''When It's Love'' is a

power ballad A sentimental ballad is an emotional style of music that often deals with romantic and intimate relationships, and to a lesser extent, loneliness, death, war, drug abuse, politics and religion, usually in a poignant but solemn manner. Balla ...

by American rock band

Van Halen Van Halen ( ) was an American rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1973. Credited with restoring hard rock to the forefront of the music scene, Van Halen was known for their energetic live performances and the virtuosity of their guit ...

. It was released in 1988 as the second single from their eighth studio album ''

OU812 ''OU812'' (pronounced "Oh You Ate One Too") is the eighth studio album by American rock band Van Halen. It was released in 1988 and is the band's second album to feature vocalist Sammy Hagar. Van Halen began work on the album in September 1987 ...

''. It was the most popular song from that album, hitting No. 1 on the ''Billboard''

Mainstream Rock Mainstream rock (also known as heritage rock) is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations in the United States and Canada. Format background Mainstream rock stations represent a cross between classic rock, active rock and alternativ ...

charts and No. 5 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart. 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 Gary Francis Caine Cherone ( ; born July 26, 1961) is an American rock singer and songwriter. Cherone is known for his work as the lead vocalist of the Boston rock group Extreme (band), Extreme and Van Halen. Early life Cherone grew up in Ma ...

Eddie Van Halen Edward Lodewijk Van Halen ( , ; January 26, 1955 – October 6, 2020) was an American musician. He was the guitarist, keyboardist, backing vocalist and primary songwriter of the rock band Van Halen, which he founded with his brother Alex V ...

has stated that this particular guitar solo is a nod to

Eric Clapton Eric Patrick Clapton (born 1945) is an English Rock music, rock and blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is regarded as one of the most successful and influential guitarists in rock music. Clapton ranked second in ''Rolling Stone''s l ...

. It became their 3rd and last top 10 hit.

Reception

It was featured on a

VH1 VH1 (originally an initialism for Video Hits One) is an American basic cable television network that launched on January 1, 1985, and is currently owned by the MTV Entertainment Group unit of Paramount Global's networks division based in New Y ...

special, ''The Greatest: 25 Greatest Power Ballads'', where it was ranked as the 24th greatest

of all time.

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

In popular culture

The notes of ''When It's Love'' are played throughout the 80s-set '' Bluey'' episode ''Fairytale''. In the ''Bluey'' album ''

Rug Island ''Rug Island'' is the third soundtrack album of the Australian animated television series '' Bluey''. It was released on 25 October 2024 by Demon Records. Most of the soundtrack's music was composed and performed by Joff Bush, the composer for t ...

'', the eight track is titled ''Fairytale'', again including the notes of ''When It's Love''.

Reception

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

In popular culture

See also

References

Further reading