Panama

The song Panama, by Van Halen, is a fascinating example of how an idea can take shape in unexpected ways. Although its title might suggest a geographical destination, it actually originated from David Lee Roth's fascination with a race car he saw in Las Vegas. The vehicle was called "Panama Express," and from there the name of this track emerged. Curiously, Roth also owned an Opel Kadett that he called "Panama." The impetus to write it came after a reporter accused him of focusing only on women, parties, and fast cars. Roth realized that, indeed, he had never dedicated a song to speedy automobiles, and decided to correct that omission. Musically, Eddie Van Halen mentioned that the style of AC/DC, with their straightforward three-chord rock, was a key influence on the composition.

The recording of Panama, which took place in 1983 at 5150 Studios, also has its peculiarities. During the bridge, just as Roth sings "I can barely see the road from the heat comin' off," the roar of a 1972 Lamborghini Miura S can be heard. To capture that sound, the car was brought close to the studio and microphones were placed on the exhaust pipe. The song, categorized as hard rock and glam metal, was released as the third single from the album 1984. The music video, directed by Pete Angelus, primarily focuses on live performances by the band, filmed over two nights at The Spectrum in Philadelphia and on earlier dates at the Providence Civic Center. It is interesting to note that the car featured in the video is a 1951 Mercury Eight convertible, which has no direct relation to the "Panama Express," the Opel, or the Miura. Panama has been recognized on lists such as "The 20 Greatest Hair Metal Anthems Of All Time" and has been included in video games like Gran Turismo 4, as well as appearing in an episode of the animated series Family Guy.