Right Now

Album: For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (1991)
Charted: 55
Play Video
  • For some people, this song will always be associated with Crystal Pepsi. Trying to capitalize on the trend toward clear beverages (remember Zima?), Pepsi pushed their clear cola hard. It flopped worse than "New Coke" and was soon pulled from shelves, despite a massive advertising push. Saturday Night Live did a great skit where they introduced "Crystal Gravy." When the "Remember the '90s" shows start coming out, bottles of this stuff will be in demand. Thanks to http://crystalpepsi.captainmike.org for the image.

Comments: 17

  • Mastorparty from Canada I can’t believe it didn’t chart well. I remember the video playing in heavy rotation and all over radio. Perhaps it was different up here.
  • Sammy from CaliforniaWhy can't anyone get the lyrics right?!?! It's not "One more walk through problems", it's "One by one, little problems". Geez people!!!
  • Seventhmist from 7th HeavenPepsi or no Pepsi, this is still an upbeat, optimistic song and I've always loved it.
  • Esskayess from Dallas, TxI actually liked Crystal Pepsi. Tasty.
  • Mike from Richmond, VaActually, guys, Mark Fenske directed the video, and he's alive and well.
  • Brian from New York, NyYeah, I remember them playing this at Messier night.

    LETS GO RANGERS!
  • Michael from Colorado Springs, CoSome of the "Right Now"s include

    Right now, dogs have it good
    Right now, a boy is starving
    Right now, you can't pronounce that boy's country's name
    Right now, old men and oil companies rule
    Right now, Youth is King
    Right now, people work too hard for too little
    Right now, Eddie is busy...
    Right now, your having trouble reading these
    Right now, no one is safe from loneliness
    Write Now.
    Now
    Right now is harder than it looks.
  • Kory from Atlanta, GaI saw these guys in Atlanta in September 2004. It was my first "real" rock concert. I loved it. And this was the first time that I had heard Right Now. Come to find out, it's now among my top 10 songs ever! The video was also played in the background, and like someone said, in the background it said "Right now Van Halen is kicking ass in Atlanta." That got the crowd pumped up. But here's my question. Does anyone know where I can find the dialogue to the music video? I downloaded the video but it would be hard to right down all of it. Although I may try. The words to the video are even more true than the song itself!!
  • Donald from Festus, Mooh my god... crystal pepsi... what a flop indeed. I, for one, like the idea... for like a day then when it isnt amusing anymore i would return to regular pepsi... actually kool-aid recently did the same thing! But this is a good song its a shame most ppl know it as the crystal pepsi song
  • Rich from Wappingers Falls, Nythis song was also used on 1993-1994 new york rangers highlight film during the eastern division conference finals when the rangers were down 3 games to 2. mark messier guarranted a game 6 victory...and with the rangers down 2-0 in game 6..he took the team and game on his shoulders an the rangers rallied to win the game 4-2..won game 7 to clinch the series then went on to win the stanley cup against vancover
  • Josh from Las Vegas, NvMy dad told me a long time a go that "the word" stood for Fornication Under Consent of the King. This isn't the first time I've found him to be wrong.
  • Otto from Miami, FlJames,

    Take a look at the first letter of each word in the album name.
  • James Ford from Sarasota, FlWhat is the naughty word the album title spells out?
    -James, Tampa, FL
  • Ralph from Cleveland, OhOne of my all-time favorites.
    I dropped everything, so to speak, at age 26 and decided to go to college as a non-traditional student. The lyrics of this song are almost as if they were written specifically for someone in that situation. I could pick out some verses here to illustrate that, but really, it's almost the entire song. Check the lyrics, you'll see what I mean. This song often helped with motivation come finals week. I got my degrees in 2000, by the way. Thanks, Van Halen, for such a GREAT motivational song!
  • Siri from Milwaukee, WiAbout For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge: Apparently, back when people were still being crucified, if they were being executed for rape, above the crucifix hung a sign that said 'For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge'. Carnal Knowledge refers to sex and unlawful carnal knowledge would be rape. So, this seems to be one of the seemingly many origins of that naughty word.
  • Tom from St. Louis, MoYeah, the video is great...it really helped the song out. However, the song is amazing by itself. I heard it in concert this summer, and they used the video in the back, but altered it to fit our concert. At the end, it said "Right Now, Van Halen is kicking *ss in St. Louis"
  • Kristina from San Antonio, TxVery innovative video. One of the better Van Hagar songs.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

The 10 Bands Most Like Spinal Tap

The 10 Bands Most Like Spinal TapSong Writing

Based on criteria like girlfriend tension, stage mishaps and drummer turnover, these are the 10 bands most like Spinal Tap.

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?Song Writing

Katy Perry mentions McDonald's, Beyoncé calls out Red Lobster, and Supertramp shouts out Taco Bell - we found the 10 restaurants most often mentioned in songs.

90210 to Buffy to Glee: How Songs Transformed TV

90210 to Buffy to Glee: How Songs Transformed TVSong Writing

Shows like Dawson's Creek, Grey's Anatomy and Buffy the Vampire Slayer changed the way songs were heard on TV, and produced some hits in the process.

Zac Hanson

Zac HansonSongwriter Interviews

Zac tells the story of Hanson's massive hit "MMMbop," and talks about how brotherly bonds effect their music.

Shaun Morgan of Seether

Shaun Morgan of SeetherSongwriter Interviews

Shaun breaks down the Seether songs, including the one about his brother, the one about Ozzy, and the one that may or may not be about his ex-girlfriend Amy Lee.