Arnel - a good fit for Journey???

[tinylights]

Let me preface this post with the following clarification: Nothing here is meant to be the least bit racist. So if you take it that way, I'll consider it your own pent up hypersenitive racism creeping out!

That said, whatever happend to the idea that you could be proud that one of the greatest rock bands on the planet was an "American" band! In the great tradition of bands like Boston, the Cars, Van Halen, etc... While many of these bands may have had immigrants from other countries as integral parts of their make-up, they were all American citizens and at the very least their frontmen could string a sentence together in English without a heavy accent.

Journey have officially sold their soul for the chance to sell records to a younger (apparently asian) audience. To say this guy "fits" in Journey is about as intelligent an observation a saying that Gerard Way (lead singer for My Chemical Romance) would be a great contender for lead singer in Foreigner.

This is insane... But par for the Journey course... They choose a guy who is younger than their own children, with a heavy accent that even creeps into the phrasing of his singing??? Over Jeremey Hunsicker? Talk about trying to overtly pander to a younger asian audience!!! And talk about conflicting goals... I thought Cain's stated goal was to perpetuate the existing legacy catalog, not try to improve on their myspace cred by hiring some emo kid who might look cool with blonde streaks in his black hair.

When I go to a Journey show I want to be treated to a full on front-man experience, and spoken to in English, if you please - what I don't want is to be insulted by Journey parading around some cabaret Jackie Chan act with no charisma and a bad accent!

And while I'm at it, as much of a great singer as JSS was in his own right (and I was a big fan!), he was never a good fit for Journey either. He could never get past that husky "muscle out the high parts" type of style, even when the song required a refined finesse. So chalk that up as 2 bad decisions on their part for lead singers!!! They should have waited out Augeri's vocal chord problems, and just taken a year off from touring... But the almightly dollar always makes the decisions in the Journey camp... It stopped being about the artistry of song craft along time ago in Journey folks... Which was evident on both their last studio album and that horrific EP Red 13.

A message for Neal and Jon... Just journey yourselves right on into the bargain bins and festival circuit with your new, future, ex-leadsinger! and good luck with it.. I'll never buy another journey album again, nor will I pay my hard earned money to support live shows! You just lost a lifelong fan!

[ebake02]

Very well put. I agree that this seems to be an example of Journey selling out just squeeze a few more bucks out of their dying careers. That said, I will give him a shot but I'm not holding out much hope.

[MidNightTrain]

Another poster said (and I agree with) that 95% of the US audience doesn't care who fronts Journey. That being said, then why would you fire JSS? I saw an entire audience loving JSS, his stage presence will not be beaten and Deen singing 2 or 3 ballads was a treat to hear and the audience loved it. Joe Elliot even commented on how he told the rest of Def Lep to step it up a notch because Journey was a tough act to follow.

I know nothing and this is pure speculation, but it just seems very stupid to fire JSS for this guy. Something else is going on that we don't know about, maybe Perry will record with them in the studio but won't tour and they want someone to sound just like Perry on the road. I am not so sure that I would want Perry back (studio or tour). I would rather that they retire.

[finalfight]

Arnel's not that young folks. I for one am very much looking forward to him singing with the band and am also not that young, nor Asian!

I am also happy to have been introduced to the music of JSS and hope that he is enjoying more success now than ever before due to his albeit short tenure with the band.

[ArnelRox]

I haven't been posting here but I feel compelled to respond to this b/c it's so inaccurate it's not even funny.

1. Arnel Pineda is 40 years old. I guess he could be Jon Cain or Ross Valory's son, but barely. He is hardly a kid. He's just less than 2 years younger than Jeff so if u call Arnel a kid, u had better be calling Jeff one too.

2. Arnel has been a professional singer since 1983. Yes, u read that right! He has made a living singing since that time. He has not worked another job.

3. Arnel has had 2 albums on major labels, a solo album on Warner & an album out currently on MCA. Yes, the same MCA that Irving Azoff used to be president of. Yes, they were released in Asia but that doesn't discredit the major labels. That's more than Journey can say in the last several years.

