10 Bad Opening Songs On Great Rock Music Albums

8. Tattoo - A Different Kind Of Truth (Van Halen)

There are lots of statistics when it comes to Van Halen's 2012 album A Different Kind of Truth. As well as being their last studio album to date, it was their first in 14 years. It had also been 28 years since David Lee Roth had sang on a Van Halen record!

Critics and fans were mostly very pleased with the hair metal pioneer's return. It felt like all the things that had made Van Halen so special had returned, albeit with a bit more grey in their hair, and there was also praise for the debut appearance of Eddie's song Wolfgang on bass.

If only people had been as kind to the song Tattoo.

The track had been in the works since the band originally tried to reunite with Roth in 2001. Even with 11 years to play around with it, they still couldn't make Tattoo work.

The central hook doesn't work at all, and Roth sings like he's slowly falling asleep after a big meal.

Oh, and the lyrics. Some of the lyrics are rough as anything.

"I got Elvis on my elbow/When I flex Elvis talks"

What the hell is that all about?

Contributor
Contributor

Jacob Simmons has a great many passions, including rock music, giving acclaimed films three-and-a-half stars, watching random clips from The Simpsons on YouTube at 3am, and writing about himself in the third person.