo (at approximately the 2:17 minute mark) which begins on guitar and cleverly transitions into a keyboard solo is also second to none. 

The track was recorded at Eddie Van Halen’s newly built home studio, located in Studio City, California in 1983. It was subsequently released as the first single from the album 1984. It still stands as one of the band’s most jauntiest tracks and their only No.1 single. Interestingly, Rolling Stone magazine ranks it at number 177 on its updated list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”.