Journey Announces New Singer
After the Sopranos used "Don't Stop Believin" in their final epsiode, I can't stop hearing about what a guilty pleasure Journey is. Some drunken frat boy puts "Don't Stop Believin" on the jukebox and the drunken last resorts start to scream "BORN AND RAISED IN SOUTH DETROIT." That can't be anyone's guilty pleasure, but besides my personal feelings on the band, they have announced a new singer.
As we all know, Steve Perry is in the mountainous region of Tora Bora searching for Bin Laden and fucking mountain goats. This is why he can't be the lead singer of Journey. Another fact is that he wants nothing to do with the latest incarnation of Journey. So they hired some dude from the Philippines.
Arnel Pineda is from Quezon City in the Philippines and he has been singing Journey songs with his band, The Zoo. He has performed in many clubs all across the Philippines.
"It's so exciting to sing with one of the best bands in the world. [Give him a break he's from the Philippines] It'll be a lot of hard work on my part and I'm actually looking forward to the scrutiny I'll get from the hardcore Journey fans [Don't worry Mr. Pineda, there are none] I know they'll expect me to sound exactly like 'the voice' (Steve Perry), but that will never happen. I know there's only one Steve Perry in this world."
So how did Journey find this man? Was it a lengthy Philippino tour? No. Was it recommended by a fan or a record executive? No. YouTube was the answer, YouTube.
Neal Schon (Guitar) had this to say:
"I was frustrated about not having a singer, so I went on YouTube for a couple of days and just sat on it for hours. I was starting to think I was never going to find anybody. But then I found The Zoo and I watched a bunch of different video clips that they had posted. After watching the videos over and over again, I had to walk away from the computer and let what I heard sink in because it sounded too good to be true. I thought, 'he can't be that good.' But he is that good, he's the real deal and so tremendously talented. Arnel doesn't sound synthetic and he's not emulating anyone. I tried to get a hold of him through YouTube and I finally heard from him that night, but it took some convincing to get him to believe that it really was me and not an imposter."
The man can sing. I wish him the best. But Journey is not Journey sans Perry.
Journey - Don't Stop Believing (The Zoo)
As we all know, Steve Perry is in the mountainous region of Tora Bora searching for Bin Laden and fucking mountain goats. This is why he can't be the lead singer of Journey. Another fact is that he wants nothing to do with the latest incarnation of Journey. So they hired some dude from the Philippines.
Arnel Pineda is from Quezon City in the Philippines and he has been singing Journey songs with his band, The Zoo. He has performed in many clubs all across the Philippines.
"It's so exciting to sing with one of the best bands in the world. [Give him a break he's from the Philippines] It'll be a lot of hard work on my part and I'm actually looking forward to the scrutiny I'll get from the hardcore Journey fans [Don't worry Mr. Pineda, there are none] I know they'll expect me to sound exactly like 'the voice' (Steve Perry), but that will never happen. I know there's only one Steve Perry in this world."
So how did Journey find this man? Was it a lengthy Philippino tour? No. Was it recommended by a fan or a record executive? No. YouTube was the answer, YouTube.
Neal Schon (Guitar) had this to say:
"I was frustrated about not having a singer, so I went on YouTube for a couple of days and just sat on it for hours. I was starting to think I was never going to find anybody. But then I found The Zoo and I watched a bunch of different video clips that they had posted. After watching the videos over and over again, I had to walk away from the computer and let what I heard sink in because it sounded too good to be true. I thought, 'he can't be that good.' But he is that good, he's the real deal and so tremendously talented. Arnel doesn't sound synthetic and he's not emulating anyone. I tried to get a hold of him through YouTube and I finally heard from him that night, but it took some convincing to get him to believe that it really was me and not an imposter."
The man can sing. I wish him the best. But Journey is not Journey sans Perry.
Journey - Don't Stop Believing (The Zoo)
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