As a guitar player, I can tell you that this riff is just GENIUS. Hes pulling it off without a tremolo bar and simulating it with bends. Took me years to realize it and I still haven’t gotten close to his flow on it. Nasty is an understatement
I think he did use a standard fender bridge, so it does have the ability to de-tune, but you're right the up-tune is from bending the string. Super impressive and creative.
The message in the lyrics is that she’s in full control. This beautiful woman, who’s drop dead gorgeous. The chorus, “You know that you want it.” is directed at the listener, not to her. She calls the shots. Not unlike a vampire. “Nice white teeth, Betty Boop.” Says so in the song. “When the night is through, will I still be loving you?” Implying that you may not live to see daylight. A seductress. Legs that men literally drop dead for. Drop Dead Legs.
@@tonyhoable why is that? Because of the background of how it came to be? Regardless of the backstory, it’s still a good song and a banger of an album for Roths exit…til much later.
David Lee Roth wrote all the lyrics..he's basically a funky poet, totally dropping bars since the 70s. He liked to just do train of thought, or just some words pieced together. Some people expect more complete sentences and get annoyed with him, but I love his writing, and this song is a great example of it.
at 3:21 the groove is one of the best in Van Halen history. You have Eddie playing 4 maybe 5 times together. There's the feedback guitar, rhythm, and random melodies. It's listening to 5 Eddie Van Halen's all at once. My top 3 Van Halen songs of all time
Darren Dixon --- this song and Take Your Whiskey Home from Diver Down are at the top of my VH list. Edit --- not Diver Down but Women and Children First album.
This album, Van Halen's 1984, and Def Leppard's Pyromania were the 2 albums I got for my 13th birthday. I was jamming out for my birthday! Drop Dead Legs is my favorite song on that album. "Nasty Guitar" pretty much sums it up.
And she is right that it isn't well choreographed - EVH generally only recorded most things on the fly and with a single take. He recorded the solo for Billy Jean in one take.
Van Halen was a well-oiled machine. Everything was done perfectly and the music proved it. This entire album is amazing, and honestly, every one of their albums (with DLR) is fantastic start to finish! Those deep cuts are the best.
This takes me back to 85 and in 8th grade, I used to play this on my drum set, it was a 12 pc double bass set of Ludwig drumg, like what Alex VH played.
My favorite song on this album!! Second favorite is “I’ll Wait”. Great album…I remember waiting for it to be released and being so excited to bring record over to my best friend’s house to listen to it for first time together! 🤘🏻🤟🏻💜💫
I was 14, listened to this tape 1st time on my cheap department store walkman. And I said "this is totally awesome" and then flipped the tape to rock out again. Rock on Brad & Lex
I was 11...and brought the tape (which was the very first one I ever bought with my own babysitting money) to school every Wednesday so we could listen to it during free time at the listening station in the back of the class.
@@jenniferfoster1692 I agree ! I knew the whole 1984 album but was obsessed with Panama but now I think I like drop dead legs the best off of the album…
I learned this song on guitar about 2 months ago. Eddie’s feel is not easy to emulate. He gets a lot of credit for his soloing. But his real brilliance is his rhythm playing. Genius
@@adriantrusca1245 so I guess Metallica would be pop next to Lamb of God? According to your criteria? VH with Roth was real solid hard rock, not metal of course. A couple poppy tunes, but 99% were truly heavy hard rock. Sammy stuff was way softer and poppier.
I would say when Sammy joined, they were in the synth era, but they came out of it with much harder music later. Humans Being and some others songs are as rock as early stuff.
This is fantastic to see a reaction to this song. I can barely remember any airtime this song had at all, but I loved it! Thanks for covering this hidden gem.
Van Halen was it their peak when I was in high school. Such a good band. If your guys get a chance check out Little Guitars by them off of Diver Down. The intro sounds like Eddie is playing two guitars. He was able to make the guitar his favorite toy for all to appreciate. We miss you Eddie.
Nobody grooves in the pocket like Ed and Al. His style is very much feel over drawing out a solo structure. He had the skill and ability to feel his way through to find perfection. It sounds easy, loose and nasty because it was...for HIM. There is so much freedom in his playing. If you have ever seen their playing of the song 5150 from "Live: Without a Net", Ed's solo on that particular song is one in a million and he never repeated it. It's completely different from the record, utterly brilliant, and never played that way again. It's truly a moment. Thank God the cameras were there to capture it.
