MR

I caught some of the concert in the Philippines the other night. The Download Festival in the UK sponsored by That Metal Show is on right now, and in both of them, Arnel's voice is bad. Terrible tone, and is cracking a lot. I remember seeing them in concert a couple of years ago and thinking he sounded a lot better than this.

Is this just what happens to people whose voices aren't naturally suited to the music, or did I just hear recordings of him on bad nights?
From what I'm hearing, he doesn't sound any better than that karaoke version of DSB done by Joey Belladona that was on Youtube.

BTW, the mix from the Download show sucks....someone did not spend much time with it. You can hear Arnel fine, but the music, keyboards particularly, are WAY down in the mix.

I know he was sick over there for some of that leg of the tour and his vocals were definitely rougher at certain venues. Though, the MR members over there who gave reviews like in France and other places came on here or Journey Forum with, for the most part, really good reviews. When they came to the States and I saw him and some other videos I saw his vocals were great and clear, but some were rougher. And it was at the end of the tour when I saw him and I would have expected his vocals to be rougher or much more fatigued and was surprised they weren't.

I thought Arnel sounded better too in 2008, even when I saw him at the end of the tour when he was tired. I think that's because he sang in key. I was watching the Download Festival on VH1 last week and Stone In Love was atrocious. Also the ending on AWYWI was terrible as Arnel seemed out of rhythm with the song and he was bellowing instead of having those faded highs that are present in the original and pretty much all the Perry live performance boots.
Again, I think it's the change in performing in Eb.

Coldplay has played half a note down since their first album so it comes off ALMOST naturally for them but when you're used to hearing something a certain way for the last 30 years, it takes some getting used to, especially when the slower songs seem to drag.

When I used to sing in the band, after not singing for a period of time because of days off or whatnot, going back to it I would have to sing a few nights in a row for it to get back to normal. The first night back would be terrible, the second would be better, and about the third night my voice would be all dialed in right.

I've heard clips of him singing other stuff this year and he sounds fine. I think those were just bad days. In Manila, from what I understand, he was also pretty emotional and nervous.

Who really knows?? What one leg of a Journey tour?? and they wonder why Perry was toast??? was the level of touring even close??

steveo777 wrote:I've heard clips of him singing other stuff this year and he sounds fine. I think those were just bad days. In Manila, from what I understand, he was also pretty emotional and nervous.

Should he not be resting on the off season??

portland wrote:

steveo777 wrote:I've heard clips of him singing other stuff this year and he sounds fine. I think those were just bad days. In Manila, from what I understand, he was also pretty emotional and nervous.

Should he not be resting on the off season??

Resting for a year? Singing on a TV show here or there one song, and about 10 concerts spead out in the course of one year is only good for his voice. Ask the singers around here. But so nice of you to be worried for the band, Portland.

portland wrote:

steveo777 wrote:I've heard clips of him singing other stuff this year and he sounds fine. I think those were just bad days. In Manila, from what I understand, he was also pretty emotional and nervous.

Should he not be resting on the off season??

It's not an off season. It's over a whole year. Resting for over a year? Singing on a TV show here or there one song, and about 10 concerts, at the most, maybe less, spead out in the course of one year and three months is only good for his voice. Ask the singers around here. But so nice of you to be worried for the band, Portland.

steveo777 wrote:I've heard clips of him singing other stuff this year and he sounds fine. I think those were just bad days. In Manila, from what I understand, he was also pretty emotional and nervous.

Why was he emotional and nervous? I could understand it if he were here, but in his homeland where he is so beloved?

Jana wrote:

portland wrote:

steveo777 wrote:I've heard clips of him singing other stuff this year and he sounds fine. I think those were just bad days. In Manila, from what I understand, he was also pretty emotional and nervous.

Should he not be resting on the off season??

Resting for a year? Singing on a TV show here or there one song, and about 10 concerts spead out in the course of one year is only good for his voice. Ask the singers around here. But so nice of you to be worried for the band, Portland.

