“I paid my four bits t’see the Freep… and I’mma gonna sees the Freep.” — Yosemite Sam
Leading off with a Van Halen reference yesterday led Bruce (Spikor) to paraphrase the above classic cartoon quote, so as a form of appeasement, this week’s Monday Music Video is a 1986 selection from 5150. I know, I could have gone with 1984’s “Jump”, as it’s a better known song, but I like throwing in a surprise now and then. And “Dreams” is certainly a good song to go with as well.
The video is notable in that it doesn’t feature a single shot of the band themselves. Instead, it features aerial maneuvers from the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels. 1986 was the 40th anniversary of the squadron.
The song is also notable as the second single off the album 5150 (following “Why Can’t This Be Love?”), which was the first album released following the departure of David Lee Roth. Sammy Hagar was brought in as the new lead singer, a move which even today is regarded with some degree of controversy — though with as many times as Eddie Van Halen has fired one lead singer or another, most long-time Van Halen fans have come to terms with the changes by now. The “Van Hagar” nickname is used as much to differentiate between the two major eras of the band as anything, and only a few diehards use it derisively.
Despite its initial mixed reception over the singer controversy, 5150 was the first album by the band to reach #1 (though it’s speculated that 1984 would have if not for Thriller). As for “Dreams”, it reached #22 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #6 on the list of Album Rock tracks. The video made MTV’s top 100 for 1986 at #65, and their list of the 500 Greatest Videos of All Time at #380.
Morgan on Media 
Man, I’d forgotten about this music video! Like Top Gun film, quite the recruitment tool. Cool look back, Morgan :-).
Indeed, I’m sure this went a long way towards encouraging would-be pilots to enlist. 😀
You really managed to get me to climb the ladder and put on the High Divin’ Act myself here.
I don’t recognize this one from the title, in this early summer weather my machine is overheating after a few minutes of video playback, and my headphones aren’t working.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to saw off this diving board so you’ll finally fall dow–
O.O
It’s a fairly non-indicative title. I’ve got the song in my MP3 shuffle (from my CD collection), probably heard it a hundred times or more, and I still wouldn’t be able to identify it by name.
I’m pretty sure you’ll recognize it if you get a chance to play it with a non-ailing machine. I sympathize on that front, by the by. Mine probably just needs a good dusting (it’s been about 6 weeks, I think), but I’m used to having the A/C on during the summer as much for the computer as for myself.