About this episode

Episode 125 features a deep dive into Van Halen's music, discussing catchy songs and emerging rock stars.

Episode 125 turns into a full Van Halen moment as both Jonathan and Curtis arrive with tracks from different corners of the band’s catalog. Jonathan kicks things off with a high-energy, late-era cut that brings big hooks, big guitars, and full arena confidence, while Curtis follows with an early classic that captures the attitude, swing, and personality that helped make the band impossible to ignore. In the category songs , Jonathan introduces Worms In My Ears —a home for songs that are undeniably catchy, but maybe in the most irritating way possible. His pick from ABC opens the floor for a discussion about the difference between a great hook and a hook that simply will not leave you alone. Curtis then brings On The Cusp of Fame , spotlighting an early Bryan Adams track from just before he fully broke through as one of the defining rock voices of the ’80s. A Van Halen two-pack, a dangerously persistent earworm, and a future superstar waiting at the edge of fame—Episode 125 brings plenty of hooks, riffs, and category chaos. Curtis Gross is a self-employed video editor. Jonathan Workman is an adult learning consultant based in Wichita, KS. --- Make sure you are subscribed to Why Is…

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