Arnel and Journey

[MarcelJordan]

I still stand by saying Schon is a decent singer.

I'm sure Schon is thrilled someone, other than his mom, actually likes his singing voice. As for the rest of us, he should stop making our ears bleed! He also has ZERO right singing lead on ANYTHING with the name Journey on it. I don't care if he started the band or not. The legacy of this great band wasn't built on his dreadful voice!


John from Boston

Nothing at all wrong with Neal's singing.
He's a fine BG vocalist and is surprisingly competent on a 1-off basis singing lead.

You're over exaggerating to make your point, Enigma.

Rightly said there Red. Although, I must say that BG vocals is a INTEGRAL part of Journey's sound. Neal's contribution on the BG is part and parcel of what Journey has been and MUST continue to be, let alone Neal's unmistakable guitar sound.

[4everkop]

I just cant help but to smile when I see Pineda on stage. He's having such a good time, while rocking vocally. Monster tenor he is!

[Red13JoePa]

I'm not saying Neal's singing is like perry or Castronovo, either, just saying it's a taste that if you aquire can be a nice little change and there are a number of Journey songs where Neal's voice is audibly the most prominent and key BG voice (of course not on the ones where NoMoTa's "Choir Or perrys" is used).

In Self-Defense is a decent voc, some of his leads on the early Schon/Hammer work is really good and I'll Cover You actually flirts with being a VERY good vocal.

[4everkop]

people and places sounds really good with schons lead vocals.I think he sounds really good.

[pinkvelvet]

Those were great clips. It looks like they are having alot of fun onstage, especially Arnel

[YoungJRNY]

I said in another post that if people to say that this guy needs and must get better, than all means am I for it. If he gets better each show, then this guy is going to tear down houses, single handedly. He is already steps ahead from what he was his first gig in Chile'. Can't wait for Vegas!

[marco17]

I just watched some of Arnel's performances in Santiago (thank god for youtube). I have to say that he was VERY good on Only The Young, Send Her My Love, and Separate Ways! His stage antics during Separate Ways were a bit ridiculous, with throwing his mic all over the place and kicking up in the air like he was a 25 year old David Lee Roth, but his voice really sounded great, especially given it was youtube!


John from Boston

I have to agree with you, but I would bet part of it is an act since there were a lot of people out there saying he had/has no stage presence. I am sure he [the band] are trying to prove them wrong. What better way then running around like he has itching power in his pants.

[Carlitto H@kk]

I watched/listened to these three clips yet again
and I really am starting to think Arnel is gonna be
a good fit. I am still having a hard time w/ his accent
but it may grow on me enuff not to be a distraction.

The only other thing I hope is that he learns some control/finess.
I know these are from his first few performances but he isn't gonna last
long if he keeps forcing or shouting out those big notes.

Like I said before, he rock&roll's "Rudy" and I find it hard
NOT to root for him Let's just hope they come up
w/ a more interesting/diverse/FRESH set-list when they
finally tour stateside...

[marco17]

I just watched some of Arnel's performances in Santiago (thank god for youtube). I have to say that he was VERY good on Only The Young, Send Her My Love, and Separate Ways! His stage antics during Separate Ways were a bit ridiculous, with throwing his mic all over the place and kicking up in the air like he was a 25 year old David Lee Roth, but his voice really sounded great, especially given it was youtube!


John from Boston

I have to agree with you, but I would bet part of it is an act since there were a lot of people out there saying he had/has no stage presence. I am sure he [the band] are trying to prove them wrong. What better way then running around like he has itching power in his pants.

[Granny]

Just re-watched the Vina Del Mar gig and I noticed a few things. First, Arnel was out in front of the mix. For the first time since the 80's you could hear the front man loud and clear. Second, their were NO prerecorded backing vocals. Man, that's gotta be the first time in 25 years they were completely live. Great choice on the new guitar, Neal. Brings an edgier, kick ass sound back. The band seems ready to take chances again. Do it. Take chances and don't look back. Whether this journey lasts a month, a year, or a decade, Arnel possesses the vocal capacity and potential to be "the guy." I think I speak for most fans when I say that a few mispronounced words or a missed lyric or two aren't the end of the world. It's more about Neal's guitar, the notes Arnel does hit, the new music, and the old hits being sung by several thousand people in unison enjoying themselves that keeps us coming. The music, the memories (old and new), the live experience, and the great groups of people that come together for these shows transcends any negativity and vile trash any dissenters can hurl. Arnel is a monster vocalist and an immense talent, and in time more and more fans will realize that. I look forward to continuing to support a band that continues to work, tour, record and affords us the opportunity to congregate, party and celebrate life. That's really what it's all about. Thank you, Journey.

