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"Panama" is a high-energy hard rock anthem by Van Halen released in June 1984 as the third single from their smash-hit album 1984.Musical Style and Sound Features a roaring, iconic guitar riff and a blistering solo by Eddie Van Halen. Backed by Alex Van Halen's pounding drums and Michael Anthony's driving bass. Includes a famous bridge where the sound of an accelerating engine is actually Eddie Van Halen's personal 1972 Lamborghini Miura S, recorded by placing microphones right by the tailpipes outside the studio. Meaning and Inspiration Despite the name, the song is not about the Central American country. Front man David Lee Roth wrote it after a critic accused him of only writing about sex, drugs, and fast cars, realizing he had never actually written a song about a fast car. The title came from a race car named the "Panama Express" that Roth saw at a drag race. Opinions on Reddit are mixed, as Roth later admitted that the lyrics also playfully blurred the line between an automotive ode and a personal encounter with a dancer or seductress.