Oh, that's an ending solo that should never be cut off! This and House of Pain really cemented my opinion of Eddie as one of the most creative guitarists ever. Some folks play faster. Some improvise better and with more interesting chord structures, but no one really combines being so fluid, so out there and yet also pleasing the way Eddie did.
Love the deep dive. Usually reaction channels just stick to the singles that we’ve all heard a million times…Hot ForTeacher, Jump, Panama, but a lot of times some of the best stuff is found in the deeper tracks like this one. Thanks, great pick.
on the last Van Halen tour when they played this song, on the video screen behind them they would show a beautiful pair of legs walking to the song, it's pretty cool
I learned something from you guys today. I don’t really follow rap so hearing you mention a style of rapping that could possibly tie back to VH is definitely exploding my head a little. Music is something else. This is why we all all need to respect each other’s creativity, because just like with so many other aspects of life, we are more alike than different!
To me the best thing about this is the ability of the VH bros to almost lose the beat, they wait till the very end of where note/beat should go, and then just blast it at the last moment. This is what makes it so amazing.
Can‘t believe you guys reacted to this song. It‘s such a banger, but then the whole album is fire. Top Jimmy is one of my favourites. One of the best time signature drops into a solo ever!
Brings me back to 10th grade, this song will shake your house with a good stereo system memory lane, this song never got played on radio, It was their bigger hits like jump,panama, I'll wait ect that got the airplay but this was my favorite song from that album, how time flys!
This song came on the jukebox in a bar when I was shooting pool one day. I looked outside through a window & saw beautiful woman in an empty parking lot roller skating around in very short shorts & a very tight top. It was like I was in a Van Halen music video..ha! Great memory, great song.
Great song!! I have suggestion of a 60s phycidillic group with a jug!!!! It's a live version from the 13th floor elevators. Song is titled " Have Mercy". Cool song
Eddie acknowledged that! He was a huge AC/DC fan, his son Wolfgang talks about that, how his dad talked about his AC/DC influences. "Eddie brought his love for AC/DC to the rest of Van Halen as well. In an interview with Guitar World, Eddie said that "Drop Dead Legs" from Van Halen's album "1984" was inspired by "Back In Black," one of AC/DC's most well-known songs. Eddie likened it to a slower, jazz version of "Back in Black."
I don’t know why this jam doesn’t get airtime. That solo at the end could go on and on into a whole other jam, and I bet it did on tape. A truly funky beat with a soulful vibe to it. One of my favorite songs they did.
As a guitar player, I can tell you that this riff is just GENIUS. Hes pulling it off without a tremolo bar and simulating it with bends. Took me years to realize it and I still haven’t gotten close to his flow on it. Nasty is an understatement
I think he did use a standard fender bridge, so it does have the ability to de-tune, but you're right the up-tune is from bending the string. Super impressive and creative.
Negative. It’s the picking technique he’s using PLUS he’s got a drop D tuna. He wrote this on his musicman not his Frankenstrat.
The message in the lyrics is that she’s in full control. This beautiful woman, who’s drop dead gorgeous. The chorus, “You know that you want it.” is directed at the listener, not to her. She calls the shots. Not unlike a vampire. “Nice white teeth, Betty Boop.” Says so in the song. “When the night is through, will I still be loving you?” Implying that you may not live to see daylight. A seductress. Legs that men literally drop dead for. Drop Dead Legs.
This whole album is reaction worthy. Start to finish not a bad song on it.
Definitely.
Jump is not a good song
@@tonyhoable why is that? Because of the background of how it came to be? Regardless of the backstory, it’s still a good song and a banger of an album for Roths exit…til much later.
except 'Jump"
@@raymo6795 Jump is awesome in every way
David Lee Roth wrote all the lyrics..he's basically a funky poet, totally dropping bars since the 70s. He liked to just do train of thought, or just some words pieced together. Some people expect more complete sentences and get annoyed with him, but I love his writing, and this song is a great example of it.
Diamond Dave is my idol!
Sub to his person channel, he's still at it. He doesn't post a lot but it's all Dave.
