"Still They Ride" STILL gets reactions.

[TRAGChick]

Hey all...

This Song STILL gets to people out there.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jubogiBaUhQ

Check out this quote....written approx. 1 week ago; cribbed from this Video's page:

I am blown away.
I had never heard this song before.
My older boyfriend seems to think that's crazy but I had a peculiar childhood.
Anyway, I'm GLAD I'd never heard it. It was saved for me to hear this now. It's a revelation.
I am stunned...if the angels sang....truly AWESOME

[Jubilee]

Hey all...

This Song STILL gets to people out there.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jubogiBaUhQ

+1

That's because with this performance of this song Perry puts on a vocal master class. Pitch perfect. Wonderful agility yet very controlled. And we won't even discuss his handling of those vowels, where things could have gotten screechy or nasally. Just perfection all the way around. ... Oh, yeah and it's LIVE!

There's no denying, back in the day Perry was a vocalists vocalist. A consummate professional. It's very clear (now) that he took what he did very seriously. I don't think people really appreciated it back then.

[portland]

Hey all...

This Song STILL gets to people out there.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jubogiBaUhQ

+1

That's because with this performance of this song Perry puts on a vocal master class. Pitch perfect. Wonderful agility yet very controlled. And we won't even discuss his handling of those vowels, where things could have gotten screechy or nasally. Just perfection all the way around. ... Oh, yeah and it's LIVE!

There's no denying, back in the day Perry was a vocalists vocalist. A consummate professional. It's very clear (now) that he took what he did very seriously. I don't think people really appreciated it back then.

I appreicate it now and I did then as well!!! good god he was good!!

[TRAGChick]

Hey all...

This Song STILL gets to people out there.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jubogiBaUhQ

+1

That's because with this performance of this song Perry puts on a vocal master class. Pitch perfect. Wonderful agility yet very controlled. And we won't even discuss his handling of those vowels, where things could have gotten screechy or nasally. Just perfection all the way around. ... Oh, yeah and it's LIVE!

There's no denying, back in the day Perry was a vocalists vocalist. A consummate professional. It's very clear (now) that he took what he did very seriously. I don't think people really appreciated it back then.

Y'know, I tried to break your comment up to respond to it, statement by statement.....and I can't.

You are SO SPOT ON with everything you said.....and for that, I thank you! \~/

[tammy]

That's cool when people hear for the first time and are blown away...that timeless magic of music. Of course, "still they ride" is my fave Journey song...the one song that made me cry the most 'cuz it just had that special quality...it was a 22 year gap from hearing it the first time to hearing it again...I can relate to appreciating it much more the 2nd time.

[journey361]

A funny thing that i know for a fact im dead on correct about, but at the same time i need someone to tell me im right or wrong about this issue. My wife (who loves Adam Lambert) just bought his new CD and Journey with AP as well and we played both of them on a long roadtrip. But after hearing both CD's and other familiar artists who sound somewhat close to SP, it's not really even close at all. I mean, these singers are really good and have their own style (singing wise) but when it all comes down to it, nobody really sounds like Steve Perry in tone and pronounciation. Everyone says they do, but i don't see it that way. I know i'm dead on right about this crap. I would admit it if someone does or did, but the fact is, no one does at all. SP had a one and a million type voice with his tools that were off the charts.

[sp old ldy]

DITTO everyone

[Jana]

A funny thing that i know for a fact im dead on correct about, but at the same time i need someone to tell me im right or wrong about this issue. My wife (who loves Adam Lambert) just bought his new CD and Journey with AP as well and we played both of them on a long roadtrip. But after hearing both CD's and other familiar artists who sound somewhat close to SP, it's not really even close at all. I mean, these singers are really good and have their own style (singing wise) but when it all comes down to it, nobody really sounds like Steve Perry in tone and pronounciation. Everyone says they do, but i don't see it that way. I know i'm dead on right about this crap. I would admit it if someone does or did, but the fact is, no one does at all. SP had a one and a million type voice with his tools that were off the charts.

You're right. When people say Arnel sounds like Perry on Revelation's new songs, I say not at all. Augeri didn't sound like him. Arnel, on older songs, does a beautiful job and has a great voice and can sing the songs the way they need to be sung, and in concert you get that Journey sound from him b/c of his powerful voice and tenor vocals. But if you put the voices on the songs side by side, you alway know who is Perry. But in concert many casual fans always say, wow, he sounds just like him or eerily close, or in a lot of the reviews the reviewers say that. Arnel even talked about Perry's amazing and distinctive voice on his site.

I know a guy who said back when he heard Journey was reforming with a new singer, he thought, no way. Perry's voice is too distinctive. He said he went to a concert and he thought Augeri sounded just like him. And this was a guy that owned all their music, even TBF and FTLOSM.

[Peartree12249]

I agree with everyone. STR is my favorite Journey song. and while I like Arnel and think he's doing a hellava job as the new Journey front man, I just can't get excited about what they're doing or bother to see them in concert. How can you possible top that performance? In fairness to all the other Journey singers, I think that had SP stayed on with Journey, the likelihood of him producing a vocal performance like this is remote. This was a magical moment in time. That's why I love their old music so much.

