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"Right Now" is a rock song written by the group Van Halen for their 1991 album For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge. The song reflects on living for the moment and not being afraid of making a change. The music video won several awards and reflected on events that were occurring at the time, both within the band and social issues in the world around them. Vocalist Sammy Hagar has said that he was writing the lyrics to this song at the studio very late one night, and he heard Eddie Van Halen in an adjacent room working on a piano melody. Hagar said he suddenly realized that "we were writing the same song," so he walked into the room and began singing his words over Van Halen's music.

The music video for "Right Now" won three awards at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards, including the award for Video of the Year. It has been for commercial usage in various forms since its release, being used in Crystal Pepsi commercials between 1992 and 1993. The World Wrestling Entertainment has also used the song to promote live events and Richie Sexson has used it as his entrance music when he steps up to bat at Yankee Stadium.

The song has also been used a number of times by the U.S. Republican party, where they first used it in the 2000 U.S. Presidential Election in the campaign of the then Texas Governor George W. Bush who used the song as one of its theme songs, often playing it at rallies. The band later projected the "Right Now" music video, with a few extra modern scenes, on a large screen behind them while they performed the song during their 2004 reunion tour. According to Boston Globe music critic Sarah Rodman, one of the updates was a new image of the then contemporary U.S. President, George W. Bush. The photo was accompanied by a caption which read "right now nothing is more expensive than regret."

The Republican party used it again on August 29, 2008 during Senator John S. McCain's announcement of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate, this song played after Governor Palin's introductory speech. According to the tabloid gossip website TMZ.com, when questioned about the use of the song, an unnamed member of Van Halen management said "Permission was not sought or granted nor would it have been given." However, Sammy Hagar — the co-writer and vocalist of the song — contradicted this and issued a press statement supporting the party's use of the material. Later in August 2008 Hagar played a kickoff concert at the Republican National Convention which included "Right Now" on his set list.

References

1. Best Superbowl commercials: Crystal Pepsi, ugo.com
2. Crystal Pepsi ...Excuse me?!, RetroJunk.com
3. 2004 concert review
4. "Van Halen to McCain: No You Can't". TMZ. Aug 29th 2008. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
5. http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/statement-sammy-hagar-regarding-right/story.aspx?guid={FC96A36B-1027-41ED-BB87-BEC94B4F2556}&dist=hppr
6. http://blogs.citypages.com/ctg/2008/09/old_glory_david.php

• Van Halen songs
• 1991 songs
• MTV Video of the Year Award