MR

At the risk of being redundant around what, I'm sure, has already been said other places, I just had a couple of DVD thoughts/comments. Feel free to chime in or, simply tell me to go fuck myself.

I felt the DVD was a bit awkward. They didn't quite know how to interact with one another and none of them really looked all that comfortable. I suppose that's to be expected. The songs were OK except for the opening, AWYWI. That was the worst version I've ever heard. It's almost as if Arnel had never sung the song before. He came in at the wrong time, he messed up the bridge quite badly as well as the ending and, his over-pronunciation on the first verse was very unnerving. "All night-a, all night-a....oh every night-a. Hold tight-a, hold tight-a...oh baby hold tight." The Perry live version is one of my favorite songs of all time but, when you compare...well...I guess you can't really compare them now, can you?

After listening to the CD's for a while I noticed that he does that over-pronunciation/adding syllables quite often. I get that's just how he sings but, it one of those things that I notice right away now.

Thoughts?

LazzMan wrote:At the risk of being redundant around what, I'm sure, has already been said other places, I just had a couple of DVD thoughts/comments. Feel free to chime in or, simply tell me to go fuck myself.

I felt the DVD was a bit awkward. They didn't quite know how to interact with one another and none of them really looked all that comfortable. I suppose that's to be expected. The songs were OK except for the opening, AWYWI. That was the worst version I've ever heard. It's almost as if Arnel had never sung the song before. He came in at the wrong time, he messed up the bridge quite badly as well as the ending and, his over-pronunciation on the first verse was very unnerving. "All night-a, all night-a....oh every night-a. Hold tight-a, hold tight-a...oh baby hold tight." The Perry live version is one of my favorite songs of all time but, when you compare...well...I guess you can't really compare them now, can you?

After listening to the CD's for a while I noticed that he does that over-pronunciation/adding syllables quite often. I get that's just how he sings but, it one of those things that I notice right away now.

Thoughts?

Very valid points and most of us knew coming in that it would probably take a a half a tour or so to work out the kinks. I'd say they're ahead of schedule, but there are certainly issues that need to be addressed. I think that's why the Euro tour preceded the U.S. leg.

for obvious reasons it's quite possibly the best concert DVD of ALL time....

Maui Tom wrote:for obvious reasons it's quite possibly the best concert DVD of ALL time....

Yup, because "T" is in it.

Saint John wrote:

Maui Tom wrote:for obvious reasons it's quite possibly the best concert DVD of ALL time....

Yup, because "T" is in it.

Touche!

A "bit awkward" is exactly what I said when I heard they were recording this DVD. Arnel was in the band for 10 minutes, and these geniuses think "Hey, let's go record a DVD for commercial release". I said at the time I heard about the DVD that it was beyond bizarre, and I still don't quite understand their rush to record this DVD. I guess it's at least consistent with some other odd decisions these guys have made over the years.


John from Boston

Enigma869 wrote:A "bit awkward" is exactly what I said when I heard they were recording this DVD. Arnel was in the band for 10 minutes, and these geniuses think "Hey, let's go record a DVD for commercial release". I said at the time I heard about the DVD that it was beyond bizarre, and I still don't quite understand their rush to record this DVD. I guess it's at least consistent with some other odd decisions these guys have made over the years.


John from Boston

The original idea was a 3 disc package. When recording went well they decided to go ahead and include the DVD to sweeten the package as much as possible. It was the only way to have it included. They showed tremendous faith in Arnel and each other, and all things considered I'd say the DVD was a huge success. Think of Revelation as an $11.98 CD and the re-records and the DVD as being free.

Maybe i'm just too big of a Journey dork, but I'm kinda bothered by the fact that I haven't seen Arnel call for that audience participation cues during "Anyway You Want It." Augeri once in a while would not do it, but it's part of the mythos of a Journey show.

This performance just blows me away! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmXsuWuo8t4&NR=1

That is one very talented dude!! How he can have limbs flying around drumming, and sing like that on top of it.....and with such soul yet.....just amazes me!

