Amsterdam (Van Halen song)
Encyclopedia
"Amsterdam" is a rock
song written by the group Van Halen
for their 1995 album Balance
. It was released as single to mainstream rock
radio and peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart during the summer of 1995 (see 1995 in music
).
According to a 1995 interview on Dutch radio, the song is based upon Sammy Hagar
's tourist impression of Amsterdam
, such as the freedom he felt in the city.
According to Everybody Wants Some: The Van Halen Saga, Eddie
and Alex Van Halen
didn't like the lyrics, feeling the song did their birthplace a disservice. Sammy, however, wouldn't budge, as it was about his tourist impression over the memories of the Van Halen family homeland.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
song written by the group Van Halen
Van Halen
Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
for their 1995 album Balance
Balance (Van Halen album)
Balance is the 10th studio album by American hard rock band Van Halen. It was released in 1995 and, to date, is the fourth and final Van Halen album of all-new material featuring lead singer Sammy Hagar. It was also a more complete divergence from their earlier, more heavy metal sound...
. It was released as single to mainstream rock
Mainstream rock
Mainstream rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations in the United States and Canada.-Format background:...
radio and peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart during the summer of 1995 (see 1995 in music
1995 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1995.- January–February :*January 18 – Jerry Garcia crashes his rented BMW into a guard rail near Mill Valley, California, USA, but is not injured in the accident....
).
According to a 1995 interview on Dutch radio, the song is based upon Sammy Hagar
Sammy Hagar
Sam Roy "Sammy" Hagar , also known as The Red Rocker, is an American rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Also sings Country Music....
's tourist impression of Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, such as the freedom he felt in the city.
According to Everybody Wants Some: The Van Halen Saga, Eddie
Eddie Van Halen
Edward Lodewijk "Eddie" Van Halen is a Dutch-American guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter and producer, best known as the lead guitarist and co-founder of the hard rock band Van Halen, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...
and Alex Van Halen
Alex Van Halen
Alexander Arthur "Alex" Van Halen is a Dutch-born American musician, best known as the drummer and co-founder of the hard rock band Van Halen. Originally, his brother Eddie had taken lessons for drums, while Alex practiced guitar...
didn't like the lyrics, feeling the song did their birthplace a disservice. Sammy, however, wouldn't budge, as it was about his tourist impression over the memories of the Van Halen family homeland.