4. Arnel speaks English fluently. He has an accent, but it's only slight. Listen to the YouTube clip of him singing Survivor's Ever Since The World Began. He forgets the 1st line & embarassed, talks about it in English. That means he not only speaks English, but THINKS in English. BTW a Chinese person might say "Oh Shellie" but a Filipino person would not. Not all Asians have the same accent. Making those remarks is ignorant! If any of u know anything about dialect coaches, they're ten a penny in acting. Such a person could work w/Arnel for 2 weeks and his accent would not be detectible. I know this b/c I've seen it happen.

5. U think Arnel works cheap, huh? Wrong. He is currently under contract w/MCA. Irving had to do some negotiating to work that one out. Just b/c he comes from a 3rd world country doesn't mean he's a sweatshop empoloyee as many here would like to portray. He's had a very successful career as a musician. He's had several "hits" in the Asian charts. I realize that doesn't count to many of u here who think America is the ONLY place for music in the world. But there are artists who NEVER come to the US & still have VERY successful careers in other countries.

6. For those wondering if Arnel can write, check out The Zoo's song on You Tube called "Too Satisfied". He wrote that himself along w/many other songs on his albums. I've got both albums & there are several songs I like.

I was incredibly pissed at Journey too & I still am. But Arnel is a rare talent & I can't believe they've been so lucky to find him. They couldn't pass up that much talent. If u don't hear it, get ur prejudice out of the way & really listen. If u still don't hear it, get ur hearing checked. I never thought I'd attend a Journey show again but b/c of Arnel's talent, I can look beyond the assholes playing on either side of him. He's THAT good.

Ok bash away at me & enjoy urselves. I just thought I'd correct a few obvious misunderstandings.

Do some research on the guy before u post misinformation.

[finalfight]

I haven't been posting here but I feel compelled to respond to this b/c it's so inaccurate it's not even funny.

1. Arnel Pineda is 40 years old. I guess he could be Jon Cain or Ross Valory's son, but barely. He is hardly a kid. He's just less than 2 years younger than Jeff so if u call Arnel a kid, u had better be calling Jeff one too.

2. Arnel has been a professional singer since 1983. Yes, u read that right! He has made a living singing since that time. He has not worked another job.

3. Arnel has had 2 albums on major labels, a solo album on Warner & an album out currently on MCA. Yes, the same MCA that Irving Azoff used to be president of. Yes, they were released in Asia but that doesn't discredit the major labels. That's more than Journey can say in the last several years.

4. Arnel speaks English fluently. He has an accent, but it's only slight. Listen to the YouTube clip of him singing Survivor's Ever Since The World Began. He forgets the 1st line & embarassed, talks about it in English. That means he not only speaks English, but THINKS in English. BTW a Chinese person might say "Oh Shellie" but a Filipino person would not. Not all Asians have the same accent. Making those remarks is ignorant! If any of u know anything about dialect coaches, they're ten a penny in acting. Such a person could work w/Arnel for 2 weeks and his accent would not be detectible. I know this b/c I've seen it happen.

5. U think Arnel works cheap, huh? Wrong. He is currently under contract w/MCA. Irving had to do some negotiating to work that one out. Just b/c he comes from a 3rd world country doesn't mean he's a sweatshop empoloyee as many here would like to portray. He's had a very successful career as a musician. He's had several "hits" in the Asian charts. I realize that doesn't count to many of u here who think America is the ONLY place for music in the world. But there are artists who NEVER come to the US & still have VERY successful careers in other countries.

6. For those wondering if Arnel can write, check out The Zoo's song on You Tube called "Too Satisfied". He wrote that himself along w/many other songs on his albums. I've got both albums & there are several songs I like.

I was incredibly pissed at Journey too & I still am. But Arnel is a rare talent & I can't believe they've been so lucky to find him. They couldn't pass up that much talent. If u don't hear it, get ur prejudice out of the way & really listen. If u still don't hear it, get ur hearing checked. I never thought I'd attend a Journey show again but b/c of Arnel's talent, I can look beyond the assholes playing on either side of him. He's THAT good.

Ok bash away at me & enjoy urselves. I just thought I'd correct a few obvious misunderstandings.

Do some research on the guy before u post misinformation.

Bravo. Absolutely on the button.

