Biography Wikipedia
Wikipedia:
"Poundcake" is a Van Halen song and the opening track on their 1991 album For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge. "Poundcake" was the first song to be released as a single from the album making #1 on U.S. Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart and #74 in the UK Singles Chart.
Song characteristics
It is a double entendre for dessert and sex, with a party attitude and a rounding backbeat. A cowbell can be heard during some parts of the song's bridge and solo (it is unclear if this is played by Sammy Hagar or Alex Van Halen).
The song has acquired a reputation as a test of harmonic guitar technique, because the riff and melody employ countertapping and semibarres, while the main melody is played with harmonic pull offs. The 'full' guitar sound is achieved with use of streaming harmonics, which may or may not have been amplified by an effects pedal. The major third interval on a normally tuned string contributes to the overblown guitar sound (major thirds are widely acknowledged to sound full and overbearing on a distorted tube amp, which is why most major thirds Van Halen play are A barres with the B string slightly detuned). It is generally a song which uses many facets of the Van Halen technique, and it is a popular cover song on YouTube (occasionally being medlyed with other songs with the same characteristics, such as "Mean Street" and "Ain't Talkin bout Love").
Power drill
The song features Eddie Van Halen using the sound of a power drill both in the introduction and during the guitar solo. Using a power drill in conjunction with electric guitar was not a new concept as Paul Gilbert and Billy Sheehan had used them while playing with Mr. Big. Gilbert had previously used the electric drill during live solos while touring with the band Racer X in the mid 1980s. Here he would use the drill as a method of tremolo picking, as later employed by Mr. Big. He would also use the electromagnetic interference generated by the drill's electric motor. The pitch of the sound changed with speed of the drill and the volume of the sound changed with the proximity of the drill to the guitar's pickups, letting him actually play notes. This is the same technique used by Van Halen in "Poundcake".
Music video
The music video for "Poundcake," directed by Andy Morahan, shows Eddie using the technique with a Makita cordless power drill painted in his trademark red, black and white stripes. The video itself cuts between scenes of the band playing and a woman who wishes to audition as a stripper. (She is actually there to audition for a part in the Van Halen Video A sign beside the door says "VAN HALEN CASTING) After hesitantly but extensively spying on other girls inside the changing room through a hole in the glass door, she leaves after being assaulted by one of the others using a large drill. The moral of the song is that she decides she will be a more real woman by being wholesome & down to earth (like a homely poundcake), rather than a wild stripper.
The video is also preceded with a young girl reciting a poem of "What Are Little Girls Made Of?", and ends with an outtake of her as well.
In pop culture
The song was used by pro wrestler Rob Van Dam as his entrance music, when he debuted in Extreme Championship Wrestling in 1996.
The song was also used by strongman/pro wrestler Bill Kazmaier as his entrance music, when he wrestled for New Japan Pro Wrestling.