Deb wrote:This performance just blows me away! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gomgFZs ... re=related

That is one very talented dude!! How he can have limbs flying around drumming, and sing like that on top of it.....and with such soul yet.....just amazes me!

I don't know why someone would overdub that Deb. This one has the Las Vegas show vocals.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmXsuWuo8t4&NR=1

Edit: Did you change the link?

Deb wrote:This performance just blows me away! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gomgFZs ... re=related

That is one very talented dude!! How he can have limbs flying around drumming, and sing like that on top of it.....and with such soul yet.....just amazes me!

He has such a gorgeous voice, I don't understand how he can get that much power sitting down?

JH'sTXfan wrote:

Deb wrote:This performance just blows me away! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gomgFZs ... re=related

That is one very talented dude!! How he can have limbs flying around drumming, and sing like that on top of it.....and with such soul yet.....just amazes me!

I don't know why someone would overdub that Deb. This one has the Las Vegas show vocals.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmXsuWuo8t4&NR=1

Yep, I read the comment after I posted it and quickly changed it to a Vegas one.

Enigma869 wrote:A "bit awkward" is exactly what I said when I heard they were recording this DVD. Arnel was in the band for 10 minutes, and these geniuses think "Hey, let's go record a DVD for commercial release". I said at the time I heard about the DVD that it was beyond bizarre, and I still don't quite understand their rush to record this DVD. I guess it's at least consistent with some other odd decisions these guys have made over the years.


John from Boston

This before or after they've spent 2 weeks in the top 10 Enigma?
Word of mouth about how bad it is must not be getting around I guess.

For the record:
I like the DVD and the tight editing that keeps it at about a dozen songs and an hour.

I think the DVD is reasonably good. I have NEVER ever been a fan of cut and paste live documents - I want that whole fuckin show! It's so disconcerting when Neal's Les Paul literally warps into a Strat before Lights begins. The production is a BIT iffy in oparts - sometimes it seems the vocal or guitar inexplicably drop. Other than that, I'd love to see a full length DVD with some good solid bonus features like interviews and behind the scenes type stuff at some point down the road - Christmas maybe??

Deb wrote:This performance just blows me away! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gomgFZs ... re=related

That is one very talented dude!! How he can have limbs flying around drumming, and sing like that on top of it.....and with such soul yet.....just amazes me!

They really got lucky bringing Dean into this band, i can't say enough about this guys talent, just amazing...they should have had him sing on the new cd....DAMMIT!...........and more guitars....DAMMIT!!!

Deb wrote:This performance just blows me away! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmXsuWuo8t4&NR=1

That is one very talented dude!! How he can have limbs flying around drumming, and sing like that on top of it.....and with such soul yet.....just amazes me!

While he sings it well, for some reason everytime I hear a vocal performance from Deen, it sounds like he's contained in a bottle, or sitting inside a tunnel or somthing, the voice doesn't seem to project itself clear enough, and that's just not this DVD, but! every single performance including the tracks on the late "Generations". I'm just not a fan of deen on vocals, I just don't hear them clear enough, say compared to Arnel Pineda.

Vladan wrote:

Deb wrote:This performance just blows me away! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmXsuWuo8t4&NR=1

That is one very talented dude!! How he can have limbs flying around drumming, and sing like that on top of it.....and with such soul yet.....just amazes me!

While he sings it well, for some reason everytime I hear a vocal performance from Deen, it sounds like he's contained in a bottle, or sitting inside a tunnel or somthing, the voice doesn't seem to project itself clear enough, and that's just not this DVD, but! every single performance including the tracks on the late "Generations". I'm just not a fan of vocals, I just don't hear them clear enough, say compared to Arnel Pineda.

Deen has no power. He's a good singer with great tone and vibrato but no ability to project his voice. I always find myself saying "Turn up the vocals!!!" when he's singing because of that lack of power.