[Barb]

Thanks for this information. Maybe this can work... who knows? I'm just so disgusted with Journey, I don't know if I can get past it and enjoy what Arnel brings to the table.

I haven't been posting here but I feel compelled to respond to this b/c it's so inaccurate it's not even funny.

1. Arnel Pineda is 40 years old. I guess he could be Jon Cain or Ross Valory's son, but barely. He is hardly a kid. He's just less than 2 years younger than Jeff so if u call Arnel a kid, u had better be calling Jeff one too.

2. Arnel has been a professional singer since 1983. Yes, u read that right! He has made a living singing since that time. He has not worked another job.

3. Arnel has had 2 albums on major labels, a solo album on Warner & an album out currently on MCA. Yes, the same MCA that Irving Azoff used to be president of. Yes, they were released in Asia but that doesn't discredit the major labels. That's more than Journey can say in the last several years.

4. Arnel speaks English fluently. He has an accent, but it's only slight. Listen to the YouTube clip of him singing Survivor's Ever Since The World Began. He forgets the 1st line & embarassed, talks about it in English. That means he not only speaks English, but THINKS in English. BTW a Chinese person might say "Oh Shellie" but a Filipino person would not. Not all Asians have the same accent. Making those remarks is ignorant! If any of u know anything about dialect coaches, they're ten a penny in acting. Such a person could work w/Arnel for 2 weeks and his accent would not be detectible. I know this b/c I've seen it happen.

5. U think Arnel works cheap, huh? Wrong. He is currently under contract w/MCA. Irving had to do some negotiating to work that one out. Just b/c he comes from a 3rd world country doesn't mean he's a sweatshop empoloyee as many here would like to portray. He's had a very successful career as a musician. He's had several "hits" in the Asian charts. I realize that doesn't count to many of u here who think America is the ONLY place for music in the world. But there are artists who NEVER come to the US & still have VERY successful careers in other countries.

6. For those wondering if Arnel can write, check out The Zoo's song on You Tube called "Too Satisfied". He wrote that himself along w/many other songs on his albums. I've got both albums & there are several songs I like.

I was incredibly pissed at Journey too & I still am. But Arnel is a rare talent & I can't believe they've been so lucky to find him. They couldn't pass up that much talent. If u don't hear it, get ur prejudice out of the way & really listen. If u still don't hear it, get ur hearing checked. I never thought I'd attend a Journey show again but b/c of Arnel's talent, I can look beyond the assholes playing on either side of him. He's THAT good.

Ok bash away at me & enjoy urselves. I just thought I'd correct a few obvious misunderstandings.

Do some research on the guy before u post misinformation.

[styxman]

But there are artists who NEVER come to the US & still have VERY successful careers in other countries.

So if that's the case why come over now, why not let his talent expand in his own country and let it spread all over the globe. Why the fuck has he elected to go to Journey and come to think of it why did Jeff?

BTW, I agree with all your other points

[Deb]

Another poster said (and I agree with) that 95% of the US audience doesn't care who fronts Journey. That being said, then why would you fire JSS? I saw an entire audience loving JSS, his stage presence will not be beaten and Deen singing 2 or 3 ballads was a treat to hear and the audience loved it. Joe Elliot even commented on how he told the rest of Def Lep to step it up a notch because Journey was a tough act to follow.

I know! I just don't get it either. They finally get a strong, charismatic frontman again that could throw it down with the passion that Perry did and they blow it. Granted, Jeff maybe couldn't hit those glass-shattering highs that Perry did years ago, but then again it never was all about that for me anyway, even with Perry fronting. More about the passion/music/lyrics, etc. I can maybe see them pulling something off studio-wise, but they'll never have the spectacular LIVE shows/concerts again that they did with Perry/Soto IMO. It takes a certain something to pull off that rockgod personna and in what I have seen so far, I just don't see it. But hey, all the power to him.

LOL, oh well I'm over it.........as long as JSSB tours!

[*Laura]

Let me preface this post with the following clarification: Nothing here is meant to be the least bit racist.

Really?So if Arnel wasn't Asian,you wouldn't be bitching this way about the choice,right?But you do have a problem with Arnel because he's Asian.Another race.
Your "clarification" is BS.

...they were all American citizens and at the very least their frontmen could string a sentence together in English without a heavy accent.

