When It's Love

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 No. 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock charts and No. 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.

"When It's Love"
Single by Van Halen
from the album OU812
B-side	"Cabo Wabo"
Released	June 1988
Recorded	1987
Studio	5150 Studios, Studio City, California
Genre	Pop metal[1]
Length	5:38
Label	Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)	Eddie Van Halen Alex Van Halen Michael Anthony Sammy Hagar
Producer(s)	Donn Landee Van Halen
Van Halen singles chronology
"Black and Blue" (1988) "When It's Love" (1988) "Finish What Ya Started" (1988)
Official audio
When It's Love (2004 Remaster) on YouTube

Reception

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

Weekly charts

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

Year-end chart performance for "When It's Love"

Chart (1988)	Position
US Billboard Hot 100[10][11]	82

In popular culture

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

See also

• List of glam metal albums and songs

References

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

• Van Halen Guitar Anthology. Van Nuys, California: Alfred. 2006. pp. 200–5. ISBN 9780897246729. OCLC 605214049.