Journey, or "How a critically-loathed pop rock group is now considered classic."

I kinda just have to express this because sometimes I'm floored by it.

I love Journey. I fell in love with them when I first started listening to music. I love Neal Schon's guitar work, I love Johnathan Cain's keyboards, and I love Steve Perry (and Arnel Pineda)'s voice. I knew that alot of the lyrics were stupid, but damnit Perry sounded so earnest when he sang them that it didn't matter.

But of course rock critics have always hated them, and the fact that I first started listening to them when I was in Middle School (late 90s, early 2000s) makes it just that geekier.


But now? Somehow, they've become a new cult hit with my generation (and the generation that came after me).

Not only that, but its because of that ONE song, "Don't Stop Believin"....which, in my view, isn't even their best single (that honor goes to "Separate Ways"). But somehow, this song became a hit with the young folks.

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that so many young people are just so sick with cynical, muddy rock music, and are attracted to this song due to its positive message and upbeat sound.

I dunno. *shrugs*

There's nothing wrong with Journey, not the kind of band that is ever going to interest the rock critics. I heard them *way* too much growing up, so I don't own any of their albums, but I don't change the station if they come on the radio either.

There will always be a place for good melodic pop/rock...and as far as young kids finding them it's not too surprising, good songs don't date.

Don't Stop Believin' is on virtually every Glee promo here in Australia, so I wouldn't be surprised if the Glee factor is a major part of the young folks' discovering Journey.

Angelcake Adonisus Fox wrote:

... "Separate Ways"...

When I heard this song in Tron: Legacy I just had to find an album of theirs, for that song alone. Journey are a good band with a lot of hooks so no wonder it is still popular, especially considering it's somewhat a trend to listen to oldies. Can't say I'm that much of a fan though.

Just about every band that I love and most of them were major acts, critics loathed, the list includes Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Alice Cooper, AC/DC , KISS, Aerosmith and list goes on and on and on...

Now adays not only they all considered classic rock bands but all of them have been reassessed by the same publications and critics that once called the music stupid etc is critically acclaimed.

Stick around long enough I suppose and your critics line up to praise you decades down the line.

I just need to throw in how killer the Arnel albums are, especially 'Eclipse'.....great, great songwriting happening years after the band's supposed pinnacle, love it.

manny wrote:

Just about every band that I love and most of them were major acts, critics loathed, the list includes Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Alice Cooper, AC/DC , KISS, Aerosmith and list goes on and on and on...

Now adays not only they all considered classic rock bands but all of them have been reassessed by the same publications and critics that once called the music stupid etc is critically acclaimed.

Stick around long enough I suppose and your critics line up to praise you decades down the line.

My take - F*&K the critics, listen to what you the like. Most "rock" critics are douche bags (just pick up any issue of Rolling Stone for proof)

The same critics that slammed KISS, Deep Purple, Rainbow, UFO, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest are the same douche bags making sure Metal (70's and 80's metal) stays out of the rock and roll hall of fame.

As far as Journey, the rock critics loved to label them as "Corporate Rock" - a label they also applied to Boston, REO Speedwagon, Styx, etc, etc

me like

Angelcake Adonisus Fox wrote:

Not only that, but its because of that ONE song, "Don't Stop Believin"....which, in my view, isn't even their best single (that honor goes to "Separate Ways"). But somehow, this song became a hit with the young folks.

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that so many young people are just so sick with cynical, muddy rock music, and are attracted to this song due to its positive message and upbeat sound.

I dunno. *shrugs*

I used to get on Journey's website quite a bit in the past. A few years back the song"Don't Stop Believin" was used during a reality show (cough) scene called "Laguna Beach". Due to this, "Don't Stop Believin" went ape sh!t on Itunes, where it quickly became the number one most downloaded song of all time. I remember being shocked at how powerful shows like this can/could be...

I still like the song, but I get sick of hearing this song on the radio. I'll take the song "Escape" any day over the aforementioned.

Don't forgot the infamous ending of the The Sopranos - the final scene used "Don't Stop Believing" and then cut to black at "Don't Stop"

I've always loved Journey (the Perry fronted version) and always will. One of the best concerts I've seen. I keep saying I'm goingto get the more recent non-Perry stuff but haven't yet.

Journey, Tom Petty and 38 Special are some of the stuff I like when i'm not listening to metal.

Journey is a band that unfortunately gets spun way too much at my home. (The wife loves them, went with her brother one time to see them with Def Leppard! )

All that aside, they play catchy music and there's nothing wrong with that. "Don't Stop Believing" has also become very popular at sporting events, and it's a song that sports fans can get into because of the chorus. When the SF Giants won the world series a couple years ago that song took off over here. It didn't help that Steve Perry, a Giants fan, was attending games and leading the crowd in renditions of the damn song. hahaha.

Joe wrote:

When the SF Giants won the world series a couple years ago that song took off over here. It didn't help that Steve Perry, a Giants fan, was attending games and leading the crowd in renditions of the damn song. hahaha.

I've seen this as well, regarding the various cell phone videos that were posted on youtube. That was a pretty cool moment, as Steve more or less lead the crowd through the song.

thejokeriv wrote:

Don't forgot the infamous ending of the The Sopranos - the final scene used "Don't Stop Believing" and then cut to black at "Don't Stop"

Journey has always been one of those bands who have been fairly protective as it pertains to their music being used in feature films. I think the movie "Monster" more or less broke the mold on how the band went about that whole practice.

I like Journey. Its good old pop rock and a good listen.

My childhood (5-10) was spent listening to a lot of AOR and 80s pop rock so I have no problem with Jorney or any other number of 'corporate rock' groups. Also I'm a huge meodic hard rock fan (no suprise there) and in the 2000's, Journey has released a lot of high quality MHR IMO.

You gotta give it to them, they stuck with their sound for the most part and have come back in a big way with Arnel. It's hooky, fun pop music.

I don't care about rock critics, Glee movies, overplayed radio hits, Guitar Hero/Rock Band videos games, or any current trend in music. I like what I like, even if the whole world hates it or loves it. Journey is a great rock band.

Journey has been considered a "classic" rock for nearly my entire life. Have I missed something?

Wonder when we will hear from Toho as no Journey thread would be complete without his absolute hatred of them.

DallasBlack wrote:

Wonder when we will hear from Toho as no Journey thread would be complete without his absolute hatred of them.

You can safely add me to that list s well. I can't stand them. I get why people dig the band, they have talent, they can write massive hooks and sing-a-long choruses. Journey along with REO Wimpwagon and Loverboy are way overrated IMO. If I am going sans metal, it's usually Bryan Adams (yeah yeah, epitome of a corporate rock star), The Beach Boys, or Petra.

Gotta love the hilarity of someone dissing Journey and REO Speedwagon while professing love for Bryan Adams, The Beach Boys and Petra.

Ah, music fans. We're all the same. Haha.

DallasBlack wrote:

Wonder when we will hear from Toho as no Journey thread would be complete without his absolute hatred of them.

I try not to post the obvious.

I do like a lot of the other bands mentioned in this thread though, at least their earlier albums.

I think Toho got dumped while listening to a Journey song.