What's citizenship got to do with talent?

Btw,Arnel doesn't have a heavy accent when he sings.Plus,I bet he was hired to sing not to speak.

Journey have officially sold their soul for the chance to sell records to a younger (apparently asian) audience.

So what?After they conquered America,Japan and parts of Europe,why not try out a fresh music market?
Of course they want to sell.This is their job,so what's your point?

To say this guy "fits" in Journey is about as intelligent an observation a saying that Gerard Way (lead singer for My Chemical Romance) would be a great contender for lead singer in Foreigner.

Arnel is a rock singer.He is good on rockers as well as on (power) ballads and has enough sensitivity and range to sing the old catalog too.
He would fit in any rock/AOR band.Journey got him.

When I go to a Journey show I want to be treated to a full on front-man experience, and spoken to in English, if you please - what I don't want is to be insulted by Journey parading around some cabaret Jackie Chan act with no charisma and a bad accent!

Like I said,he's not going to speak,he's going to sing.

The latter part of your sentence is in conflict with your "non-racist" preface. Admit it.

And while I'm at it, as much of a great singer as JSS was in his own right (and I was a big fan!), he was never a good fit for Journey either. He could never get past that husky "muscle out the high parts" type of style, even when the song required a refined finesse. So chalk that up as 2 bad decisions on their part for lead singers!!!

JSS was a great choice.The problem was that the band couldn't handle this choice with intelligence and class.
Arnel's a great choice as well.His vocal abilities are undeniable.
Remember - Journey checked out singers,not passports.If Arnel impressed them,he could've been from Mars.Who cares?

A message for Neal and Jon... Just journey yourselves right on into the bargain bins and festival circuit with your new, future, ex-leadsinger!

As a longtime fan as you say you are,you should be at least curious to hear the new line-up.But wait,you can't because the singer is Asian.
You'd better edit your preface.

[bluejeangirl76]

No. Not a good fit.

Nothing to do with who he is or where he's from.
My whole annoyance with it is that they heard him sing and went "hey... cool... sounds like Perry enough where we can get away with this..." and that has been my problem all along. JSS wasn't trying to be a Perry clone and I had respect for Journey for not going that route when they were goign to take him on permanently. Maybe a lot of people want to hear Journey sounding like they did in '83. I don't. I don't want to hear an impression. Journey turned themselves into their own tribute band. There are already plenty of decent bands out there tributing Journey.

What Journey is doing now is tributing the tribute bands.

Apart from all that, what they did to JSS, or rather the way they did it, was totally despicable and I don't respect that either.

[marco17]

Not sure at this point I even care like a lot of us on here but.... Arnel is/will be nothing more than a hired voice to go out and belt out the classics as close to Perry as possible, which the youtube videos suggest he does pretty well. But, that's it, and if he doesn't impress people, he'll get dumped like the string of singers before him. I am a firm believer that Neal and Jon have no real desire to create anything "new." As posted by someone before, you saw that with the Generations album, and I am convinced that JSS wanted to breathe new life into them but at least Cain didn't want to get on the "new-energy" bandwagon . Jeremey stated that the new singer would not have many chips in the game, so regardless to any of Arnel's writing talents or abilities, what makes anyone think they will do anything but go out and do the dirty dozen night after night? If that is the case, then Arnel is probably the right fit because he's the closest voice to Perry's they could get without getting Perry, begging Augeri to come back [if truly healthy, and God knows they don't want to answer questions about TG], or getting one of the other sound-a-likes that have been named along the way.

[ScarabGator]

I think some are forgetting that Arnel was not in a Journey tribute band but was in a cover band that played several bands, as well as their own stuff. Jeremey and Frontiers are a tribute band, not The Zoo.

[CatEyes]

This is a guess on my part ..... just a gut feeling - and I have mentioned it in another thread.

Maybe a percentage of the fanbase is just afraid to "fall in love" all over again.

Many fans have held on through 4 vocaliists ....... and many have felt burned when ever the current one was dumped and someone else was brought in.

It is understandable for them to be apprehensive about 1 more singer ...... hell it coulld be JLT, Hugo, Jeremey, Kevin, Robert Plant, Diamond Dave or even Perry (Steve not Joe) himself ...... and some people just cannot go along for the merry-go-round one more time.

