Kevin Shirley - The MelodicRock Interview

by **JRNYFan** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 7:58 pm

Andrew, I know Part 2 is coming this week. Can you tell us what day?

by **The_Noble_Cause** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 12:35 am

Like SA, Arnel sounds like a doormat unfortunately. While it's honorable of him to offer his resignation, it was Neal's decision to hire a guy with diction issues in the first place.

by **Michigan Girl** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 12:51 am

steveo777 wrote:So Arnel was ready to tell the band to fuck off....but politely. Good on him. He's growing. At least we know he's not just a puppet or a yes man.
With all that tension and chaos this album will probably be good.

Riiiight!! I don't get that impression at all ...sounds
like it made him feel inferior!!

by **Deb** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 7:01 am

JRNYFan wrote:Andrew, I know Part 2 is coming this week. Can you tell us what day?

On the front page it says tomorrow......Tuesday.

by **brywool** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 7:39 am

I think Arnel was just saying "if you don't think I can do it, you're free to get another guy and I'll step aside". I highly doubt it was meant as a middle finger to Uncle Neal. I heard a clip of him doing Rocking The Paradise I think from New Years (see Styx forum). His pronunciation was really really bad. While his pronunciation wasn't great for the Superbowl or the Chile show, most other performances that I've seen have been fine and he was fine on Revelation. But the Styx deal was the first time I went "Yikes!".
If he wants the Journey gig he needs (and I'm sure he is) to keep up with the language coach stuff. That's really the only thing I worry about with him is that being away from American English so much of the year will give him problems with it when he comes back to record and tour. That coaching has got to suck. I wonder what that regimen is like...?

by **Ligzig** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 7:45 am

Well, if Arnel doesn't want to make the committment or put the effort in to work on his diction then he doesn't deserve the job. Simple as that. I like and respect the man, but it shouldn't be a free ride. There are many, many bands that aren't from the U.S or any other primarily English speaking country and that don't live in any of those places either, and yet they pull off perfect English vocals and diction. Arnel has no excuse.

by **brywool** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 7:58 am

Ligzig wrote:Well, if Arnel doesn't want to make the committment or put the effort in to work on his diction then he doesn't deserve the job. Simple as that. I like and respect the man, but it shouldn't be a free ride. There are many, many bands that aren't from the U.S or any other primarily English speaking country and that don't live in any of those places either, and yet they pull off perfect English vocals and diction. Arnel has no excuse.

I don't think he's saying that at all and I don't think he's expecting that. He probably didn't realize how "off" he was and said "Hey, Journey, if I'm going to slow you down, maybe I'm not the guy- unless you can allow me to get my accent under control (paraphrasing obviously)"- at least that's the vibe I got from the comment. The fact that they've allowed him to retrack the vocals, says a lot about how confident they are of him. The band has taken a lot of time off and I could see Arnel having to relearn the stuff for sure.

It's funny that he'd get all the way through tracking his parts only then to have someone say "Waitaminute!"

by **Ligzig** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 8:04 am

brywool wrote:
Ligzig wrote:Well, if Arnel doesn't want to make the committment or put the effort in to work on his diction then he doesn't deserve the job. Simple as that. I like and respect the man, but it shouldn't be a free ride. There are many, many bands that aren't from the U.S or any other primarily English speaking country and that don't live in any of those places either, and yet they pull off perfect English vocals and diction. Arnel has no excuse.

I don't think he's saying that at all and I don't think he's expecting that. He probably didn't realize how "off" he was and said "Hey, Journey, if I'm going to slow you down, maybe I'm not the guy- unless you can allow me to get my accent under control (paraphrasing obviously)"- at least that's the vibe I got from the comment. The fact that they've allowed him to retrack the vocals, says a lot about how confident they are of him. The band has taken a lot of time off and I could see Arnel having to relearn the stuff for sure.

It's funny that he'd get all the way through tracking his parts only then to have someone say "Waitaminute!"

I wasn't trying to imply anything as far as what Arnel said. I'm just judging by his actions. I think the fact that anybody had to say anything at all about his diction shows a lack of interest and consideration on Arnels part. I like him as a person, but I'm not going to get into some fanboy craze. He needs to be fair to the people that opened up these opportunities for him in the first place, or else he SHOULD leave.

It's been what...over 2 or 3 years since he was taken on board and he still hasn't cleaned up his act.

by **Michigan Girl** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 8:09 am

Ligzig wrote:
brywool wrote:
Ligzig wrote:Well, if Arnel doesn't want to make the committment or put the effort in to work on his diction then he doesn't deserve the job. Simple as that. I like and respect the man, but it shouldn't be a free ride. There are many, many bands that aren't from the U.S or any other primarily English speaking country and that don't live in any of those places either, and yet they pull off perfect English vocals and diction. Arnel has no excuse.