So eloquently said and so very true....I may have to change my sig soon...I will miss not being in Vegas, but hope you all have a great time. g

[hoagiepete]

My first take on the videos was...average...don't really hear a great improvement over JSS. Trying to get past a few things already discussed by many.

I was almost ready to reschedule flights to get to the Vegas show, but, quite honestly, the videos made me feel like I can wait. I was hoping it would be a home run, but I just didn't see and hear it. I do have to remind myself that these were his first shows.

Now, having said that, after reading all your comments, I feel I must be missing something and that maybe I should reevaluate, risk ticking off the wifey and coming out to Vegas a day earlier than the planned business trip. Shit.

[tammy]

He did very well on "Send her my love"...obviously, he has some major pipes.

[Enigma869]

Nothing at all wrong with Neal's singing.
He's a fine BG vocalist and is surprisingly competent on a 1-off basis singing lead.

You're over exaggerating to make your point, Enigma.

I'm actually not exaggerating my point, AT ALL! Let me see if I can be more blunt...I think Neal, Ross, and Cain are DREADFUL vocalists! As I said, none of the three has ANY right, AT ALL, singing lead on ANYTHING with the Journey name attached to it! As I've said 1000 times, these guys play instruments for a reason! Also JoePa...I love ya man, but ANYONE who really believes Augeri was a better vocalist than Steve Perry has no credibility with me, when judging one's singing ability!


John from Boston

[RocknRoll]

My first take on the videos was...average...don't really hear a great improvement over JSS. Trying to get past a few things already discussed by many.

I was almost ready to reschedule flights to get to the Vegas show, but, quite honestly, the videos made me feel like I can wait. I was hoping it would be a home run, but I just didn't see and hear it. I do have to remind myself that these were his first shows.

Now, having said that, after reading all your comments, I feel I must be missing something and that maybe I should reevaluate, risk ticking off the wifey and coming out to Vegas a day earlier than the planned business trip. Shit.

If it helps make up your mind. I have an extra ticket Sec 102 Row J Seat 1. Face value. Should be Neal's side. There were also several tickets available on the official site. Brokers are now $500+ for upfront seats as high as $900 for Gold Circle.

[Enigma869]

I have to agree with you, but I would bet part of it is an act since there were a lot of people out there saying he had/has no stage presence. I am sure he [the band] are trying to prove them wrong. What better way then running around like he has itching power in his pants.

That's actually what concerns me the most. I thought the same exact thing when I saw that particular performance. He's obviously VERY internet savvy, given the prevalence of Arnel clips on YouTube, so I hope he's not listening to all the stage presence stuff. I just thought he looked silly doing the stuff he was doing. The first show where he was just moving up and down the stage was great, but throwing your mic all over the place and doing bicycle kicks simply isn't dignified for a 40 year old man!


John from Boston

[Red13JoePa]

ANYONE who really believes Augeri was a better vocalist than Steve Perry has no credibility with me, when judging one's singing ability!

It's true that I PREFER Augeri as my Journey vocalist but it's really got nothing to do with which one's a better singer than who...
I'm not all wrapped in singing above all but instead how the whole band gels together to make music, not just one part of the band.

[ProgRocker53]

Yeah, John from Boston is kinda exaggerating on the vocals of Neal and Cain.

Neal is a great vocalist, he's better than a lot of other bands' lead singers. Cain's a little bit below Neal but still has a decent vocal quality, two of my favorite Journey songs feature Cain on lead vox ("Every Generation" and "All That Really Matters"). If there was no Steve Perry in Journey, the band may not have been as amazing as it was but they still would've been solid with either of these two, or Gregg on the mic.

Ross, I've only heard him sing lead once, and I can't pick his voice out at all in the BG on the albums, so I can't judge him too much.