Jana he has done way more than one TV show and you know it...I am not worried about crap Jana!!!

portland wrote:

Jana wrote:

portland wrote:

steveo777 wrote:I've heard clips of him singing other stuff this year and he sounds fine. I think those were just bad days. In Manila, from what I understand, he was also pretty emotional and nervous.

Should he not be resting on the off season??

Resting for a year? Singing on a TV show here or there one song, and about 10 concerts spead out in the course of one year is only good for his voice. Ask the singers around here. But so nice of you to be worried for the band, Portland.

Jana he has done way more than one TV show and you know it...I am not worried about crap Jana!!!

Put down the wine and read it again. I said a TV show here or there one song. You know, one song on a TV show here or there.

They went a half step down ages ago to cover for Arnel's inability to sing the original key. That would suggest he voice is getting beat up.

Ya know, I'd bet that part of the "no singing Journey solo" thing was also safe guard for his voice. The band, and mgt, obviously knows that singing the band's catalog (in excess) stresses his/any voice. Whether or not AP's voice is already in distress probably doesn't matter much. I'm sure that taking this year off, with the 'none/limited Journey' requirement is all about trying to keep his voice intact as much as possible. And, btw, that's probably something they learned from the Augeri era. Makes sense.

Regardless of any other potential lead vocal changes, the only path they have in concrete is with AP. They must protect this 'cash cow' at all costs.


later ~

Perry set the bar so fucking high that it would wear even the best singer out in a few years.

Arkansas wrote:They must protect this 'cash cow' at all costs.

Perry is the cash cow. Put him back in the lineup, and they would make more in one year than they could make in 10 years with Perry impersonators.

Voyager wrote:

Arkansas wrote:They must protect this 'cash cow' at all costs.

Perry is the cash cow. Put him back in the lineup, and they would make more in one year than they could make in 10 years with Perry impersonators.

maybe, but can Perry even sing anymore...live?

The Sushi Hunter wrote:When I used to sing in the band, after not singing for a period of time because of days off or whatnot, going back to it I would have to sing a few nights in a row for it to get back to normal. The first night back would be terrible, the second would be better, and about the third night my voice would be all dialed in right.

Exactly!

It's all about the getting in shape for me. I haven't sang like I should be singing in years. I used to practice with the band three times a week, three to four hours at a time and after a month of that I could sing anything. Now, I'd be lucky to sing an hour set with the little practice I've put in.

I think Arnel will be fine and he's probably gettin' back in the groove and warming and tuning up.

However, we must all remember you can't put the same standards on a voice as you can an electric or acoustic instrument. Too many things can go wrong in the course of a day to think that someone will be perfect every time you hear them.

Voyager wrote:

Arkansas wrote:They must protect this 'cash cow' at all costs.

Perry is the cash cow. Put him back in the lineup, and they would make more in one year than they could make in 10 years with Perry impersonators.

Everyone knows they would make a boatload. No one disputes that. One big, huge problem, Steve sings live nowhere for umpteen years, much less a concert. So in the real world, not Loon dreamland, Arnel is their cash cow.

Jana wrote:

Voyager wrote:

Arkansas wrote:They must protect this 'cash cow' at all costs.

Perry is the cash cow. Put him back in the lineup, and they would make more in one year than they could make in 10 years with Perry impersonators.

Everyone knows they would make a boatload. No one disputes that. One big, huge problem, Steve sings live nowhere for umpteen years, much less a concert. So in the real world, not Loon dreamland, Arnel is their cash cow.

Actually Arnel is their road cow, Perry is their Media cow. Despite all the Boohoo, homeless, youtube singer story drivel, no one is clamoring for licensing rights from anything off of Disc one of Revelation.The licensing deals they are doing are paying out huge cash for their back catalog material only. Who's Crying Now was included on a DVD that sold 8 million copies last year, DSB off of Bed Time Stories, 2 million. Plus Box Office, that is a ton of money for licensing and royalties. And we haven't mentioned ATT, Sopranos, Shrek and the biggest money maker out there, SYNDICATION. The money being made from that angle is squarely attributed the unanimous consent of Neal, Steve and Jon being given for work done during Steve's tenure with the band.