I don't think he's saying that at all and I don't think he's expecting that. He probably didn't realize how "off" he was and said "Hey, Journey, if I'm going to slow you down, maybe I'm not the guy- unless you can allow me to get my accent under control (paraphrasing obviously)"- at least that's the vibe I got from the comment. The fact that they've allowed him to retrack the vocals, says a lot about how confident they are of him. The band has taken a lot of time off and I could see Arnel having to relearn the stuff for sure.

It's funny that he'd get all the way through tracking his parts only then to have someone say "Waitaminute!"

I wasn't trying to imply anything as far as what Arnel said. I'm just judging by his actions. I think the fact that anybody had to say anything at all about his diction shows a lack of interest and consideration on Arnels part. I like him as a person, but I'm not going to get into some fanboy craze. He needs to be fair to the people that opened up these opportunities for him in the first place, or else he SHOULD leave.

It's been what...over 2 or 3 years since he was taken on board and he still hasn't cleaned up his act.

I'm thinking he must have
cleaned up his act during this process at some point ...
but I totally agree w/your post,
and it sounds like he was willing to do
just that ...leave!!

by **Saint John** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 8:11 am

3+ years after getting the job, it's certainly fair to question why this issue hasn't, at the very least, gotten better.

by **JRNYFan** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 8:14 am

Deb wrote:
JRNYFan wrote:Andrew, I know Part 2 is coming this week. Can you tell us what day?

On the front page it says tomorrow......Tuesday.

Thanks Deb!

by **Arkansas** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 8:27 am

Michigan Girl wrote:
steveo777 wrote:So Arnel was ready to tell the band to fuck off....but politely. Good on him. He's growing. At least we know he's not just a puppet or a yes man.
With all that tension and chaos this album will probably be good.
Riiiight!! I don't get that impression at all ...sounds
like it made him feel inferior!!

Yeah, he probably felt small (well, smaller than he is) & inferior, and climbed into a pity shell. And of course, they said no you're not leaving & had a group hug. Then dropped cash on an English tutor. And in many ways, this proved the puppet theory.

later~

by **slucero** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 8:45 am

..it isn't like he had a cocaine.. or a drinking problem...

by **Peartree12249** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 8:52 am

slucero wrote:..it isn't like he had a cocaine.. or a drinking problem...

Maybe that's the problem. If he was doing some blow and knocking back a bottle of Jack before each performance, his pronunciation would get better. :wink:

Website · by **steveo777** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 8:53 am

A year was a long time off and, actually it's been longer than that. I can see where he would default to talking like the locals and it probably happens so gradually, that even he doesn't realize how bad until it gets brought to his attention. They speak Taglish over there and when you are surrounded by it, it just must not be too obvious to one's self.

by **EightyRock** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 10:19 am

Arnel's diction/accent is something he could overcome, IN TIME, if he really wanted to do that. I don't think Journey has enough good years left in them to wait that long! Arnel is going to go home when they aren't touring, hang with his family & friends and BE Fillipino. This is just another instance of Schon & Cain not thinking this through before they hired him. His accent will always be an issue. If Kevin Shirley thinks it is a problem, then alot of Journey fans that think that way aren't so far off. Dude would know if it should have been considered an issue.

by **RedWingFan** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 11:08 am

Saint John wrote:3+ years after getting the job, it's certainly fair to question why this issue hasn't, at the very least, gotten better.

Hell, has it been THAT long?

by **marco17** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 11:11 am

EightyRock wrote:Arnel's diction/accent is something he could overcome, IN TIME, if he really wanted to do that. I don't think Journey has enough good years left in them to wait that long! Arnel is going to go home when they aren't touring, hang with his family & friends and BE Fillipino. This is just another instance of Schon & Cain not thinking this through before they hired him. His accent will always be an issue. If Kevin Shirley thinks it is a problem, then alot of Journey fans that think that way aren't so far off. Dude would know if it should have been considered an issue.

I agree, and I doubt Cain and Schon were being Arnel's best buddies and wanting to help him out... It's more likely, that they know they hadn't seen the attention they received from Arnel joining the band, and the story behind it in years, and then to have him leave, looking for yet another lead singer, and trying to get started from ground zero again. It would likely mean their demise.

by **RedWingFan** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 11:14 am

marco17 wrote:
EightyRock wrote:Arnel's diction/accent is something he could overcome, IN TIME, if he really wanted to do that. I don't think Journey has enough good years left in them to wait that long! Arnel is going to go home when they aren't touring, hang with his family & friends and BE Fillipino. This is just another instance of Schon & Cain not thinking this through before they hired him. His accent will always be an issue. If Kevin Shirley thinks it is a problem, then alot of Journey fans that think that way aren't so far off. Dude would know if it should have been considered an issue.

