Overrated Journey songs

[Big J]

What songs is everyone high on that you just don't get the appeal to? Which songs do you wish they'd quit playing live? Which songs do you just not like, but somehow everyone else does?

I personally don't get the appeal to "A Better Life." Deen does a good job, but the song just goes nowhere. Same tone, you know most songs have high and low points. Not this one. Same all the way thru. Bugs me.

I have always hated Who's Crying Now. If it weren't for that little outro solo, I'd skip it every time. Now, I just tune it out until that part, or sometimes fast forward right to it. If I listen to the song at all.

[A Fire Inside]

Line of Fire
People And Places
Keep On Running

I'm not really a big fan of AWYWI or DSB either because they're so overplayed...

[NealIsGod]

After the Fall
Faithfully

[The_Noble_Cause]

What songs is everyone high on that you just don't get the appeal to? Which songs do you wish they'd quit playing live? Which songs do you just not like, but somehow everyone else does?

I personally don't get the appeal to "A Better Life." Deen does a good job, but the song just goes nowhere. Same tone, you know most songs have high and low points. Not this one. Same all the way thru. Bugs me.

I have always hated Who's Crying Now. If it weren't for that little outro solo, I'd skip it every time. Now, I just tune it out until that part, or sometimes fast forward right to it. If I listen to the song at all.

Within the small niche community of current day fans, I would say "Live and Breathe" and "Kiss Me Softly" are overrated to the point of parody. These indiscernible homogenous suckers just choose any song Augeri had an active creative hand in in their pitiful ploys to curry favor with Lydia or whichever character from the revolving door of computer-savvy Augeri family members happens to be lurking at the time.

Now, within the broader mainstream expanse of casual Journey listeners, I would say no song was overrated. I can't name one Journey song that was a hit, that I didn't care for. Many GREAT songs went underated and unoticed by casual listeners, but the ones that were succesfull by and large deserved to be there. Just this humble fan's opinion. Feel free to show me the error of my ways and rapaciously tear me a new one.

Just for the sake of not dodging the question, if pressed to pick one, I will relent and choose "When You Love a Woman". Even though I think it's a great tune, it's not the second coming of Christ as some would have you believe. Just a typically reliable Journey ballad.
As Jon once said, "Perry writes love songs in his sleep".

[Jeremey]

STONE IN LOVE!

[Abitaman]

STONE IN LOVE!

NNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Your still playing?-ERIC

[jrnyman28]

Within the small niche community of current day fans, I would say "Live and Breathe" and "Kiss Me Softly" are overrated to the point of parody. These indiscernible homogenous suckers just choose any song Augeri had an active creative hand in in their pitiful ploys to curry favor with Lydia or whichever character from the revolving door of computer-savvy Augeri family members happens to be lurking at the time.

Well, I disagree with that . Of course there are some who you are spot on with. But I truly enjoy Kiss Me Softly and I thought it show a definate "direction" for Journey as they (should have) moved away from the Perry Era style. I do not care for We Will Meet Again overall, but I also like this one as a sign of a new direction. Too bad they went on playing only "the hits" in concert for the next 4 years before putting out only RED13. Now RED13 was a great change of direction but they hurried the disc, it was only an EP, and they did not really "push" it. But at least we did hear two of the songs live...

[jrnyjetster]

OPEN ARMS .... I say put it on hiatus...for awhile..

ASK THE LONELY....this song was never a hit, so never understood why it's been a concert staple.

ESCAPE....retire it. This song may have been a concert staple over the years, but the song was never a certified single, so therefore does not technically qualify to be part of the so called "dirty dozen."

[Fernando Ramirez]

I've never understood what the deal was with DON'T STOP BELIEVING. I absolutely hate the drums... it's not upbeat enough for me. And I can't quite get into the rhythm of it because of the toms inbetween every damn snare hit... it slows the rhythm down to me. Everytime I hear it I think the same thing. I like Neal's guitar on it, I think the singing is great, but I think it's their biggest overrated song ever. And I don't give a flying flip if it was in MONSTER.