[brywool]

Hey thanks for the links St. John. I didn't see these before.
WOW, great performances. If I close the window, and listen, it sounds pretty 1983 to me.
Also, on the live comment, yeah, I noticed that too. I don't think those backup vocals were there for Augeri's sake or anything, but I think the band has said, "look, if we're going to do this, we're going to do it right, the way we used to". Now, they need to tighten up their harmonies a bit AND BRING THEM UP IN THE MIX. When I was watching the Chile show on DVD, the backups were SO buried. Probably just the TV mix, but still, they sounded pretty rough. Neal has a bad habit of forgetting to sing or turning his head. One thing that was cool about Infinity/Evolution Journey was that the harmonies were ALWAYS as loud as the lead singer so that the choruses really popped. Since Escape, that has been different. I wish they'd bring it back. The harmonies that were on Feeling That Way, or even LTS blow anything away since, with the possible exception of Girl Can't Help it.

This version of Send Her My Love is seriously better than the ROR tour versions I've heard by leaps and bounds. The orchestration's better, the groove is better, and Arnel's voice here is as good as Perry's was on this song. Having said that, this is not a high tune. I've sang this one many times as a younger guy. Not one of their most difficult.

Those wanting SOUL- play this. It's great. By the way, Cain looks to be having a great time in these.

[brywool]

Here are 2 absolutely great performances from the Santiago show:

Send Her My Love- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJPnbSiP8rU

Only The Young- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKCa9JcChHI

Love it, he is superb. That said he really needs to get his timing right on Only the Young...thats twice now (the ending was brilliant though!

That note at the end of OTY seriously gives me chills. That is a bastard high note!! His timing was right on the first show. It was weird at the beginning here. Still, his voice-- holy fuck, how can ANYBODY not think this is the guy????

By the way, those of you that bitched about Stone in Love- THE FIRST NIGHT-
Check this out and kindly fuck off!

(luv ya!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUQpvY2dDlw[/url]

Um, so is Vegas sold out?

The Thrilla from Manilla- but dang, he's a short little dude!

[Enigma869]

Yeah, John from Boston is kinda exaggerating on the vocals of Neal and Cain.

Your opinion! I don't think I'm exaggerating, even a little! When it comes to vocalists, Cain sucks, and Schon sucks!

Neal is a great vocalist

Now who is "exaggerating"? Listen...don't throw around the word "great"! Schon is a VERY accomplished guitarist, but that's where it begins and ends! Don't give me this "great" shit with Neal as a vocalist, because even if you like the guy's voice, calling him "great" as a vocalist is fucking absurd! Anyone who truly believes that Neal Schon is a "great" vocalist should IMMEDIATELY be ordered to take a hair follicle test to test for drugs in their system!

he's better than a lot of other bands' lead singers.

Sure he is. That's why he's made his living as a lead guitarist! Now that I think about it...Why didn't Foreigner go after Neal when Gramm couldn't sing any longer? I'm sure Neal could have pulled it off. Journey fans are really nuts, sometimes

Cain's a little bit below Neal but still has a decent vocal quality

There is NOTHING remotely "decent" about Cain's vocals! The dude sounds like he's being slowly tortured, when attempting to "sing"! As I've said in the past here...Go listen to Cain singing lead on "Faithfully" (it's on one of his solo cd's), and then tell me the guy is "decent". You'll never see a better example of a lead singer absolutely making a song (i.e. Perry on Faithfully)! As great as the lyrics are on Faithfully, if Cain had attempted to sing lead on it, nobody ever would have heard of the song, because the guy simply can't sing! If Schon and Cain want to sing, tell them to go to their local Karaoke bar and butcher Journey songs, with everyone else! These guys simply have ZERO business singing on ANYTHING and calling it Journey! They've already turned the band into enough of a joke, without destroying any integrity they have left, by singing on Journey cd's! The truth of the matter is guys like Schon and Cain wouldn't even get through "American Idol" auditions, because there is nothing remotely remarkable about either of their voices!

If there was no Steve Perry in Journey, the band may not have been as amazing as it was but they still would've been solid with either of these two, or Gregg on the mic.

What is it you are smoking? Suggesting that anyone could have just sang the Journey catalogue is silly! I think there is plenty of evidence out there that suggests otherwise! Just because you say anyone else could have been successful as the lead singer of Journey doesn't make it a fact. I'm telling you right now that if Schon or Cain had been the lead vocalist of Journey, you and I wouldn't be arguing about them on this website, because nobody would have ever given a shit!