R.I.P. Eddie Van Halen....awesome dude, incredible guitarist....sorely missed.
at 3:21 the groove is one of the best in Van Halen history. You have Eddie playing 4 maybe 5 times together. There's the feedback guitar, rhythm, and random melodies. It's listening to 5 Eddie Van Halen's all at once. My top 3 Van Halen songs of all time
That man was epic he was Mozart on guitar. No one close to this talent
I don't believe it, someone finally reacted to my favorite song! Thank you guys!
Darren Dixon --- this song and Take Your Whiskey Home from Diver Down are at the top of my VH list.
Edit --- not Diver Down but Women and Children First album.
Take Your Whiskey Home was from Women And Children First.
@@joenorris8220 --- You are correct. My mistake.
This is some of Eddie’s best guitar work on this album, he can speak with a guitar like no other
This album, Van Halen's 1984, and Def Leppard's Pyromania were the 2 albums I got for my 13th birthday. I was jamming out for my birthday! Drop Dead Legs is my favorite song on that album. "Nasty Guitar" pretty much sums it up.
You and I had a really similar experience in the year 1984, it seems like. 🤟🤟🤟
13 in 84 here also
Both great albums! I was only a couple of years older than you and saw both of those tours!
What's got 9 arms, and sucks?
@@peterhineinlegen4672 Hardy har har. That was before Rick lost his arm.
I sure do miss you guys, some of the best reactions ever!!!!!
That Was One Of Eddie's Favorite Songs To Play ... Lex Likes Her Some Guitar... Good Ear..!
Drop Dead Legs is one of Ed's greatest grooves ever. It shows his funk side. That rhythm makes you feel dirty. Love it!
That's what made Eddie so great. His rymth and timing was so on point.
And she is right that it isn't well choreographed - EVH generally only recorded most things on the fly and with a single take. He recorded the solo for Billy Jean in one take.
Van Halen was a well-oiled machine. Everything was done perfectly and the music proved it. This entire album is amazing, and honestly, every one of their albums (with DLR) is fantastic start to finish! Those deep cuts are the best.
I was lucky to see them 16 times in concert them and led zeppelin my 2 favorite bands all time Van Halen and led zeppelin the best
I love Van Halen! 1984...whole album rocks...I listen to it often...DLR...ultimate showman! Just makes ya feel good!
This whole album is Eddie’s masterpiece!! Brilliant from start to finish….
I think this is THE Van Halen song. Quintessential. It has each member doing their thing in a balanced way.
This is my favorite song off of the album 1984. It's heavy as hell & has great nonsense lyrics. A great deep cut that true Van Halen fans love.
Unbelievably great guitar work even to this day, even after hearing it hundreds of times. RIP GOAT
This takes me back to 85 and in 8th grade, I used to play this on my drum set, it was a 12 pc double bass set of Ludwig drumg, like what Alex VH played.
My favorite song on this album!! Second favorite is “I’ll Wait”. Great album…I remember waiting for it to be released and being so excited to bring record over to my best friend’s house to listen to it for first time together! 🤘🏻🤟🏻💜💫
RIP Eddie. Long live the king!
I was 14, listened to this tape 1st time on my cheap department store walkman. And I said "this is totally awesome" and then flipped the tape to rock out again. Rock on Brad & Lex
Had a similar experience…this album was the best when I was 13!
I was 11...and brought the tape (which was the very first one I ever bought with my own babysitting money) to school every Wednesday so we could listen to it during free time at the listening station in the back of the class.
"I'll Wait" is another one of the good Van Halen joints
Anything with David Lee Roth is Van Halen!
The absolute best!!
best album cover ever
Thank you so much for doing this deep cut!! One of my all time favorite Van Halen songs..so great.
It is one of mine too !!..high fives you Jennifer !,✋✋
@@showtime4243 ✋✋ high 5!! I've been obsessed with this song lately, not sure I heard it back in the day :-)
@@jenniferfoster1692 I agree ! I knew the whole 1984 album but was obsessed with Panama but now I think I like drop dead legs the best off of the album…
Love this song
Betty Boop makes this a classic
Love, love, love it!!!! Eddie was the best rhythm player ever!! Too bad his lead playing overshadowed it!!!
The curse of being great at every facet of guitar!
You are right on, and that is why EVERYBODY loves VH, not just guitar fans. Great songs!
Yes yes yes!