[Michigan Girl]

A funny thing that i know for a fact im dead on correct about, but at the same time i need someone to tell me im right or wrong about this issue. My wife (who loves Adam Lambert) just bought his new CD and Journey with AP as well and we played both of them on a long roadtrip. But after hearing both CD's and other familiar artists who sound somewhat close to SP, it's not really even close at all. I mean, these singers are really good and have their own style (singing wise) but when it all comes down to it, nobody really sounds like Steve Perry in tone and pronounciation. Everyone says they do, but i don't see it that way. I know i'm dead on right about this crap. I would admit it if someone does or did, but the fact is, no one does at all. SP had a one and a million type voice with his tools that were off the charts.

You won't get an argument from me, I'm totally w/you on this...Nobody Does It Better!!!
I wish someone could!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RO8FZJ_UIn4&feature=fvw

[tammy]

I agree with everyone. STR is my favorite Journey song. and while I like Arnel and think he's doing a hellava job as the new Journey front man, I just can't get excited about what they're doing or bother to see them in concert. How can you possible top that performance? In fairness to all the other Journey singers, I think that had SP stayed on with Journey, the likelihood of him producing a vocal performance like this is remote. This was a magical moment in time. That's why I love their old music so much.

Me too. I do like AP on Revelation (just the new songs - I tossed the re-records), but I haven't bothered to go see them in concert. I also don't believe SP could re-create and I wouldn't want to see him try - but I think he knows that himself. Would still love to hear him today singing his own new songs...leaving the old songs alone.

[ChildInTime]

Seriously, Still They Ride owns. Has a haunting, nostalgic feel to it that I like. And that performance of it is amazing.

[Jana]

I agree with everyone. STR is my favorite Journey song. and while I like Arnel and think he's doing a hellava job as the new Journey front man, I just can't get excited about what they're doing or bother to see them in concert. How can you possible top that performance? In fairness to all the other Journey singers, I think that had SP stayed on with Journey, the likelihood of him producing a vocal performance like this is remote. This was a magical moment in time. That's why I love their old music so much.

Maybe you can't top it, nor maybe (maybe - I don't know) could even Perry now like Tammy said and you. One of my favorite songs and love listening to it on CD with Perry. Stunning.

But I saw Deen sing it this year and it was one of the highlights of the evening for me. It actually brought tears to my eyes to hear that song again live by Journey from the moment the haunting music started and Deen so soulfully sang it. Was it as good? No. But, boy, he did that song justice. And there's nothing like hearing this Journey song live, which youtube clips just can't capture the magic and intensity of being there and having the crispness of the beautiful melody with the guitar and keyboards and Deen's vocals fill the arena. So I could post Deen's version but many on here will judge it against Perry in their armchairs. That's not the point for me. Beautiful job by Deen on a beautiful song in concert, and I'm glad it was performed live.

[Deb]

All-time favorite performance of my all-time favorite Journey song by my all-time favorite vocalist (ok, the LIVE version of Girl Can't Help it is right up there too ). Pretty much agree with what all have said. His vocal delivery is second to none. Not a big fan of the current Journey lineup but would still like to hear Deen's version of that song live in concert someday, since I love the song and probably won't ever hear Perry's live version again. From what I've seen he does a great job on it and I do like his voice. I find the older I get the more I'm moving away from those crystal-clear girly vocals and enjoying much more textured, rich vocals. I much prefer his Frontiers/ROR era vocals to the real early high range vocals.

[ChildInTime]

I like all 'era's of his voice equally, but for different reasons. In the early days, he just was amazing from a technical standpoint (Though I will admit I am not a vocal expert by any degree, I still have some experience there from being in band and music theory classes). Never seemed to show any sign of strain or struggle at all, and had great form and technique. Aside from that, his vocals had this sort of oddly beautiful, gender-neutral sound to them... his vocals didn't sound truly masculine to me, but feminine doesn't fit the bill either. True androgyny right there. (He was also rather androgynous in appearance in the early days, but that's another story... )

Now, once his vocals grew deeper and got that huskier, more bottom-rounded tone, I think he became better at conveying emotion through his voice while still sounding perfectly aurally pleasing. His vocals also got a new-found power, and in some instances-- like the Still They Ride performance-- they even had a slight operatic tinge a la Bruce Dickinson. Since I definitely like my metal, I really appreciated that power in his delivery.

[tammy]

I like how you write and describe, ChildinTime...spot on.

[mmberry301]

Love the live versions of that song...

Miss those pipes man. Really do.

Hope Mr. P is happy and enjoying his retirement.

[ChildInTime]

I like how you write and describe, ChildinTime...spot on.

I try...

[annie89509]

The beauty of YT and internet websites is that it has brought in so many new fans (and appreciation) who otherwise would know nothing about SP (that would include myself). Thanks to all the audio and video stuff out there that are so readily attainable, all of Mr. P's accomplishments are truly saved for posterity. That, no one can take away from him.

[Deb]

The beauty of YT and internet websites is that it has brought in so many new fans (and appreciation) who otherwise would know nothing about SP (that would include myself). Thanks to all the audio and video stuff out there that are so readily attainable, all of Mr. P's accomplishments are truly saved for posterity. That, no one can take away from him.

I fully admit I'm a youtube junkie. Where else can you "virtually" go on a world tour with your favorites. God bless all those peeps out there that put up JSS and Mr Big footage from all over Japan and Europe this past year.

[annie89509]

Deb, have to hang it to you. You always seem to be one happy camper!

I know you have said STR at Bukodan '83 is your favorite SP performance -- as it's one of mine, as well.

[walkslikealady]

I'm not a vocal expert...but I do know that SP's voice has always amazed me.

I became a YouTube junkie 'cause I quit going to concerts a long time ago. I'm going to have to quit 'cause I downgraded to basic dial-up...takes to long to load now.