Why Can't This Be Love

"Why Can't This Be Love"
Single by Van Halen
from the album 5150
B-side"Get Up"
ReleasedMarch 1986
Recorded1985–1986
Genre
Length3:47 / 5:00 (extended version)
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Mick Jones
  • Donn Landee
  • Eddie Van Halen
  • Michael Anthony
  • Sammy Hagar
  • Alex Van Halen
Van Halen singles chronology
"Hot for Teacher"
(1984) 		"Why Can't This Be Love"
(1986) 		"Dreams"
(1986)

"Why Can't This Be Love" is a song by the American rock band Van Halen for their seventh studio album, 5150 (1986). The song was the group's first single with Sammy Hagar, replacing founding member David Lee Roth. It was released on both 7" and 12" formats with the latter having an extended version featuring extra lyrics.

In the US, it went to number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and hit number one on the Cashbox Top 100, the week of May 16. [5] It was a top 10 hit in the United Kingdom, Australia and Germany and a top 20 single in Canada, the Netherlands and Sweden.

  1. ^ Wilkening, Matthew (October 17, 2020). "Underrated Van Halen: The Most Overlooked Song From Each Album". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  2. ^ "Best Van Halen '5150' Song – Readers' Poll". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  3. ^ Kot, Greg (September 3, 1991). "It's the Guitarist Who Still Makes Van Halen Rock". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  4. ^ "Did Van Halen Bite Off Too Much With 'OU812'?". Ultimate Classic Rock. May 24, 2018. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  5. ^ "Why Can't This Be Love by Van Halen" (PDF). Retrieved March 14, 2024.