Don wrote:

Jana wrote:

Voyager wrote:

Arkansas wrote:They must protect this 'cash cow' at all costs.

Perry is the cash cow. Put him back in the lineup, and they would make more in one year than they could make in 10 years with Perry impersonators.

Everyone knows they would make a boatload. No one disputes that. One big, huge problem, Steve sings live nowhere for umpteen years, much less a concert. So in the real world, not Loon dreamland, Arnel is their cash cow.

Actually Arnel is their road cow, Perry is their Media cow. Despite all the Boohoo, homeless, youtube singer story drivel, no one is clamoring for licensing rights from anything off of Disc one of Revelation.The licensing deals they are doing are paying out huge cash for their back catalog material only. Who's Crying Now was included on a DVD that sold 8 million copies last year, DSB off of Bed Time Stories, 2 million. Plus Box Office, that is a ton of money for licensing and royalties. And we haven't mentioned ATT, Sopranos, Shrek and the biggest money maker out there, SYNDICATION. The money being made from that angle is squarely attributed the unanimous consent of Neal, Steve and Jon being given for work done during Steve's tenure with the band.

I was addressing Voyager's comment re put him back in the lineup. I believe everyone knows they make a fortune off their back catalogue.

Jana wrote:

Don wrote:

Jana wrote:

Voyager wrote:

Arkansas wrote:They must protect this 'cash cow' at all costs.

Perry is the cash cow. Put him back in the lineup, and they would make more in one year than they could make in 10 years with Perry impersonators.

Everyone knows they would make a boatload. No one disputes that. One big, huge problem, Steve sings live nowhere for umpteen years, much less a concert. So in the real world, not Loon dreamland, Arnel is their cash cow.

Actually Arnel is their road cow, Perry is their Media cow. Despite all the Boohoo, homeless, youtube singer story drivel, no one is clamoring for licensing rights from anything off of Disc one of Revelation.The licensing deals they are doing are paying out huge cash for their back catalog material only. Who's Crying Now was included on a DVD that sold 8 million copies last year, DSB off of Bed Time Stories, 2 million. Plus Box Office, that is a ton of money for licensing and royalties. And we haven't mentioned ATT, Sopranos, Shrek and the biggest money maker out there, SYNDICATION. The money being made from that angle is squarely attributed the unanimous consent of Neal, Steve and Jon being given for work done during Steve's tenure with the band.

I was addressing Voyager's comment re put him back in the lineup. I believe everyone knows they make a fortune off their back catalogue.

And my point to both of you is IN THE REAL WORLD, they have two cash cows, as I said.

The money being made right now is legacy money. DSB (both the Glee and original version) is still on the UK charts along with AWYI/LTS. Faithfully fell off after debuting in the top 40 last week week.

Journey's Greatest Hits is STILL in the top 100 of Billboard's Album Charts.

I guess Arnel is only a cash cow when the band is actually touring.

Jana wrote:

portland wrote:

Jana wrote:

portland wrote:

steveo777 wrote:I've heard clips of him singing other stuff this year and he sounds fine. I think those were just bad days. In Manila, from what I understand, he was also pretty emotional and nervous.

Should he not be resting on the off season??

Resting for a year? Singing on a TV show here or there one song, and about 10 concerts spead out in the course of one year is only good for his voice. Ask the singers around here. But so nice of you to be worried for the band, Portland.

Jana he has done way more than one TV show and you know it...I am not worried about crap Jana!!!

Put down the wine and read it again. I said a TV show here or there one song. You know, one song on a TV show here or there.

Jana wrote:

Voyager wrote:

Arkansas wrote:They must protect this 'cash cow' at all costs.