Fact. His riffs and smooth rhythms were the best.
His lead playing was incredible, astonishing, unique and original in so many ways. His rhythm playing was even better!
I learned this song on guitar about 2 months ago. Eddie’s feel is not easy to emulate. He gets a lot of credit for his soloing. But his real brilliance is his rhythm playing. Genius
Love Van Halen during the Dave years. With Sammy they had some songs I liked but generally too pop sounding for my liking
Van Halen was always pop sounding. They're not exactly Sepultura.
@@adriantrusca1245 so I guess Metallica would be pop next to Lamb of God? According to your criteria? VH with Roth was real solid hard rock, not metal of course. A couple poppy tunes, but 99% were truly heavy hard rock. Sammy stuff was way softer and poppier.
I would say when Sammy joined, they were in the synth era, but they came out of it with much harder music later. Humans Being and some others songs are as rock as early stuff.
They went AOR, meant for an older generation.
@@shawntripp4591 They were metal back then.
This is fantastic to see a reaction to this song. I can barely remember any airtime this song had at all, but I loved it! Thanks for covering this hidden gem.
Love the end when Eddie and Alex start groovin' together. One of my favorite EVH guitar solos.
Van Halen was it their peak when I was in high school. Such a good band. If your guys get a chance check out Little Guitars by them off of Diver Down. The intro sounds like Eddie is playing two guitars. He was able to make the guitar his favorite toy for all to appreciate. We miss you Eddie.
Yes, Little Guitars is amazing.
I didn't believe he was playing that all at once on one guitar until I saw it with my own eyes! Simply amazing!!
BRAD AND LEX ARE THE BEST REACTORS ON TH-cam!! period!. 🤘🏻
Are*
I agree. I also don't like it when people grammar check you. Nothing needs to be said. Just keep scrolling
Absolutely
...coolest band in the world, coolest band ever! ...still miss you Brother Eddie
Very underrated VH tune. I always loved this one
1 of my fave VH tunes. The way Alex’s drums hit you right at the start.
Nobody grooves in the pocket like Ed and Al. His style is very much feel over drawing out a solo structure. He had the skill and ability to feel his way through to find perfection. It sounds easy, loose and nasty because it was...for HIM. There is so much freedom in his playing. If you have ever seen their playing of the song 5150 from "Live: Without a Net", Ed's solo on that particular song is one in a million and he never repeated it. It's completely different from the record, utterly brilliant, and never played that way again. It's truly a moment. Thank God the cameras were there to capture it.
Oh, that's an ending solo that should never be cut off! This and House of Pain really cemented my opinion of Eddie as one of the most creative guitarists ever. Some folks play faster. Some improvise better and with more interesting chord structures, but no one really combines being so fluid, so out there and yet also pleasing the way Eddie did.
Another great underrated song.
As others have suggested "Little Guitars" and one of my suggestions that's rarely played, "Atomic Punk"
The ending sounds more like jazz fusion than rock 'n' roll.
YES! My favorite VH song finally. This song is so good.
Love the deep dive. Usually reaction channels just stick to the singles that we’ve all heard a million times…Hot ForTeacher, Jump, Panama, but a lot of times some of the best stuff is found in the deeper tracks like this one. Thanks, great pick.
Next should be Girl Gone Bad!
@@GoblinGuy333 love that one!
Yes!!!! So happy to say I saw them play this live! Such a groove!
Lex's reactions are classic, love em! :D
Gotttdamn what a song. Slippery and dirty. EVH guitar god. AVH drum god. Michael. Dave. The whole package
Had this vinyl as a youngster. I was constantly yelled at to turn it down. A favorite!
This song is so amazing…ashame it hardly got any airtime like Jump, Panama or Hot for Teacher.
Panama was my fav on that album, but Drop Dead legs took top spot
on the last Van Halen tour when they played this song, on the video screen behind them they would show a beautiful pair of legs walking to the song, it's pretty cool
I love that Lex seems to be into what she is hearing
I learned something from you guys today. I don’t really follow rap so hearing you mention a style of rapping that could possibly tie back to VH is definitely exploding my head a little. Music is something else. This is why we all all need to respect each other’s creativity, because just like with so many other aspects of life, we are more alike than different!
