Can't Stop Lovin' You Explained

Can't Stop Lovin' You
Cover:Van Halen - Can't Stop Lovin' You.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Van Halen
Album:Balance
B-Side:Crossing Over
Length:4:07
Label:Warner Bros.
Producer:Bruce Fairbairn
Prev Title:Don't Tell Me (What Love Can Do)
Prev Year:1995
Next Title:Not Enough
Next Year:1995

"Can't Stop Lovin' You" is a song by American band Van Halen. It was released in March 1995 as the third single from their 10th album, Balance (1995). The song emerged after producer Bruce Fairbairn asked for a more pop-oriented song. Instead of searching for his archives, Eddie Van Halen decided to write new music from scratch.[1] The song was written by all members of Van Halen and pays homage to Ray Charles' song "I Can't Stop Loving You", particularly in the line where Sammy Hagar sings "Hey Ray, what you said is true..."

The song was Van Halen's most successful single from Balance in the United States, being the only single that reached the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 30. This would be Van Halen's last song to reach the top 40 in the United States. The single also reached number three on the Canadian RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart and number 33 on the UK Singles Chart.

Music video

The video, directed by Peter Christopherson, is set in an average middle class American home, where it goes back and forth between the band performing the song and people showing their affection for one another, from an old couple celebrating their anniversary, to a teen couple, to a boy and his dog, to a woman and her pet monkey. There is also a moving moment in the video in which a girl mourns the loss of her dog.

In the beginning of the video, it shows a man taking a gun and his wife worried. In the end, the video shows his wife and his son waiting for him as he leaves the prison. What he did and his time in prison are shown in the video of the song "Don't Tell Me (What Love Can Do)".[2]

Legacy

The song was performed considerably on the 1995 Ambulance Tour with Sammy Hagar. It was featured on both Van Halen compilations Best Of – Volume I and The Best of Both Worlds.

Track listings

US CD and 7-inch single[3] [4]

  1. "Can't Stop Lovin' You" (album version) – 4:08
  2. "Crossing Over" – 5:04

UK, European, and Australian maxi-CD single[5] [6]

  1. "Can't Stop Lovin' You" – 4:07
  2. "Crossing Over" – 5:03
  3. "Right Now" (live) – 6:08
  4. "Man on a Mission" (live) – 4:58

Japanese CD single[7]

  1. "Can't Stop Lovin' You"
  2. "Big Fat Money"
  3. "Baluchitherium"

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1995)Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[8] 80
Hungary (Mahasz)[9] 9
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[10] 19

Year-end charts

Chart (1995)Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[11] 28
US Billboard Hot 100[12] 100

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
JapanMarch 10, 1995CDWarner Bros.[13]
United StatesMarch 14, 1995
United KingdomMarch 20, 1995[14]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Chilvers, C. J.. The Van Halen Encyclopedia. 48. iUniverse. 2001. 0595166695.
  2. https://books.google.com/books?id=o_D0U4o1sMsC&pg=PA199 Edward Van Halen: A Definitive Biography
  3. Can't Stop Lovin' You. Van Halen. 1995. US CD single disc notes. Warner Bros. Records. 2-17909.
  4. Can't Stop Lovin' You. Van Halen. 1995. UK 7-inch single vinyl disc. Warner Bros. Records. 7-17909.
  5. Can't Stop Lovin' You. Van Halen. 1995. UK & European maxi-CD single liner notes. Warner Bros. Records. wo288cd, 9362-43510-2.
  6. Can't Stop Lovin' You. Van Halen. 1995. Australian maxi-CD single liner notes. Warner Bros. Records. 9362435102.
  7. Can't Stop Lovin' You. Van Halen. 1995. Japanese CD single liner notes. Warner Bros. Records. WPCR-113.
  8. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 12. 14. 22. April 8, 1995. October 8, 2020.
  9. Top National Sellers. Music & Media. 12. 32. 17. August 12, 1995. February 16, 2020.
  10. News: Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (1.4. '95 – 7.4. '95). Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 24. April 1, 1995. October 1, 2019.
  11. RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1995. RPM. Library and Archives Canada. October 22, 2018.
  12. Web site: Van Halen Songs ••• Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts. musicvf.com. January 16, 2017.
  13. Web site: キャント・ストップ・ラビン・ユー ヴァン・ヘイレン. Can't Stop Lovin' You Van Halen. Oricon. ja. September 11, 2023.
  14. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 35. March 18, 1995.