I agree, and I doubt Cain and Schon were being Arnel's best buddies and wanting to help him out... It's more likely, that they know they hadn't seen the attention they received from Arnel joining the band, and the story behind it in years, and then to have him leave, looking for yet another lead singer, and trying to get started from ground zero again. It would likely mean their demise.

How long before they all just say the hell with it and let him translate all the lyrics into Tagalog? Might as well.

by **geminix** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 1:30 pm

Maybe instead of using the auto-tune like they did for Augeri they can invent the "auto-english"

by **Andrew** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 2:45 pm

PART 2 NOW ONLINE.

Scroll down to Part 2....whole interview in one place now: http://www.melodicrock.com/interviews/k ... -2010.html

by **Peartree12249** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 3:09 pm

Andrew wrote:PART 2 NOW ONLINE.

Scroll down to Part 2....whole interview in one place now: http://www.melodicrock.com/interviews/k ... -2010.html

Well done...great interview Andrew!

. I especially enjoyed the stuff on Joe and BCC. I can't believe that more folks on MR aren't totally jazzed about BCC's album. Oh well "pearls before swine" and all that. :roll:

by **Deb** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 3:20 pm

Andrew wrote:PART 2 NOW ONLINE.

Scroll down to Part 2....whole interview in one place now: http://www.melodicrock.com/interviews/k ... -2010.html

Great interview, thanks Andrew!

LOL.....not for the band to read. :lol:

He sounds PHENOMENAL; he sounds the best I've heard him in 20 years probably.

KS: And you know there's a reason for all of these things! I don't go and say everything all the time, because I'm achieving….and, again, this is when the interview is not for the band to read - this is for everyone that wants to make a record. But I listened to Eric's vocal and when he was controlled, as in the studio environment, when he was singing with the acoustic guitar, I noticed that he had a particular vibrato. When I put him into the room, just to run through with the guys rocking, and he was energetic and not thinking about it, he would let it go so I thought it was better for the music and maybe less dated not to have that vibrato. So I would emphasize that I wanted him to sing these songs live. That's why I think he sounds like he sounds; he sounds energetic and enthused.

He got some kickass vocals out of him, especially on All The Way Up ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENvtN0n82Lo ..........and the Japanese bonus track, sexy little bluesy number Kill Me With A Kiss ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecxut9ug_KU LOL, can tell which ones he wrote. Definitely a couple faves off of What If....

Website · by **steveo777** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 4:05 pm

Sounds like Kevin still believes in Arnel and that's saying a lot, coming from him, in all his experience with this band. Too bad Arnel works for a bunch of fucking babies. :wink:

by **Saint John** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 12:04 am

Journey is fine and the interview didn't tell us one thing we didn't already know about them. I like when Shirley says "I don't wanna talk about Journey" and Andrew's next question is about ... Journey. :lol:

by **Eric** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 12:20 am

I don't find it odd at all that they'd be fighting. Put any 2 people in that situation and its probable they aren't gonna be best friends all the time. And if they are, they probably aren't as successful because there isn't enough back and forth.

I find it to be a great compliment that Shirley said these guys "At least they don't say anything that they wouldn't say behind each other's backs". Good things happen when you're honest.

by **Eric** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 12:27 am

Saint John wrote:Journey is fine and the interview didn't tell us one thing we didn't already know about them. I like when Shirley says "I don't wanna talk about Journey" and Andrew's next question is about ... Journey.

Yeah, well....most people aren't reading it for Mr. Big info.

by **Saint John** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 1:44 am

Eric wrote:
Saint John wrote:Journey is fine and the interview didn't tell us one thing we didn't already know about them. I like when Shirley says "I don't wanna talk about Journey" and Andrew's next question is about ... Journey.

Yeah, well....most people aren't reading it for Mr. Big info.

You give their 25 fans in the U.S. very little credit. :lol:

by **S2M** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 3:06 am

Saint John wrote:Journey is fine and the interview didn't tell us one thing we didn't already know about them. I like when Shirley says "I don't wanna talk about Journey" and Andrew's next question is about ... Journey.

Andrew would make a great political interviewer, or a great sports reporter....really sling those hardballs.

by **S2M** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 3:08 am

Peartree12249 wrote:
Andrew wrote:PART 2 NOW ONLINE.

Scroll down to Part 2....whole interview in one place now: http://www.melodicrock.com/interviews/k ... -2010.html

Well done...great interview Andrew! . I especially enjoyed the stuff on Joe and BCC. I can't believe that more folks on MR aren't totally jazzed about BCC's album. Oh well "pearls before swine" and all that.

It's not that we aren't jazzed....ok, well we aren't jazzed. It's just boring music. Talented, but god-awful, wonky music. Sorry. 'Not boring before talented' and all that :lol:

MR

Kevin Shirley - The MelodicRock Interview

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