My favorite Van Halen song
To me the best thing about this is the ability of the VH bros to almost lose the beat, they wait till the very end of where note/beat should go, and then just blast it at the last moment. This is what makes it so amazing.
Your reactions to some of my favorite songs, are great ! Nice way to spread the diversity of music!
Awesome reaction, a-gain! You guys ROCK! One of my fav tracks off 1984!
EVERYONE starts grooving on this song. Its universal
It's always good to hear. David Lee Roth
Can‘t believe you guys reacted to this song. It‘s such a banger, but then the whole album is fire. Top Jimmy is one of my favourites. One of the best time signature drops into a solo ever!
David Lee Roth is criminally underrated
Out of all their awesome songs this one is still my favorite. Eddie's funk on the hook is epic.
Brings me back to 10th grade, this song will shake your house with a good stereo system memory lane, this song never got played on radio, It was their bigger hits like jump,panama, I'll wait ect that got the airplay but this was my favorite song from that album, how time flys!
This is one of the best albums!! Eddie always made great rhythm for their songs!!
Man, caught this jam on the radio today too. Good day!
Definitely one of favorite songs off of the 1984 album….David Lee Roth is great here & Eddie’s guitar is at its rifftastic best 🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽
Van Halen's last great album!
I think this song represents the best tone he acheived in his entire carrer.
*This* is Van Halen.
This song came on the jukebox in a bar when I was shooting pool one day.
I looked outside through a window & saw beautiful woman in an empty parking lot roller skating around in very short shorts & a very tight top. It was like I was in a Van Halen music video..ha!
Great memory, great song.
Great song!! I have suggestion of a 60s phycidillic group with a jug!!!! It's a live version from the 13th floor elevators. Song is titled " Have Mercy". Cool song
All Dave ~ ALL night; alright!
Anything VH! Especially with DLR!
Omg. My FAVORITE Van Halen tune. Thank you!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️
Very cool! I seriously forgot about this one. Memories from High School. Thanks!
One of my favorite Van Halen songs.
Great song
Old school rock sound that never disappoints. Thanks u 2
The whole band is just badass 🤘🤘
Brad & Lex, you’ll love their “ Dancing In The Street” i!! (for your VH 21st song?)
It's one of there fun songs in the studio like ice cream man, and just a jiggalo.
King Edward was a genius,no one can replicate his style because he was 1 in a trillion,truth,peace! 🙋🕊️🙏🌹
You guys were swaying in sync in this one! Cool!
Women in Love is a great song. The intro is one of the best you'll hear and the harmonies are outstanding. It's a bit of a deep cut but it's awesome.
I was waiting for Lex to squeak at "giant butt."
Was not disappointed.
This track always reminded me of AC/DC's Back in Black with the guitar riff.
Wow I never thought of that thx👍
Eddie acknowledged that! He was a huge AC/DC fan, his son Wolfgang talks about that, how his dad talked about his AC/DC influences. "Eddie brought his love for AC/DC to the rest of Van Halen as well. In an interview with Guitar World, Eddie said that "Drop Dead Legs" from Van Halen's album "1984" was inspired by "Back In Black," one of AC/DC's most well-known songs. Eddie likened it to a slower, jazz version of "Back in Black."
@@jenniferfoster1692 I hadn't heard that Jennifer, thanks for sharing that info. 2 great bands for sure.
Brad & Lex cued right in on Eddie's "Brown Sound" - this song epitomizes it
Album is 1984 and it's awesome!
Excellent VH Song. Thanks for doing this one. I hope to see a VH Banner behind your REACTION Couch one of these days.
There can only be one Eddie. A pioneering virtuoso ahead of his time, a legend and a great human being; he is truly missed.
Amen.
You can hear a few licks and bends from MJ’s Beat it . Must have been right around the same year or coliseum to it
A must do from this album is Girl Gone Bad! I have been saying it and saying it!!!!!!
Eddie, I miss you more than all the others, and I salute you Brother.
Love EVH, MICHAEL, AVH & 💎 DAVE ...!
I don’t know why this jam doesn’t get airtime. That solo at the end could go on and on into a whole other jam, and I bet it did on tape. A truly funky beat with a soulful vibe to it. One of my favorite songs they did.
Damn, I'm legit happy that yall found this one. Will always remind me of my dad 🤙
My favorite Van Halen tune!👍
This was the first album I ever bought! Great album cover too