[Moon Beam]

jrnyjetster~I agree if there is one song that gets on my nerves
it's gotta be Open Arms.I respect that it is a great love song
and when I first embarked on my Journey love I adored the song.
Now that it has been played to death it out shadows a lot of other
great Journey songs so I don't listen to it anymore.

[Vladan]

STONE IN LOVE!

YES! this one is overated in my opinion. But ya gotta admit watching Steve Perry sing this on the LIVE in Houston 81 DVD is awesome, even though its overated.

I also agree with "A Better Life" the song goes nowhere imo, its nice to hear Deen sing and all, but as a JRNY song its pretty flat and perhaps weak.

"Butterfly (she flys alone)"" another strange song, I couldn't get into at all. I think maybe the whole "Generations" album is overated in terms of the Amazon.com reviews, thats about it though because I actually don't mind the album at all - I just wouldn't give it 5/5, thats all.

[A Fire Inside]

Butterfly, yeah, add that to my list. Everyone at BT seems to love it to death... I think it sucks.

[DreamAfterDream]

I see what you guys mean about "A Better Life" - but for some reason I still like the song a lot. The laid back vibe maybe, and Deen just sounds so damn good on that. Neal's guitar lines elevate the song too. "Butterfly" on the other hand, just a boring song from start to finish.

[Red13JoePa]

Must be excised from setlist posthaste: Escape.
Overrated: WAFTE.

[Kaj]

Dont stop believin is a classic! genius drumplaying from Steve Smith!
The Red 13 ep doesn´t move me at all.......first when I heard it,I didn´t think it was the same band that I have learned to love during the years.
If Neal thought the ballads on Trial by fire was boring,then it´s nothing compared to the mega sleepy "Believe" on Generations....my god what a boring song....and where´s the chorus?!

[Red13JoePa]

"a classic" and "overrated" are not mutually exclusive, though. And DSB is fitting the bill in both categories.

[Rockindeano]

This one's easy for me.

Who's Cryin'Now. If there wasn't a tremendous minute and a half solo on the rear, I would flush it..

[anonymousse]

I love Who's Cryin Now. My least favorite song is Butterfly or Believe.

[gr8dane]

Overated,Lovin' touchin' squeeesin' fershure.

[Greg]

Pro'lly "Who's Cryin' Now."

[Rockindeano]

Overated,Lovin' touchin' squeeesin' fershure.

Yeah, but it's about cheating bitches, and has to stay as a reminder for all of us who have been assraped in the wallet, by all those gold-digging whores.

Fuck! I hate wives.

[The_Noble_Cause]

then it´s nothing compared to the mega sleepy "Believe" on Generations....my god what a boring song....and where´s the chorus?!

Yup. Augeri penned that one away from the band. Since he IS the lead singer I guess he is entitled to have a few solo credits every now and then. God knows Perry had a few during his run with the band. However, where is quality control? Perry's solo numbers were good. These solo songs by Augeri (Live and Breathe, Butterfly, Believe) are all largely meandering and dull.

[The_Noble_Cause]

I love Who's Cryin Now. My least favorite song is Butterfly or Believe.

Yup. yup.
Preach it, brotherman!
Especially, Believe.
Cain must've been aghast when Augeri showed that to him.
No chorus, no bridge...just a big pile of monotonous shit.

Like my ten year old cousin incessantly hitting a keyboard with a tinker toy. Just one damned keyboard part heard again and again and again until u r compelled to hit 'skip' (or else suffer the fatal consequences of ur head spontaneously imploding ala Scanners).

[Red13JoePa]

I love Who's Cryin Now. My least favorite song is Butterfly or Believe.

Yup. yup.
Preach it, brotherman!
Especially, Believe.
Cain must've been aghast when Augeri showed that to him.
No chorus, no bridge...just a big pile of monotonous shit.

Like my ten year old cousin incessantly hitting a keyboard with a tinker toy. Just one damned keyboard part heard again and again and again until u r compelled to hit 'skip' (or else suffer the fatal consequences of ur head spontaneously imploding ala Scanners).

If Cain must've been "aghast" then who played that repetitive keyboard part? Why did it make the record?
The band liked it, that's why.

