TS: "Jump" by Van Halen v. "Jump" by the Pointer Sisters

My school held a pageant every year and both girls were elected by their respective grades to be in the pageant as their representative. For her talent portion of the contest, the oldest girl did this routine to "Stray Cat Strut" by the Stray Cats. She was definitely her mother's favorite, and together, they choreographed this saucy little routine where she backed out of a garbage can in this tight little leotard cat suit and dance around. It was very involved, and it surely struck a chord with us junior high boys. She even had a tail that she could wag provocatively at us. At the end, she crawled back into the garbage can.

Anyway. The youngest girl didn't get any help from anyone for her routine and wound up coming out onstage and jumping on a mini-trampoline for the entirety of "Jump" by the Pointer Sisters. She did not win.

Van Halen brothers win easy.

You got it tough. I've seen the toughest around.
I can feel it in your heartbeat...

And I know, baby, just how you feel.
I know you like what'cha see!

You've got to roll with the punches to get to what's real
Hold me, I'll give you all that you need

Oh can't you see me standing here,
wrap your love around me

I've got my back against the record machine
you're so exciting, I can feel you getting hotter

I ain't the worst that you've seen.
Oh, Baby! I'll take you down, I'll take you 'round

Oh can't you see what I mean?
where no one's ever gone before

Might as well jump. Jump!
and if you want more,

Might as well jump.
if you want more, more, more, then...

Go ahead, jump. Jump!
Jump!.. for my love

Go ahead, jump.
Jump in!.. and feel my touch

Aaa-ohh Hey you! Who said that?
Jump! if you want to taste my kisses in the night then...

Baby how you been?
jump for my love!

You say you don't know, you won't know
Jump!.. I know my heart can make you happy!

until we begin.
Jump in!.. you know these arms can fill you up

Well can't you see me standing here,
Jump! if you want to taste my kisses in the night then...

I've got my back against the record machine
jump for my love!

I ain't the worst that you've seen.
You told me, I'm the only woman for you

Oh can't you see what I mean?
nobody does it like I do

Might as well jump. Jump!
then make a move before you try and go much further

Go ahead, jump.
Oh Baby! you are the one, you are the one

Might as well jump. Jump!
and heaven waits here at my door

Go ahead, jump.
and if you want more,

Might as well jump. Jump!
if you want more, more, more then...

Go ahead, jump.
Jump!.. for my love

Get it and jump. Jump!
Jump in!.. and feel my touch

Go ahead, jump.
Jump! if you want to taste my kisses in the night then...

jump for my love!

I once learned all of Eddie's synth solo for "Jump". I think I could still play a bit of it.

PS's "Automatic" >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> "Jump"

Roddy Frame, Brixton Academy, Spring 1985, introducing his cover of Van Halen's "Jump", to wild applause.

"Yeah, but," (stern face) "it's NOT GOOD to like these things. This song has done about as much for Women In Rock as" (pause, pout, hccch phhht) "MADONNA". (Wild empathic cheering.)

Hey ho, the 1980s, eh?

Automatic >>>> Jump (which at the very least has a better middle eight than any other song ever made) >>> You Gotta Believe (song from Car Wash) > He's So Shy > Yes We Can Can > Neutron Dance > Dare Me > the rest of Break Out including the version that included I'm So Excited > Slow Hand > Fire > that TV special

ur so excited i can feel u getting hotter!

u know these arms can fill u up

totally impossible ts, btw

Had a good time playing the "Jump" video for a bunch of intermediate classes yesterday (David Lee Roth's 70th birthday). I was subbing for French; what do I know about French? Started with "Panama" for the first two classes--my favourite--but the sound wasn't great, so I switched over. Forgot to do the one thing I meant to do, though: ask if any of them knew what the line "I've got my back against the record machine" meant. Doubt it--maybe would have gotten "record player" from a couple of them.

My personal jump-o-meter:

1. "Jump," Kris Kross
2. "Jump Around," House of Pain
3. "Jump This Way," Voice of the Beehive
4. "Jump," Van Halen
5. "Jump (For My Love)," Pointer Sisters

Won't include the Aztec Camera cover, which I'm hearing for the first time--not bad.

Kris Kross / Van Halen / Madonna / Pointer Sisters (Girls Aloud for me actually) / Voice of the Beehive / House of Pain

I have the album, but I don't think I ever paid any attention to Madonna's "Jump." Listening now...I like it; quick impression, tied or just below Van Halen for me.

Just put on Jump Around and forgot how dancehally it is. I enjoy it more if I focus on the rhythm.

It's got one line for sure that makes you wince, but just as a sound, I've always thought it an incredible record.

Your placing VH at number 4 invalidates all further discussion

Am i delusional in thinking that the "Why Can't This Be Love?"-era Van Hagar could have done an amazing cover of the Pointer Sisters's "Jump"?

Anyway VH just barely eclipses the TP

PS

A fascinating debate: the prog middle section of PS's "Automatic" vs VH's "Jump"

man when i was in school the main thing was to set the substitute teacher off on a rant about unions or vietnam; never realized 'jumps' were an option

Yeah mine was crazy about Blowey Hole’s “still rock and roll to me,” she had a whole lesson plan about that. She also liked Bruce Horndog’s “way it is,” I was scarred for life

When I was at technical college, I was in the canteen and someone in my class came in and Van Halen's 'Jump' on the jukebox so that it played five times in a row. Just before the first play of the song started, he walked out. Even after that I'd still vote for it over the Pointer Sisters if this thread was a poll.

(and obviously for some time my display name has been a pun based on the lyrics)

Was his back against the jukebox before he walked out?

He ain’t the worst that they’ve seen

Can't you see what we mean?