Cat

[ScarabGator]

This is a guess on my part ..... just a gut feeling - and I have mentioned it in another thread.

Maybe a percentage of the fanbase is just afraid to "fall in love" all over again.

Many fans have held on through 4 vocaliists ....... and many have felt burned when ever the current one was dumped and someone else was brought in.

It is understandable for them to be apprehensive about 1 more singer ...... hell it coulld be JLT, Hugo, Jeremey, Kevin, Robert Plant, Diamond Dave or even Perry (Steve not Joe) himself ...... and some people just cannot go along for the merry-go-round one more time.

Cat

I can...and will!!!

[chad]

I haven't been posting here but I feel compelled to respond to this b/c it's so inaccurate it's not even funny.

1. Arnel Pineda is 40 years old. I guess he could be Jon Cain or Ross Valory's son, but barely. He is hardly a kid. He's just less than 2 years younger than Jeff so if u call Arnel a kid, u had better be calling Jeff one too.

2. Arnel has been a professional singer since 1983. Yes, u read that right! He has made a living singing since that time. He has not worked another job.

3. Arnel has had 2 albums on major labels, a solo album on Warner & an album out currently on MCA. Yes, the same MCA that Irving Azoff used to be president of. Yes, they were released in Asia but that doesn't discredit the major labels. That's more than Journey can say in the last several years.

4. Arnel speaks English fluently. He has an accent, but it's only slight. Listen to the YouTube clip of him singing Survivor's Ever Since The World Began. He forgets the 1st line & embarassed, talks about it in English. That means he not only speaks English, but THINKS in English. BTW a Chinese person might say "Oh Shellie" but a Filipino person would not. Not all Asians have the same accent. Making those remarks is ignorant! If any of u know anything about dialect coaches, they're ten a penny in acting. Such a person could work w/Arnel for 2 weeks and his accent would not be detectible. I know this b/c I've seen it happen.

5. U think Arnel works cheap, huh? Wrong. He is currently under contract w/MCA. Irving had to do some negotiating to work that one out. Just b/c he comes from a 3rd world country doesn't mean he's a sweatshop empoloyee as many here would like to portray. He's had a very successful career as a musician. He's had several "hits" in the Asian charts. I realize that doesn't count to many of u here who think America is the ONLY place for music in the world. But there are artists who NEVER come to the US & still have VERY successful careers in other countries.

6. For those wondering if Arnel can write, check out The Zoo's song on You Tube called "Too Satisfied". He wrote that himself along w/many other songs on his albums. I've got both albums & there are several songs I like.

I was incredibly pissed at Journey too & I still am. But Arnel is a rare talent & I can't believe they've been so lucky to find him. They couldn't pass up that much talent. If u don't hear it, get ur prejudice out of the way & really listen. If u still don't hear it, get ur hearing checked. I never thought I'd attend a Journey show again but b/c of Arnel's talent, I can look beyond the assholes playing on either side of him. He's THAT good.

Ok bash away at me & enjoy urselves. I just thought I'd correct a few obvious misunderstandings.

Do some research on the guy before u post misinformation.

Just have to say, what an outstanding post! No bashing...no propaganda...no baggage...accurate...and full of merit

Chad

[ScarabGator]

Absolutely Chad!!!

[frfksakes]

Excellent response to the first post!

I haven't been posting here but I feel compelled to respond to this b/c it's so inaccurate it's not even funny.

1. Arnel Pineda is 40 years old. I guess he could be Jon Cain or Ross Valory's son, but barely. He is hardly a kid. He's just less than 2 years younger than Jeff so if u call Arnel a kid, u had better be calling Jeff one too.

2. Arnel has been a professional singer since 1983. Yes, u read that right! He has made a living singing since that time. He has not worked another job.

3. Arnel has had 2 albums on major labels, a solo album on Warner & an album out currently on MCA. Yes, the same MCA that Irving Azoff used to be president of. Yes, they were released in Asia but that doesn't discredit the major labels. That's more than Journey can say in the last several years.