Perry is the cash cow. Put him back in the lineup, and they would make more in one year than they could make in 10 years with Perry impersonators.

Everyone knows they would make a boatload. No one disputes that. One big, huge problem, Steve sings live nowhere for umpteen years, much less a concert. So in the real world, not Loon dreamland, Arnel is their cash cow.

Would you pay more to see the Rolling Stones with Mick Jagger's voice cracking, or to see them with a Jagger impersonator who sings without cracking? Or how about Van Halen... David Lee Roth with a cracky voice, or some DLR tribute singer with a non-cracky voice?

I rest my case.

Now leave us loons alone to live in our loon dreamland!

Voyager wrote:

Jana wrote:

Voyager wrote:

Arkansas wrote:They must protect this 'cash cow' at all costs.

Perry is the cash cow. Put him back in the lineup, and they would make more in one year than they could make in 10 years with Perry impersonators.

Everyone knows they would make a boatload. No one disputes that. One big, huge problem, Steve sings live nowhere for umpteen years, much less a concert. So in the real world, not Loon dreamland, Arnel is their cash cow.

Would you pay more to see the Rolling Stones with Mick Jagger's voice cracking, or to see them with a Jagger impersonator who sings without cracking? Or how about Van Halen... David Lee Roth with a cracky voice, or some DLR tribute singer with a non-cracky voice?

I rest my case.

Now leave us loons alone to live in our loon dreamland!

It's not a matter of cracking. I never said anything about his voice. You said put him back in the lineup, and I said, everyone knows they would make boatloads of money but big problem: Steve Perry doesn't perform live, hasn't in 16, 15 years. It's done.

Don wrote:The money being made right now is legacy money. DSB (both the Glee and original version) is still on the UK charts along with AWYI/LTS. Faithfully fell off after debuting in the top 40 last week week.

Journey's Greatest Hits is STILL in the top 100 of Billboard's Album Charts.

I guess Arnel is only a cash cow when the band is actually touring.

Game....Set....Match.


And without the DD on tour..............ya got nothing.


OH Good Morning Jana......

portland wrote:

Don wrote:The money being made right now is legacy money. DSB (both the Glee and original version) is still on the UK charts along with AWYI/LTS. Faithfully fell off after debuting in the top 40 last week week.

Journey's Greatest Hits is STILL in the top 100 of Billboard's Album Charts.

I guess Arnel is only a cash cow when the band is actually touring.

Game....Set....Match.


And without the DD on tour..............ya got nothing.


OH Good Morning Jana......

I don't care about who is making money or how many albums are sold. The only important thing is music and SP isn't making any.

Since 78 wrote:

portland wrote:

Don wrote:The money being made right now is legacy money. DSB (both the Glee and original version) is still on the UK charts along with AWYI/LTS. Faithfully fell off after debuting in the top 40 last week week.

Journey's Greatest Hits is STILL in the top 100 of Billboard's Album Charts.

I guess Arnel is only a cash cow when the band is actually touring.

Game....Set....Match.


And without the DD on tour..............ya got nothing.


OH Good Morning Jana......

I don't care about who is making money or how many albums are sold. The only important thing is music and SP isn't making any.

You are like so so late to the party.

You'll get your music.

In 2011.

Don wrote:

Since 78 wrote:

portland wrote:

Don wrote:The money being made right now is legacy money. DSB (both the Glee and original version) is still on the UK charts along with AWYI/LTS. Faithfully fell off after debuting in the top 40 last week week.

Journey's Greatest Hits is STILL in the top 100 of Billboard's Album Charts.

I guess Arnel is only a cash cow when the band is actually touring.

Game....Set....Match.


And without the DD on tour..............ya got nothing.


OH Good Morning Jana......

I don't care about who is making money or how many albums are sold. The only important thing is music and SP isn't making any.

You are like so so late to the party.

You'll get your music.

In 2011.

I know...I'm a little slow today. Bad cold.