I think most of us can remember a time in our lives where we have heard that infamous line, "Just a small town girl!", sung with good friends at either a karaoke bar or after that last-second win from the local high school football team. Journey's most popular song to date, "Don't Stop Believin'", has seem to become a statement song for our generation. Why, do you ask? It's simple; it's the message that Journey sends with the songs, and ultimately all of their songs. "Don't Stop Believin'", for example, talks about well...never ceasing to believe... But really, it's kind of an anthem to the human spirit, when it talks about "streetlight people" and the thought that no matter who you are, you can be somebody.
Journey managed to dominate the musical landscape of the 80's with hit, after hit, after hit. Songs like "Open Arms", "Lights", and "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'" are just a few that you may be familiar with. Though not a highly critically-acclaimed band, one has to admit; these guys were good. Combining the talents bassist Ross Valory and guitarist Neal Schon's roots with Santana, singer Steve Perry's soaring tenor vocals (some of the greatest ever, I might add), and Berklee College of Music - trained drummer Steve Smith, these guys were unstoppable. As soon as Perry entered the band in 77' to when he left the band in 96', Journey dished out over 36 hit singles, with over 26 charting on the Billboard Hot 100. Not a lot of bands can ever say they have done or will do that.
Now on to the question, why are they so popular today? Well, the answer lies simply within the music itself. I happen to be quite the Journey fan myself (why else would I be blogging about them anyways), and believe some of their melodies to be the best ever. Thats right, I said it. Better than the Beatles even. Steve Perry probably had one of the greatest voices of all time, and there's no argument there. I know, you're probably still brooding about my Beatles comment, but face it, it's true. I'm sure the millions of people that helped "Journey: Greatest Hits" hit 16x Platinum this year would agree. The album has sat in the center of the ITunes top 100 albums chart consistantly for the last 2 years more than any other album has, and thats a huge statement. They weren't just an 80's arena rock band, they were melodic rock gods.
Even now at the end of 2008 with a new lead singer, Arnel Pineda, Journey still sells out arenas monthly. This years tour was their biggest in 22 years, and their new album "Revelation" is poised to go 2x Platinum in the coming months. People simply cannot get enough of the greatest melodic rock band of all time, and hopefully, they'll keep getting what they're asking for.
As usual, for more info., e-mail me.
Sing On...
Nick
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