Saint John wrote:

Vladan wrote:

Deb wrote:This performance just blows me away!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmXsuWuo8t4&NR=1That is one very talented dude!!  How he can have limbs flying around drumming, and sing like that on top of it.....and with such soul yet.....just amazes me! 

While he sings it well, for some reason everytime I hear a vocal performance from Deen, it sounds like he's contained in a bottle, or sitting inside a tunnel or somthing, the voice doesn't seem to project itself clear enough, and that's just not this DVD, but! every single performance including the tracks on the late "Generations". I'm just not a fan of vocals, I just don't hear them clear enough, say compared to Arnel Pineda.

Deen has no power.  He's a good singer with great tone and vibrato but no ability to project his voice.  I always find myself saying "Turn up the vocals!!!" when he's singing because of that lack of power.

Wow, us having differing views on vocals, who would of thunk it.     I think he does an amazing job on that.  How much lung power, etc. do you think he's going to get sitting hunched over a drum kit?!  His tone/vibrato and soul well make up for that.  I like some of the soulful touches he adds to change it up a bit from Perry's, was floored on a couple vocals in the middle of that clip.

Deb wrote:  How much lung power, etc. do you think he's going to get sitting hunched over a drum kit?! 

He lacks power..period. Has nothing to do with him sitting down.

Weird. I think Arnel does AWYWI live on this DVD better than I ever heard Perry do it live. I thought when I heard it from Chile that his timing would be off as it was there, but in this DVD, it's great. I'm glad he doesn't do the Perry answer and call thing because then it just gives fuel to the "Oh, well, Perry did that, so he's ripping him off, blah blah". I think the DVD's in general, pretty good, but it's pretty dark in places. I'm happy to have it since I couldn't go.
The "night-a" stuff is just a stylistic thing. MANY singers do this. As long as his pitch is good and the heart is there, I got no problem. Think the guy's great. As for awkward, I think he and Neal look pretty good.The others never are really that animated (outside of Deen). Deen looks a bit out of the loop with the other guys, but it may've been just the DVD editing.

If they were selling this DVD as a separate product, I'd say it was substandard, but I think that taken as part of the whole 3 piece set, the DVD concert is really good. Bottom line is, Journey had a packaging deadline to make on the Walmart deal and that's why they rushed to record their third concert with Arnel. They were looking at this package as not just an album of new material, but a promotional push to get people to see them with Arnel in concert.

I get what you're saying about the awkwardness on stage though. His vocal orgasms "oh! oh! c'mon! oh!" are really annoying and come off as venting nerves. He even did that on the recording of Change for the Better! I love that song, but when he starts that shit I just cringe.

Arnel really needs to find a comfort level and stage persona as a performer. When he's singing a ballad, he performs the song, physically emoting the lyrics which is great. When it comes to a rocker, much less so and sometimes, he comes off as an amateur kid. This is all too painfully apparent during Neal's solos. Arnel doesn't know what to do with himself and he wanders awkwardly, drawing attention away from Neal in a bad way. In a boot clip of AATY from their most recent performance in Europe, Arnel actually talked to the audience on mic during Neal's solo. Talk about awkward.

I hope Arnel works out the kinks with more experience.

Maui Tom wrote:for obvious reasons it's quite possibly the best concert DVD of ALL time....

Well I didn't get my mug in a shot, so I'll stick with the '81 Houston concert as best all time.

STORY_TELLER wrote:If they were selling this DVD as a separate product, I'd say it was substandard, but I think that taken as part of the whole 3 piece set, the DVD concert is really good. Bottom line is, Journey had a packaging deadline to make on the Walmart deal and that's why they rushed to record their third concert with Arnel. They were looking at this package as not just an album of new material, but a promotional push to get people to see them with Arnel in concert.

I get what you're saying about the awkwardness on stage though. His vocal orgasms "oh! oh! c'mon! oh!" are really annoying and come off as venting nerves. He even did that on the recording of Change for the Better! I love that song, but when he starts that shit I just cringe.