4. Arnel speaks English fluently. He has an accent, but it's only slight. Listen to the YouTube clip of him singing Survivor's Ever Since The World Began. He forgets the 1st line & embarassed, talks about it in English. That means he not only speaks English, but THINKS in English. BTW a Chinese person might say "Oh Shellie" but a Filipino person would not. Not all Asians have the same accent. Making those remarks is ignorant! If any of u know anything about dialect coaches, they're ten a penny in acting. Such a person could work w/Arnel for 2 weeks and his accent would not be detectible. I know this b/c I've seen it happen.

5. U think Arnel works cheap, huh? Wrong. He is currently under contract w/MCA. Irving had to do some negotiating to work that one out. Just b/c he comes from a 3rd world country doesn't mean he's a sweatshop empoloyee as many here would like to portray. He's had a very successful career as a musician. He's had several "hits" in the Asian charts. I realize that doesn't count to many of u here who think America is the ONLY place for music in the world. But there are artists who NEVER come to the US & still have VERY successful careers in other countries.

6. For those wondering if Arnel can write, check out The Zoo's song on You Tube called "Too Satisfied". He wrote that himself along w/many other songs on his albums. I've got both albums & there are several songs I like.

I was incredibly pissed at Journey too & I still am. But Arnel is a rare talent & I can't believe they've been so lucky to find him. They couldn't pass up that much talent. If u don't hear it, get ur prejudice out of the way & really listen. If u still don't hear it, get ur hearing checked. I never thought I'd attend a Journey show again but b/c of Arnel's talent, I can look beyond the assholes playing on either side of him. He's THAT good.

Ok bash away at me & enjoy urselves. I just thought I'd correct a few obvious misunderstandings.

Do some research on the guy before u post misinformation.

[ohsherrie]

I think some are forgetting that Arnel was not in a Journey tribute band but was in a cover band that played several bands, as well as their own stuff. Jeremey and Frontiers are a tribute band, not The Zoo.

What the singer, whoever he had been, did before they were hired by Journey is irrelelvant. A lot of the biggest names in rock music, starting with the Beatles, may very well have started out in a bar band covering other people's songs. That tribute band or bar band singer title being thought of as some sort of stigma never made any sense to me.

What makes Journey nothing more than a tribute to it's former self is their insistence on putting someone in there that can sing the catalog in a high range and tour on an incessant schedule so they can keep living on Steve Perry's contributions to Journey. But that person must not try to contribute anything uniquely their own and therefore become an integral part of the band because if those contributions begin to overshadow Frig and Fro that person may actually have some chips in the game.

You would think they would have learned after ten years that Steve Perry brought a lot more to Journey that his range. He brought a huge part of the songwriting, he brought the showmanship to the concerts, but even more importantly, he apparently brought the heart and soul of the band because it's becoming increasingly obvious that no one else in that band has any.

[tinylights]

OK, I'll be careful to dissect your points one by one:

Point 1. Arnel Pineda is 40 years old. I guess he could be Jon Cain or Ross Valory's son, but barely. He is hardly a kid. He's just less than 2 years younger than Jeff so if u call Arnel a kid, u had better be calling Jeff one too.

RESPONSE: If that is true then I apologize for the comment. It was made out of ignorance. Only having seen him on about 2 dozen Youtube videos which seem failry recent where he looks to be in his late 20s or early 30s. And yes Journey does have kids older than that.

Point 2. Arnel has been a professional singer since 1983. Yes, u read that right! He has made a living singing since that time. He has not worked another job.

RESPONSE: You say this as though anyone else who has not been a professional singer prior to joining this band is not qualified. Well perhaps you should do your research... Mr. Steve Perry himslf was shoveling turkey shite on a farm when Journey's management tapped him for the job. And he had never been a professional singer or held a major lable contract prior to joining Journey. Are you suggesting that he was perhaps not fit for the job? Furthermore, I have personally seen Jeremey Hunsicker on several occassions sing 2-3 hour sets of nothing but the most difficult Journey material and do it more professionally than some professionals I've seen. And I've seen a lot, I have been in the biz for over a decade.

