Revisiting My Misjudgment of Journey: A Journey Through Musical Evolution

In August 2006, I had the opportunity to attend a Journey/Def Leppard concert for a review assignment from my editor at the newspaper where I worked. It took place at an outdoor amphitheater in suburban Salt Lake City. Recently, I came across the review I wrote for that concert.

In my review, I compared the performances of the two bands and mentioned that if it was a battle of the bands, Def Leppard would have outshined Journey. I described Journey as a nostalgic act that provided guilty pleasure. I even made a prediction that in five years, they might be performing at state fairs.

Wow!

Journey, after almost 18 years, has become one of the most cherished classic rock bands globally. Currently, the band is finishing up an incredible 50th anniversary tour, followed by some shows in Europe. They will then head back to the US for a series of summer stadium concerts with Def Leppard. It seems like their popularity is soaring higher than ever before.

I guess I was wrong about my music critic instincts.

At the time, it made sense to me. The band from San Francisco had been around since the 1970s, but they hadn't had a hit in over 20 years. Plus, they were having a hard time finding a new lead singer after their original one, Steve Perry, left. He was known for his amazing voice.

But my timing was terrible. I was so wrong. And it’s all because of David Chase, some TV executives and one enduring song.

Journey’s surprising second act

Ten months later, in June 2007, viewers around the world were captivated by the final episode of “The Sopranos.” Tony Soprano inserted some coins into a restaurant booth jukebox and selected Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.” The song played for four intense minutes as Carmela and Anthony Jr. entered, Meadow struggled with her parking, Tony kept his eyes on the door, and tension filled the air.

This last scene in the June 2007 finale of "The Sopranos" featured almost the entirety of Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'." Pictured are James Gandolfini, Edie Falco and Robert Iler.

In the June 2007 finale of "The Sopranos," the last scene prominently included Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'." James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, and Robert Iler are shown in the picture.

The episode's sudden ending had viewers buzzing for weeks and led to a resurgence in digital sales for "Don't Stop Believin'" released in 1981. The song received another boost when it was featured in the pilot of Fox's "Glee" and appeared in the series multiple times, introducing Journey to a new generation of listeners.

Although the song was already well-known, being featured in other TV shows and adopted by the Chicago White Sox during their 2005 World Series victory, "The Sopranos" and "Glee" took its popularity to new heights. By the end of 2009, it became the top-selling song of the 20th century.

And just like that, Journey was back in the spotlight.

Despite its immense popularity, “Don’t Stop Believin’” is quite an interesting song. The chorus doesn’t appear until the end, following all the verses and even a guitar solo. It's not really a song you can dance to. The lyrics begin with a tale of a small-town girl and a city boy meeting on a train, then transition into more abstract references like “streetlights” and “people.” Additionally, there is no actual location called “south Detroit,” unless you consider Canada as a possibility.

But this song truly has a special kind of magic as an inspiring anthem. It makes me believe that I can embark on an adventure to the bustling city by train and find love. I can imagine myself as a standout member of a glee club, shining brightly. And even dining with my Mafia family in a Jersey restaurant, surrounded by possible foes, I might just make it out alive!

A scene from the pilot episode of "Glee," where the singers did an a capella version of "Don't Stop Believin'." Pictured are Chris Colfer, Lea Michele, Amber Riley, Cory Monteith and Jenna Ushkowitz.

In the pilot episode of "Glee," there was a memorable scene where the singers performed an a capella version of "Don't Stop Believin'." The cast members in the scene included Chris Colfer, Lea Michele, Amber Riley, Cory Monteith, and Jenna Ushkowitz. The image captures this iconic moment.

Jonathan Cain, the keyboard player of the band Journey and co-writer of the song, shared that the inspiration for the title came from his father's words of encouragement during his struggling days as a musician in Los Angeles in the 1970s.

Cain recalled, "Before joining Journey, I was really struggling. I was broke and borrowing money from my father. He refused to let me give up and come back to Chicago. Instead, he kept telling me, 'Stay there. Something good will happen. Don't stop believing.' Those words always stuck with me."

For the past 15 years, "Don't Stop Believin'" has been a popular choice for karaoke and sing-along sessions. Whether it's in piano bars, weddings, or bachelorette parties, you can often find people passionately singing along to the iconic song, enthusiastically reaching for the high notes and feeling the music. Maybe you've even been one of those enthusiastic singers yourself.

Interestingly, the song has taken on a new meaning of hope and healing. In 2020, during the early days of the pandemic, a hospital in New York City started playing "Don't Stop Believin'" every time a Covid-19 patient recovered and was discharged. The uplifting tune served as a symbol of resilience and optimism during a challenging time.

I admit that my review was not fair. "Don't Stop Believin'" has surpassed the question of whether it is a good song. It has become a cultural phenomenon that bridges genres, decades, and generations. Both teenagers and grandparents are familiar with it.

Yes, it has been played a lot. I'm actually getting a bit tired of it.

But back in August 2006, before it became a huge hit, it was just another fun song in Journey's lineup. I can't recall anything remarkable about Journey's performance that night, except that Def Leppard followed them with an even more energetic and loud show. When it comes to headbanging excitement, it's tough to beat "Pour Some Sugar On Me."

I mentioned in my review for The Salt Lake Tribune that Journey's tunes were affected by exaggerated arrangements and a feeling that the band, which is now a smaller group, is holding on to past successes.

Guitarist Neal Schon and singer Jeff Scott Soto of Journey perform on the band's 2006 summer tour with Def Leppard, in Mountain View California.

Guitarist Neal Schon and singer Jeff Scott Soto of Journey perform on the band's 2006 summer tour with Def Leppard, in Mountain View California.

Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images

I believe it's crucial for journalists to acknowledge when they make mistakes. Regardless of your opinion on Journey's music, the band's accomplishments are still noteworthy. In 2017, Journey was honored with induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

That summer night, I critiqued the bands’ performances based on what I saw. I still stand by my evaluation. However, it was unfair to predict Journey's future. Life can be unpredictable, and everyone deserves a second or even a third chance.

After the tour in 2006, Journey made a surprising decision to replace their lead singer with an unknown artist. They discovered Arnel Pineda, a singer from the Philippines who used to be homeless, through his rock cover videos on YouTube. When Journey offered him the opportunity, he initially thought it was a joke. Now, he has become a rock star with a powerful tenor voice reminiscent of Perry's from the past.

It’s an amazing tale. Unexpected events can completely alter the path of a song, a rock band, or even a person's life.

Four decades later, Journey continues to draw in large crowds at arenas worldwide. Their music is still played frequently on the radio. According to Forbes, “Don’t Stop Believin’” has been recognized as the top pop song in history.

That kind of achievement and staying power deserve my congratulations and respect — even if it’s 18 years too late.

Editor's P/S:

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