MR

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oh1u3HqCnjg

Here's Faithfully from last night's show in Toronto. Sounds like they are tweaking this one a little bit (in my opinion at least.) Arnel could still stick a little more to the original, but it's gotten better.

What do you guys think?

Also, it seems they have added LTS, back as the finale, making it 15 songs.

Ok, here are my thoughts after listening to this particular version of Faithfully/DSB:

I know it's one of the "dirty dozen" songs they are compelled to play, but current incarnation of Journey should just RETIRE Faithfully. Arnel's diction on this bugs the daylights out of me. Perry OWNS this song and it's just being butchered. I couldn't even finish listening to this version. DSB was better. I know things seem to sound better when you're at the show because you're caught up in the moment, but when you just go back and "listen" it ain't workin'....

There are just some songs that no one else should sing because the original simply can't be topped. Sara Evan's "Suds in the Bucket" is another one of those...

Back to lurkdom...

Arnel needs to polish this one up. This is one you don't take liberties with, and he needs to better enunciate "Wheels go round and round. I keep hearing "Wheels g'round n round." That takes a lot out of that song. That song, if no other, needs to be done absolutely correctly.

Still say Arnel "Meatloafs" this song. The only indicator that it isn't actually Meatloaf himself singing "Faithfully" here is the lack of a THUD as he collapses onstage!

Rick wrote:Arnel needs to polish this one up. This is one you don't take liberties with, and he needs to better enunciate "Wheels go round and round. I keep hearing "Wheels g'round n round." That takes a lot out of that song. That song, if no other, needs to be done absolutely correctly.

Arnel needs to just sit and listen and listen to this version - get the diction down, you're right the Wheels go round and round part by Arnel drive me up a wall...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wU_XCpC6HdE

Although I like Arnel's rendition alot, that is one thing that irks me... it's not that hard to sing it right. And I was at this show last night to hear for myself.

He did KILL Don't Stop Believin', which I was glad for, after listening to the Cincinnati show.

Rick wrote: I keep hearing "Wheels g'round n round."

He also pronounces it "wheelss" instead of "wheelz." Just like he sometimes says "loossin" in Separate Ways during the "losing ground I'm reaching for you" part. When he's not in rhythm, and that seems to be happening a lot during this tour, he pronounces his "z" sounds on words that end with "s" with a "ss" sound.

Saint John wrote:

Rick wrote: I keep hearing "Wheels g'round n round."

He also pronounces it "wheelss" instead of "wheelz." Just like he sometimes says "loossin" in Separate Ways during the "losing ground I'm reaching for you" part. When he's not in rhythm, and that seems to be happening a lot during this tour, he pronounces his "z" sounds on words that end with "s" with a "ss" sound.

This has what has always irked me about Arnel. If he gets his diction right, the dude would be golden!

RumTumJM wrote:
Also, it seems they have added LTS, back as the finale, making it 15 songs.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Saint John wrote:

Rick wrote: I keep hearing "Wheels g'round n round."

He also pronounces it "wheelss" instead of "wheelz." Just like he sometimes says "loossin" in Separate Ways during the "losing ground I'm reaching for you" part. When he's not in rhythm, and that seems to be happening a lot during this tour, he pronounces his "z" sounds on words that end with "s" with a "ss" sound.

True. As strong & powerfull as AP's voice is, lack of true American diction is still a point of contention.
I really think it turns people off.


later~

Arkansas wrote:

Saint John wrote:

Rick wrote: I keep hearing "Wheels g'round n round."

He also pronounces it "wheelss" instead of "wheelz." Just like he sometimes says "loossin" in Separate Ways during the "losing ground I'm reaching for you" part. When he's not in rhythm, and that seems to be happening a lot during this tour, he pronounces his "z" sounds on words that end with "s" with a "ss" sound.

True. As strong & powerfull as AP's voice is, lack of true American diction is still a point of contention.
I really think it turns people off.


later~

come to Vegas...lets party...finally....

Maui Tom wrote: come to Vegas...lets party...finally....

I guess I still owe you a beer...from 2002. We'll see.


later~

He sounded pretty good tonight.

Rick wrote:Arnel needs to polish this one up. This is one you don't take liberties with, and he needs to better enunciate "Wheels go round and round. I keep hearing "Wheels g'round n round." That takes a lot out of that song. That song, if no other, needs to be done absolutely correctly.

