While watching that show "Duets" last night, I was amazed at how different the "non singers" were compared to the "singers".
Singers are born, not made. I know this, because even though I have a great ear for music (I can pick a flat note or a key change out of a song in a heartbeat) I myself can't sing that well at all. When a singer opens his/her mouth, music just flows out. Not strained or forced, but natural. Even Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Randy Travis have this gift. Like their voices or not, they have perfect, effortless pitch. Simply amazing.
A variation on the above theme... Hearing Augeri, Soto, and Castronovo sing Journey songs and sound "labored" shows Perry's perfection even more. I don't care about the age thing, and I know Perry lost it in his middle to late 30's. I am not talking about that. What I am talking about is the natural, effortless, comfort with which Steve Perry sang these songs.
To hear others try to sing them drives home the fact that these songs really WERE tailored around his voice.
Not sure where I am going with this, but just wanted to get it out there.