bluejeangirl76 wrote:
Its because the adoration has become overkill. As I read it, that was Dean's basic point. Was there not a thread not long ago talking about a STATUE of Arnel being commissioned? A bit much for a guy who's done nothing of note besides sing on one gold record, no? He got into that band by having his video on youtube for the right person to grab and post a link to so Neal could find it. He's riding on luck at the moment. Now that he's hit the jackpot, let's see what he does with it.
As Dean said, let him become the golden boy as far as Journey goes by working for it, not by default. Ok, he can sing... we know that. Where are the top 40 hits? Where is the multi-platinum status? These things may or may not happen, but they take time. No one thought Perry was god the day he showed up and it took 2 albums to get a hit and 4 albums to really make it (by which I'm referring to achieving a #1 album).
I agree to wait and see what he does with the opportunity, but "golden boy" of Journey status has FAR less to do with Arnel (or ANY other singer you might put in there) than the state of the music industry. Put a young, unknown Perry singing on Revelation taking over for someone else and I bet you the sales would be virtually identical. Huge radio hits? very unlikely in this day and age considering the band. Multi-platinum status? Journey?!?!? you have got to be kidding me...
Having the talent is one thing. Being successful depends on many things, and luck of being in the right place at the right time (and taking advantage of it!) is a major one. If Arnel wanted to have major hits and sell multi-platinum records in the US, joining Journey was NOT the band to pick. He'll get to play to large audiences and sell some records, but it's not going to be chart-busting success by any standard.
Perry was lucky at being picked out of obscurity and joining an organization that would become successful. I seriously doubt the Alien Project would have gone on to sell 80 million cds if they had not broken up. Other people have not been so lucky. John Farnham has as many vocal accolades as Perry, and may very well be a better live performer, and though he has massive success in Australia, I doubt he could sell out the local nightclub in North Carolina. Freddy Curci has (or at least had) one of the best ranges of anyone I've heard, and despite 2 #1 songs with Sherriff and Alias, he is a virtual unknown. Without the right promotion, talent means nothing.
I know this is going to upset a lot of people here...but if you take Perry's success in the music industry and take it down to ONE person, you get Herbie Herbert. Without him, Perry may well have made a record, but it's highly unlikely that he would be viewed in the same light as he is today.
So what does this have to do with Arnel? He has the talent. I don't think many people would disagree with that. What he does with that gift is yet to be seen. One can only hope he uses it wisely. On the debate with Perry though, I'm just not sure that success is the best way of rating vocal legends, because the opportunity that Perry had will likely never be available to Arnel.