Humans Being
"Humans Being" | ||||
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Single by Van Halen | ||||
from the album Best Of – Volume I and Twister soundtrack | ||||
B-side | "Respect the Wind"[1] | |||
Released | April 23, 1996 | |||
Length |
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Label | Warner Bros. | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Bruce Fairbairn | |||
Van Halen singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Humans Being" on YouTube |
"Humans Being" is a song recorded and contributed by American
Background
"Humans Being" was included on both the Twister soundtrack – along with an instrumental by Eddie and Alex, "Respect the Wind" – and the band's
Composition
In January 1996, as the band rested following the end of The Balance "Ambulance" Tour in November 1995, manager
"Humans Being", which was written with Alex as Sammy wrote a ballad with Eddie, "Between Us Two", was originally named by the singer as "The Silent Extreme" but Alex eventually gave it the new title. The song's lyrics proved a major source of contention.
Hagar wanted to record his vocals from Hawaii, where he and his wife had arranged for a natural delivery of the baby. The band refused, wanting him to work with them at Eddie's 5150 Studios in Los Angeles. After three trips to California, Hagar eventually decided to move with his wife back to his San Francisco home to keep her near.[5] After the first recordings of both songs, Hagar was about to leave for Hawaii when Eddie announced that they wanted to ditch "Between Us Two" and instead extend "Humans Being". Hagar wrote two verses with producer Bruce Fairbairn and recorded them in about an hour and a half before departing for his flight.[3] When a second track ended up being required, attempts to bring Sammy back and rework "Between Us Two" were unsuccessful, so Alex and Eddie instead recorded an instrumental titled "Respect the Wind".[2] The process of recording for the movie ended up being the final straw to Sammy's first tenure with Van Halen, as his and Eddie's continued disagreements reached the breaking point.
Reception
Personnel
- backing vocals
- drums
- lead vocals
- Michael Anthony – bass guitar, backing vocals
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Release history
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
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United States | April 23, 1996 | Contemporary hit radio | Warner Bros. | [12] |
Japan | July 10, 1996 | CD | [13] |
References
- ^ Humans Being (Japanese CD single liner notes). Van Halen. Warner Bros. Records. 1996. WPCR-788.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b Dodds, Kevin. Edward Van Halen: A Definitive Biography. pp. 200–2.
- ^ a b c d ""Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love"; David Huff, Guitar World (April 1997)
- ^ "Eruptions"; Steven Rosen, Guitar World (December 1996)
- ISBN 978-0-470-53618-6.
- ^ Billboard
- ^ link
- Vulture.com. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
- ^ a b "Van Halen Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
- ^ Metal Edge, June 1997
- ^ "The Year in Music: Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 52. December 28, 1996. p. YE-76.
- ^ "Selected New Releases". Radio & Records. No. 1142. April 19, 1996. p. 27.
- ^ "ヒューマンズ・ビーイング | ヴァン・ヘイレン" [Humans Being | Van Halen] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 25, 2023.