Arnel really needs to find a comfort level and stage persona as a performer. When he's singing a ballad, he performs the song, physically emoting the lyrics which is great. When it comes to a rocker, much less so and sometimes, he comes off as an amateur kid. This is all too painfully apparent during Neal's solos. Arnel doesn't know what to do with himself and he wanders awkwardly, drawing attention away from Neal in a bad way. In a boot clip of AATY from their most recent performance in Europe, Arnel actually talked to the audience on mic during Neal's solo. Talk about awkward.

I hope Arnel works out the kinks with more experience.

This is exactly where I was coming from. I noticed that too, sort of wandering aimlessly when HE's not doing anything. And on the DVD, while I appreciate acknowledging Deen's singing on Mother Father, it almost looked like Arnel wanted to get into a back-and-forth conversation. The dude can definitely sing but, he's got to get past the coffee shop and music stand mentality. In time I'm sure he will. And, if he doesn't well,....

Saint John wrote: Deen has no power. He's a good singer with great tone and vibrato but no ability to project his voice. I always find myself saying "Turn up the vocals!!!" when he's singing because of that lack of power.

I agree with the vocal power issue, although any dude singing in that range deserves some credit. Dude sounds like a little girl.
As far as Arnel...the words to alot of the new stuff he sings, until he gets to the chorus, I don't understand him, so I can't connect with the song. No words, no visuals. Obviously, that isn't gonna be a problem with the hits, since those are permantly stamped into my memory bank.

Saint John wrote:

Vladan wrote:

Deb wrote:This performance just blows me away! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmXsuWuo8t4&NR=1

That is one very talented dude!! How he can have limbs flying around drumming, and sing like that on top of it.....and with such soul yet.....just amazes me!

While he sings it well, for some reason everytime I hear a vocal performance from Deen, it sounds like he's contained in a bottle, or sitting inside a tunnel or somthing, the voice doesn't seem to project itself clear enough, and that's just not this DVD, but! every single performance including the tracks on the late "Generations". I'm just not a fan of vocals, I just don't hear them clear enough, say compared to Arnel Pineda.

Deen has no power. He's a good singer with great tone and vibrato but no ability to project his voice. I always find myself saying "Turn up the vocals!!!" when he's singing because of that lack of power.

Dan, this is the first thing I have agreed with in a very long time....
He does have the tone and soul unlike Arnel who does have a good voice but nothing like the tone that Deen and Steve P. have. Augeri certainly didn't have it and no power either....
And, Dan, please lay off of Perry already... its getting tiresome....
I gave you more credit than that....I used to think you were intelligent....!!!!!!!

Rick wrote:Well I didn't get my mug in a shot, so I'll stick with the '81 Houston concert as best all time.

You sure about that Sir Shoot?
I see a Fella that looks like you in Any Way You Want It, @ the 5:28 mark on the DVD.

hhhmmm, I think the dvd rocks!!!!

I got chills when he started singing AATY.

guess I am in the minority, cause this dvd blew me away. I thought arnel was very active and interacted with the band quite well. I thought the were all feeding off each other and really into achother on stage.

Moon Beam wrote:

Rick wrote:Well I didn't get my mug in a shot, so I'll stick with the '81 Houston concert as best all time.

You sure about that Sir Shoot?
I see a Fella that looks like you in Any Way You Want It, @ the 5:28 mark on the DVD.

I was way up in the upper balcony, and I didn't see any shots of that area. I'll look though, when I get home. At work right now.

It wasn't you then Sir Shoot, this guy was right up front.....sorry, my mistake.

I don't think any other part of this dvd can top Deen doing Mother Father.
Cool as cubes Castronovo is there.

jrnyfan@nc.rr.com wrote:Maybe i'm just too big of a Journey dork, but I'm kinda bothered by the fact that I haven't seen Arnel call for that audience participation cues during "Anyway You Want It." Augeri once in a while would not do it, but it's part of the mythos of a Journey show.

audience recordings of the European shows have Arnel doing the call-and-response parts. Either he decided to add that, or more likely, was told to. Arnel does tend to intentionally sing differently from night to night, so who knows.