Dreams

Greetings, Zoo Freaks! Your hippie DJs at THE ZOO are spinning the uplifting anthem "Dreams" from Van Halen's 1986 album 5150. This track, the second single from the album, soared to #22 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains a fan favorite. One juicy tidbit: the iconic music video for "Dreams" wasn’t even made by the band! Van Halen initially refused to produce videos for 5150, wanting fans to experience new singer Sammy Hagar live first. So, Warner Bros. threw together a clip using stock footage of the US Navy’s Blue Angels performing jaw-dropping aerial stunts with A-4 Skyhawks. The video became a surprise hit on MTV and was even used by the Navy for recruiting. Talk about a happy accident!

Here’s another gem for you Zoo Freaks: "Dreams" pushed Sammy Hagar’s vocal range to the limit. In a 2021 interview, Hagar admitted the song’s high notes were a beast to sing live, stretching his tenor to the edge. He once said, “Every time I hear a live performance of ‘Dreams,’ I shake and scratch my head and wonder ‘What was I thinking singing in that register?’” Yet, he nailed it, and bassist Michael Anthony was blown away, noting in 2021 that Sammy’s ability to hit those notes night after night was mind-blowing. Hagar himself has called "Dreams" one of his favorite Van Halen songs, alongside "Right Now," as shared in a Rolling Stone interview. The song’s uplifting vibe also caught the attention of John Kerry, who used it as his 2004 presidential campaign theme and played it after his Democratic National Convention speech.

Zoo Freaks might be curious about the live magic of "Dreams." During the 5150 tour, Eddie Van Halen showed off his versatility, starting the song on keyboards before switching to guitar for the solo, while Hagar handled rhythm guitar parts. In later tours, Eddie stuck to guitar, with keyboards either prerecorded or played offstage by pros like Alan Fitzgerald of Night Ranger. A cool live quirk? During the chorus—“We’ll get higher and higher, straight up we’ll climb”—Michael Anthony typically sang the second “higher,” a tradition that became a staple, with Eddie joining in too. Oh, and fun fact: "Dreams" got a new generation hooked when it blasted through the credits of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie in 1995, cementing its place in pop culture.

Now, let’s rewind to how Van Halen got their start. Formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972, the band was built around brothers Eddie (guitar) and Alex Van Halen (drums), sons of a Dutch musician who encouraged their musical pursuits. They teamed up with bassist Michael Anthony and charismatic frontman David Lee Roth, initially playing covers in local bars and backyard parties under names like Mammoth. Eddie’s innovative guitar techniques—like his two-handed tapping—set them apart, and by the mid-1970s, they were a staple on the Sunset Strip. Their big break came in 1977 when producer Ted Templeman caught their act at the Starwood club and signed them to Warner Bros. Their 1978 debut album, Van Halen, exploded with hits like “Runnin’ with the Devil” and “Eruption,” rewriting the rules of hard rock. Despite Roth’s departure in 1985, the band reinvented itself with Sammy Hagar for 5150, proving their resilience and versatility.

Zoo Freaks, you can keep up with Van Halen at their official website or follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and X. Sammy Hagar, still rocking as the Red Rocker, has his own vibrant website and is active on Facebook, Instagram, and X. Fans can dive deeper at fan-run sites like the Van Halen News Desk or join discussions at the Van Halen Links forum. Want to connect with fellow Zoo Freaks? Check out Van Halen Nation on Facebook for all things Van Halen. Keep dreaming big, and stay tuned for more righteous tunes!