Point 3. Arnel has had 2 albums on major labels, a solo album on Warner & an album out currently on MCA. Yes, the same MCA that Irving Azoff used to be president of. Yes, they were released in Asia but that doesn't discredit the major labels. That's more than Journey can say in the last several years. & Point 6. For those wondering if Arnel can write, check out The Zoo's song on You Tube called "Too Satisfied". He wrote that himself along w/many other songs on his albums. I've got both albums & there are several songs I like.

RESPONSE: I'll give you that this guy may have been an anomoly in his own country and in Asia. But that doesn't make him right for the American market, which is where Journey tours 80% of the time, and it's also where Journey has sold more records than in any other market. and furthermore, if he and his band the Zoo are so damn good at original songwriting and if they had their own succesful projects already, why the hell are there 3 dozen videos of them doing nothing but cover songs plastered all over youtube??? It makes these guys look like a karaoke band - which (sorry to say) fits the Asian stereotype yet again! If they have had 2 major label records where are the high priced production videos to promote them??? Also, at your suggestion, I listened to "Too Satisfied" and sorry for the pun, but "I wasn't!" If you consider that good songwriting, then you desserve what you will get with him at the helm of Journey. Which leads right into another point I need to make. Neal and Jon are looking for anything but someone who will come in and challenge them from a writing standpoint. They wouldn't dare give up the lions share of royalties to some newbie.

Point 4. Arnel speaks English fluently. He has an accent, but it's only slight. Listen to the YouTube clip of him singing Survivor's Ever Since The World Began. He forgets the 1st line & embarassed, talks about it in English. That means he not only speaks English, but THINKS in English. BTW a Chinese person might say "Oh Shellie" but a Filipino person would not. Not all Asians have the same accent. Making those remarks is ignorant! If any of u know anything about dialect coaches, they're ten a penny in acting. Such a person could work w/Arnel for 2 weeks and his accent would not be detectible. I know this b/c I've seen it happen.

RESPONSE: I've listened to a dozen or more clips and everytime he is speaking english, it is with a noticeable accent. But let's say for argument that's got nothing to do with his performance.... Only problem is that it does... listen to how he mis-phrases and mis-pronounces lyrics in songs like "Faithfully" listen to how he sings the line "..., etc... (lovin a music man aint always what it's sposed to be....) I rest my case.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HjcCzgCCX0) Are you going to tell me that this video, which has plent of pre-song english chatter, represents how well he deals with English dialect??? So don't try to act like English is this guy's first language, it obviously is not! and Journey is an all American band - it just doesn't fit. Sorry. Hiring this guy will make Journey look like an Asian Karaoke parody act of itself! I don't need a dialect coach to tell me that!!!

Point 5. U think Arnel works cheap, huh? Wrong. He is currently under contract w/MCA. Irving had to do some negotiating to work that one out. Just b/c he comes from a 3rd world country doesn't mean he's a sweatshop empoloyee as many here would like to portray. He's had a very successful career as a musician. He's had several "hits" in the Asian charts. I realize that doesn't count to many of u here who think America is the ONLY place for music in the world. But there are artists who NEVER come to the US & still have VERY successful careers in other countries.

RESPONSE: I never said Arnel worked for cheap, go back and read it... I just said Journey makes decisions based on money alone these days... the fact that Irving Azoff manages Journey and also had a prior relationship with Arnel, menas they get to do a clean little deal from a legal cost standpoint. You can bet that this deal worked well for them all the way around. As opposed to say Jeremey Hunsicker coming in with his own legal team etc... that being said though, I can't imagine they got paid very much for some of the karaoke gigs that are plastered all over youtube.

And finally as for SHOWMANSHIP - first let's watch Arnel incorrectly sing the lyrics to "Don't Stop Believin" (it's "up and down", not "walkin down") while he takes notes from an all but silent and bored crowd, and checks the lyric sheet on his music podium - talk about stage presence - Yeah it really looks like he's going to be a force to be reconed with on the Journey stage. They might as well get him a stoll to sit on along with Ross Valory. ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88nfiZ-y ... ed&search= ) now Jeremey Hunsicker doing the same song ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjQNiiYh ... ed&search= ) and whipping the crowd up into a frenzy, jumping off the drum riser, flailing arms, back and forth on the stage, you get the point - he looks ready for an arena show - as opposed to Arnel, who look slike he's ready to take off his sweater change his shoes and start singing "It's a beautiful day in the Neighborhood".

