I mentioned to Alex recently that Journey seems to pop up on the XM dial quite a bit, and every time they do we listen to the whole song. Now, of course we’re talking about maybe seven or eight songs, total, but there is definitely a quality to Journey’s best stuff that reels you in.
‘Open Arms,’ ‘Don’t Stop Believing,’ ‘Who’s Crying Now,’ ‘Any Way You Want It,’ ‘Stone in Love,’ ‘Separate Ways’… these are all really great songs. And yet it seems Journey is often dismissed as an 80s joke. Or maybe that’s just a false impression I have for some reason. What do you think? Does this band get enough credit?
My two main Journey memories are good ones. I remember building a Lego village as a boy of 9 while listening to Escape over and over again. And I remember playing the Journey arcade game which put you in the role of each band member as you tried to clear a series of obstacle-strewn levels. I recall that game as much cooler than it actually was.
‘Faithfully’ is another of those classic Journey songs that I can’t turn off. It’s another in a long line of songs about “lovin’ a music man” and definitely one of the best.
Into the midnight sun
Wheels go round and round
You’re on my mind
Restless hearts
Sleep alone tonight
Sendin’ all my love
Along the wire
They say that the road
Ain’t no place to start a family
Right down the line
Its been you and me
And lovin’ a music man
Ain’t always what its supposed to be
Oh girl you stand by me
I’m forever yours…faithfully
Circus life
Under the big top world
We all need the clowns
To make us smile
Through space and time
Always another show
Wondering where I am
Lost without you
And being apart ain’t easy
On this love affair
Two strangers learn to fall in love again
I get the joy
Of rediscovering you
Oh girl, you stand by me
I’m forever yours…faithfully
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Faithfully, I’m still yours
I’m forever yours
Ever yours…faithfully
Meet Me In Montauk 
I don’t know if Journey is dismissed as an 80’s band as much as they are remembered – fondly, I think – as one. We saw them in concert way back when in the 80’s, and they certainly has a passionate following then.
David Chase’s decision to close The Soprano’s entire series to a Journey song brought Journey a surge of interest and credibility I’m sure.
More than anything, Journey is remembered for Steve Perry’s awesome voice. The notes that man could hit! I remember watching Mark turn all shades of purple trying (and usually succeeding 🙂 to hit some of the notes in “Open Arms.” I was just commenting last night as we were watching American Idol that Adam Lambert should tackle some Journey, as he’s the first male Idol who has a chance of matching Perry’s vocals.
This song has always been one of my favorites, not for the big ending but for the softly delivered verses. I was so struck by the simple metaphor, and the poignancy of the “clown” being the one to recognize it, of musicians packing up the “big top” and heading to the next city and the next show. Great stuff.
I too count myself as a Journey fan. They were huge when I was a teenager and remained so through my college years.
As for the dismissal vs. respect factor, here’s what I’ve noticed: During the 80’s and even 90’s, most of the music of the 70’s was dismissed as less worthy than the output of the 60’s. It was perhaps hard to stand up and argue for 70’s music as The Eagles were not the Beatles, Kiss was not the Rolling Stones, Elton John was no Bob Dylan etc…Disco was viewed as this horrible incarnation to be banished from any serious musical discussion.
But then a funny thing happened in the 00’s. The 70’s gained respect—all of a sudden hip rap artists were reaching back and samplings 70’s songs–The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame started honoring the great artists of the 70’s and it became acceptable to say you liked 70’s music.
And yet, now in the 00’s, we are basically showing the same lack of respect to the greats of the 80’s—bands like Journey, REO Speedwagon, Bon Jovi, Huey Lewis and the News are written off as light weight or “hair bands” — The huge stars like Michael Jackson and Madonna have become more known as a punchline than respected by the masses as great artists. But, if the trend holds, my bet is that, in the next decade, 80’s music will start getting more respect. I would expect to see the likes of Journey and Huey Lewis in the Rock Hall–and I say they deserve to be there!
Let’s see if I’m right—as the 10’s are nearly here!