[Red13JoePa]

Overated,Lovin' touchin' squeeesin' fershure.

Yeah, but it's about cheating bitches, and has to stay as a reminder for all of us who have been assraped in the wallet, by all those gold-digging whores.

That, plus it's the best blues/rock number ever committed to record.

[NealIsGod]

Overated,Lovin' touchin' squeeesin' fershure.

Yeah, but it's about cheating bitches, and has to stay as a reminder for all of us who have been assraped in the wallet, by all those gold-digging whores.

That, plus it's the best blues/rock number ever committed to record.

Yup. That's one of the first songs that I heard from Journey that got me into them.

[The_Noble_Cause]

If Cain must've been "aghast" then who played that repetitive keyboard part?

Cain has expressed a distaste for ROR and TBF.
He played on those, too.
What's your point?

Why did it make the record?
The band liked it, that's why.

Possibly, or maybe Jon and Neal felt bad for the guy when he presented them with a full album worth of songs and not a damn one worth listening to.
Look, Augeri is the lead singer and has been so for 8 years. It'd simply be bad form to turn down every song he wrote for the album. As it is, Steve freely admits that Cain came into the studio at the last second with a host of songs which then overrode and supplanted his own contributions (why do you think that is?).
A band is a democracy.
Give and take, y'know.
In return for Jon rightfully hogging the spotlight, they begrudgingly agree to use a trifling amount of Augeri's misbegotten material.

Besides, if Jon is such an ardent supporter of Augeri's song, then why was it the first new song to be dropped from the setlist on this tour?

[Red13JoePa]

If Cain must've been "aghast" then who played that repetitive keyboard part?

Cain has expressed a distaste for ROR and TBF.
He played on those, too.
What's your point?

Why did it make the record?
The band liked it, that's why.

Possibly, or maybe Jon and Neal felt bad for the guy when he presented them with a full album worth of songs and not a damn one worth listening to.
Look, Augeri is the lead singer and has been so for 8 years. It'd simply be bad form to turn down every song he wrote for the album. As it is, Steve freely admits that Cain came into the studio at the last second with a host of songs which then overrode and supplanted his own contributions (why do you think that is?).
A band is a democracy.
Give and take, y'know.
In return for Jon rightfully hogging the spotlight, they begrudgingly agree to use a trifling amount of Augeri's misbegotten material.

Besides, if Jon is such an ardent supporter of Augeri's song, then why was it the first new song to be dropped from the setlist on this tour?[/quote]

Point being, there's a distinction. The ROR and TBF distaste was in hindsight (and after critical and fan bashing) which is always 20/20. That's different than feeling aghast when Augeri brought Believe to the table. If that were the case, I'da thunk he'da said "no thanks."
Not saying he was an "ardant" supporter, just enough that he was unaghast enough upon first sight to collaborate w/Steve and the band and see it to completion and release. You way overstate the badness of it. Hope this looks right cuz I haven't a clue how to quote on more than a generic level.

[NoMoreTails]

TNC, has it been stated how many songs Augeri brought? I know more than what was used but I doubt anywhere near a whole album worth.
Also, [b]if [/b]Neal and Jon agreed to use Augeri's songs thinking they were sub-par, it was because there was little time to complete the album due to the SS tour that Neal was about to start rehearsing for, as well as the need to push the album through production in order to be ready for the start of the tour rather than feeling any obligation to SA, imo. Under normal circumstances, I don't see them being more likely to use an Augeri song they hate anymore than they would feel obliged to use one of Ross's, assuming he ever presents any material, last time may have been DAD.
Lastly, (not in response to TNC) that's not the first monotonous piano lick Jon ever played, but I'll have to pull out Arrival and see if Steve possibly wrote that too.

[Big J]

I've got a monotonous piano lick for you.

Who's Cryin' Now.

Personally I think on this go round they took contributions from everybody, good, bad or in between and picked the best from each. If this means a Jon song that's better than Believe got left off, they probably figured it was okay because of that Neal song that got cut in favor of GC.

The direction of this record really was different. And Believe isn't THAT bad a song, come on.