Is there anything else to say???

[ScarabGator]

tinylights, why dont you wait and let him get on stage with Journey after a little seasoning and then make your judgement of him? He may knock our socks off, lets check it out and see. Be a little patient with him, I'm excited to see whats in store for the future.

[ohsherrie]

Is there anything else to say???

Nope. Well, maybe that Jeremey is too much his own man and too talented to be satisified with being nothing more to Journey than a Perry impersonator.

[Escape Artist]

Hopefully this is someone "testing the waters"

I still don't buy it, nothing official so there is still hope.

Best of luck to Arnel if it is to be, I have nothing against him, I just don't happen to like him for the job.

[Saint John]

It's easy to hear that DSB is being sung by a "foreigner." NO amount of speech correction will change that. This is an atrocious version. It's fucking ridiculous to even think that he needs to be corrected when he says "living just to FOUND emotion." There are so many misspoken words I'm not going to waste my time. This guy has a tremendous voice...he should sing songs in his native language. They're literally going to have to go through every song with him to ensure proper pronunciation and tense. For this dude? Absurd.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88nfiZ-y ... ed&search=

[WIX]

I have to say, I look at the picture and it isn't journey to me, I would rather have augeri back with vocal help.

It would be like having him front Bon Jovi it just doesn't click.

[strangegrey]

Cat touched upon the big reason why Arnel or anyone else wont work...

We've been down this fucking road before. Who cares where Arnel comes from. Hell, I'd stick my neck out and say that his voice is about as close to late Perry as any of the past singers of Journey (save for Perry himself, of course).

It's just that I'm fucking sick of the backstabbing, the singer changes, the dirty dozen, Neal's personal life mess, the greed that oozes out of Cains pores, the fucking backstabbing, Neal's ego, did I mention the backstabbing?


Just getting a guy that may or may NOT be all of the things mentioned in this thread....doesn't mean the utterly disgracefully bad shit that has come out of Nomota since 02 just goes away in a poof.

Did I mention the backstabbing already?

It could be Jesus H fucking Christ himself singing for Journey, and it would fail. Really folks, Arnel is just a better fitting tampon than JSS or Augeri. They get Arnel to grow his hair out, throw some tails on his ass....and maybe they can fool the really dumb pigs that show up at Journey shows....but it's still not Perry.


and for that reason, It work work....oh, and the backstabbing too!

[Saint John]

It's gonna be absolutely heartbreaking for Arnel when he finds out that his "dream" is all bullshit. I still, steadfastly, maintain that he will not front this band.

[EightyRock]

Personally, I don't think either one of them are right for the job, but then unless they hire somebody that isn't trying to rip off Perry's vocals, then I don't care if they hire Hugo! Journey is on the fast train to no where. They are a tribute act to themselves, with not an ounce of creativity, inspiration or self respect left. Arnel is nuts to sell his soul to those guys. Three previous singers would probably advise him strongly against it. No amount of money would be worth ruining your voice and dealing with all the backstabbing that goes on with that band.

[NealIsGod]

Is there anything else to say???

Nope. Well, maybe that Jeremey is too much his own man and too talented to be satisified with being nothing more to Journey than a Perry impersonator.

Hiring Jeremey would have been a great move, and a great story that would have generated a lot of positive publicity for the band. Hiring Arnel will simply enable them to sell a lot more tickets for their greatest hits shows in Asian countries. No more Journey albums.

[Escape Artist]

It's easy to hear that DSB is being sung by a "foreigner." NO amount of speech correction will change that. This is an atrocious version. It's fucking ridiculous to even think that he needs to be corrected when he says "living just to FOUND emotion." There are so many misspoken words I'm not going to waste my time. This guy has a tremendous voice...he should sing songs in his native language. They're literally going to have to go through every song with him to ensure proper pronunciation and tense. For this dude? Absurd.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88nfiZ-y ... ed&search=

I agree, and I'm not buying it either, this would not make sense even considering that it is Journey we are talking about.
If they took pause with Jeremey after offering him the job and said whoa, wait we are moving too fast here, whouldn't they explore other options especialy considering the senario SJ just explained.