Ross, I've only heard him sing lead once, and I can't pick his voice out at all in the BG on the albums, so I can't judge him too much.

You're not missing much with Ross! He's yet another example of someone who should keep his pie hole shut, when it comes to singing lead on Journey tracks! The guy is lucky to have made a solid career out of playing bass for Journey. I'm not a musician but know many who are, and every person I've talked to has told me that he is a VERY average musician and has always been the least talented guy in that band! Tell Ross to keep smiling and cashing his gig checks, but to save my ears the agony of ever having to listen to his god-awful voice, again!


John from Boston

[Rockindeano]

Prog, dude, you just had your hat handed to you and I sadly agree. Neal can't sing for shit. and that goes for Ross too. He sucks big time. Let's not stop there, as Princess is the worst of all em.

[ProgRocker53]

Nice response John, haha...

...let's just agree to disagree. You'll continue to wince over the other guys' vocals, and I'll continue to enjoy them. We both win!

What is it you are smoking? Suggesting that anyone could have just sang the Journey catalogue is silly! I think there is plenty of evidence out there that suggests otherwise! Just because you say anyone else could have been successful as the lead singer of Journey doesn't make it a fact. I'm telling you right now that if Schon or Cain had been the lead vocalist of Journey, you and I wouldn't be arguing about them on this website, because nobody would have ever given a shit!

I meant, if Steve Perry never came along, and they somehow kept their record deal... there would still be Journey records and they would still be of a high quality. Not as great as the Perry-era stuff, for sure, but there would still be some awesome music with Neal or Gregg or anyone else behind the mic. Any band featuring any combination of Journey members, is destined to be good. I enjoy every single band that's a member of the Journey "family tree." Bad English, Hardline, Soul SirkUS, Santana, The Storm, Talisman, The Babys, etc.... all great groups. I also love EVERY member's solo material, whether it's Perry or Neal or Cain or Gregg or JSS or Smitty's jazz-fusion group.

Not every vocalist has to be a pretty tenor and have a high range to be good.

Oh, by the way, I would actually pass a drug test, for your information. Give me twenty minutes and I think I can find several posts where ol' Deano has accused me of being on pot, meth, coke, acid, shrooms.... haha.

[The Sushi Hunter]

I've been away for some time and obviously I just got on youtube tonight and dialed in Journey with Arnel in Chile. God that brought back some memories seeing Arnel up on a professional stage set up. And he does an awesome job. We could debate all night how we all think Arnel's performance was. But I think I will simply reflect on how the crowd reacted to the performance. From all I saw, they were completely absorbed in the moment. I notice one vid shows Arnel pointing out to someone in the crowd and making eye contact with the person. That brings back some serious memories for me because the first night I saw Arnel perform, he did exactly that to me. He had a way of just looking at you and leaving you with this feeling that in that moment he made eye contact with you, he knew everything about you. That was 21 years ago and I can see that he's still doing that even after all of this time.

Last I heard, wasn't the Chile concert canned? I guess not heh.

My favorite footage from the Chile concerts so far is the video footage that follows Arnel as he walks out through the audience. It's the moment when Arnel's life long dream has become true and he's right there out in the middle of it all. And the audience tells it all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jk2wvWjEW4o

[The Sushi Hunter]

Just watched all three clips posted in this thread
and Arnel sounded much better than his first night.
No surprise there. I know nerves played into the first
night's hiccups even though I slammed him a bit else where
for forgetting lyrics

I just have to find a way to get past letting
his 'pronuciations' of many of the lines bother me.
I guess it will take time to get used to that accent but he does have some pipes!

Only question is, can they last?

No, he sounds better towards the end because his vocal cords and breathing have worked out all the "bugs." Seriously, when AMO (with Arnel) would take a few days off, we would stink the first night back but as the week progressed and we were on about the third night straight, the singing would get better because we were working out all the "kinks." Someday if Arnel is interviewed and this is brought up as a question to Arnel, he'll say this exactly.

[Eric]

Prog, dude, you just had your hat handed to you and I sadly agree. Neal can't sing for shit. and that goes for Ross too. He sucks big time. Let's not stop there, as Princess is the worst of all em.

THIS...we agree upon!