When It's Love

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"When It's Love"
Single by Van Halen
from the album OU812
B-side"Cabo Wabo"
ReleasedJune 1988
Recorded1987
Studio5150 Studios, Studio City, California
GenrePop metal[1]
Length5:38
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Van Halen singles chronology
"Black and Blue"
(1988)
"When It's Love"
(1988)
"Finish What Ya Started"
(1988)

"When It's Love" is a power ballad[2] by American rock band Van Halen. It was released in 1988 as the second single from their eighth studio album OU812. It was the most popular song from that album, hitting #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock charts and #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[3] The song has been a live performance staple since it was released in 1988. The song was also included in the set list for the band's ill-fated 1998 tour with Gary Cherone. Eddie Van Halen has stated that this particular guitar solo is a nod to Eric Clapton.[4] It became their 3rd and last top 10 hit.

Reception[edit]

It was featured on a VH1 special, The Greatest: 25 Greatest Power Ballads, where it was ranked as the 24th greatest power ballad of all time.

Charts[edit]

Weekly charts[edit]

Weekly chart performance for "When It's Love"
Chart (1988) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[5] 23
Irish Singles Chart[6] 23
UK Singles (OCC)[7] 28
US Billboard Hot 100[8] 5
US Billboard Mainstream Rock[9] 1

Year-end charts[edit]

Year-end chart performance for "When It's Love"
Chart (1988) Position
US Billboard Hot 100[10][11] 82

In popular culture[edit]

The ending theme of the 80s-set Bluey episode, Fairytale, was inspired by When It's Love.[12]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Greg Kot (September 3, 1991). "It's the Guitarist Who Still Makes Van Halen Rock". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  2. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "OU812 - Van Halen". AllMusic.
  3. ^ Whitburn, Joel. The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 6th ed, Billboard Publications, Inc. 1996. ISBN 0-8230-7632-6
  4. ^ Graff, Gary (June 19, 2021). "How Van Halen's 'When It's Love' Sparked 'OU812'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  5. ^ "Van Halen – When It's Love". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  6. ^ "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". www.irishcharts.ie. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  7. ^ "UK Top 40 Chart Archive, British Singles & Album Charts". everyHit.com. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  8. ^ "Van Halen - Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  9. ^ "Van Halen - Mainstream rock". Billboard. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  10. ^ "1988 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 100, no. 52. December 24, 1988. p. Y-20.
  11. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1988". Retrieved October 3, 2016.
  12. ^ Brumm, Joe (October 25, 2023). "Bluey Full Episode: Fairytale". YouTube.

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]

When It's Love (2004 Remaster) on YouTube