Maybe Cain has him singing "Wheels going round" as Cain, the writer of the song, sings when ever he performs the song.

I agree, there are certain songs they shouldn't mess with. Faithfully is still one of my faves.

brywool wrote:

RumTumJM wrote:
Also, it seems they have added LTS, back as the finale, making it 15 songs.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

OMG !!! No one should sing that but Steve, he's the only one that can!!!!!

I'm sure the excitement of being at a live performance is different than us armchair listeners critiquing from yt videos.
My pet peeve is the way Arnel sings the soaring high notes at the end of DSB.
Instead of "OOOOHHHHHH", Arnel ennunicates "OOOORRRRR"....every time he sings this song. Don't know about anyone else, but kind of ruins the song for me. Also, I feel embarrassment for him.

I won't ever slam Arnel for his singing abilities. He is a GIFTED vocalist.

I can't stand the guy's ESL diction. I can pick it out a mile away and it just drives me effing nuts.

RedWingFan wrote:Still say Arnel "Meatloafs" this song. The only indicator that it isn't actually Meatloaf himself singing "Faithfully" here is the lack of a THUD as he collapses onstage!

sp old ldy wrote:

brywool wrote:

RumTumJM wrote:
Also, it seems they have added LTS, back as the finale, making it 15 songs.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

OMG !!! No one should sing that but Steve, he's the only one that can!!!!!

Normally agree, but I thought JSS had the groove to pull that one off too. Liked his version as well........... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bo3MkWXcZwo

Deb wrote:Normally agree, but I thought JSS had the groove to pull that one off too. Liked his version as well........... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bo3MkWXcZwo

Band's on fire. Jeff really pushed these guys to bring their A-game.

Deb wrote:

sp old ldy wrote:OMG !!! No one should sing that but Steve, he's the only one that can!!!!!

Normally agree, but I thought JSS had the groove to pull that one off too. Liked his version as well........... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bo3MkWXcZwo

Yep ...because that song, and many others in this catalog, require
the soulful bluesy depth that not everyone can pull off. It isn't
about the lyrics or how great the vox may be, it's about the grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!

ya feel me, dawg?!?

Arkansas wrote:

Saint John wrote:

Rick wrote: I keep hearing "Wheels g'round n round."

He also pronounces it "wheelss" instead of "wheelz." Just like he sometimes says "loossin" in Separate Ways during the "losing ground I'm reaching for you" part. When he's not in rhythm, and that seems to be happening a lot during this tour, he pronounces his "z" sounds on words that end with "s" with a "ss" sound.

True. As strong & powerfull as AP's voice is, lack of true American diction is still a point of contention.
I really think it turns people off.


later~

Agreed 200000000000%

sp old ldy wrote:

brywool wrote:

RumTumJM wrote:
Also, it seems they have added LTS, back as the finale, making it 15 songs.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

OMG !!! No one should sing that but Steve, he's the only one that can!!!!!

No, it's just a crap song. Arnel has no trouble singing it (It's not a difficult vocal song). It's just that a band of Journey's ability to basically be playing a cookie cutter progression (basically ripped from Sam Cooke's repertoire, oooh, sorry "Inspired by") is not that exciting no matter who's doing it. They have SO many better, more powerful songs. I remember them playing this on their last tour for their encore. Not a great tune for an encore and many left during the extended solos.

A great encore tune would be Separate Ways or even DSB. Nobody's leaving the house till those two get played. You wanna keep the audience there? Do those LAST. It'd send the crowd out buzzing. LTS with endless guitar solos... Neal's great, but JoePublic doesn't have the attention span.

brywool wrote:No, it's just a crap song.

And testament to Perry's glaring deficits as a songwriter.

brywool wrote:A great encore tune would be Separate Ways or even DSB. Nobody's leaving the house till those two get played.

Agreed on DSB.

brywool wrote:You wanna keep the audience there? Do those LAST. It'd send the crowd out buzzing. LTS with endless guitar solos... Neal's great, but JoePublic doesn't have the attention span.

Neal's inexplicable need for solo after solo after solo after solo after solo is the only reason LTS is in the set. It's a shitty song and always performed sub-par. Only prime!Perry was skilled enough to make it barely tolerable.

Why doesn't Neal write a new solo for WITS? I see he keeps using a rehashed HSAS piece, why not put in something completely new?

Neal's jam to WITS is great, imho.