with Rascal Flatts

[Eric]

There are lots of singers arguably better than Arnel (maybe not those examples)..but that's not the point. He sounded fine and sounded like Journey's lead singer and people loved it and had a good time.

[YoungJRNY]

Take off the blinders. I'm not saying Soto wasn't sensational, maybe he was but he didn't put on any better performances than Arnel already has. I saw Soto twice in '06, Arnel about 4 times and let me tell you Arnel brought the same ENERGY to the audience, maybe more, when compared to Soto and that was Soto's biggest RAVE, bringing energy to the set. Arnel does that with ease but your blind hate will never open your eyes up to that. It is what it is, you hate Arnel as a vocalist, fair enough but to say he is basically talentless is the biggest joke these boards ever came across.

[Eric]

THIS IS WHAT JOURNEY SHOULD BE:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOJ3KnL_eBQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z22WFzYX ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meHJCUSj ... re=related


NO ONE can tell me that Arnel is anywhere close to this guy.

Love JSS with Journey and would prefer he were the lead singer - but still not the point.

[knox]

"He sounded fine."

I still can't believe ANYONE can look at the clip from last night and say that.

It was horrible! Arnel might have had some FLAWLESS shows that I haven't seen. He may have put Perry to shame in some shows that I haven't seen.

But to say last night was good, or fine? I can't put much stock in that.

Everything I am talking about is regarding LAST NIGHT...

Last night, Arnel sounded like a bad karaoke singer on a tuesday night.

[knox]

No more internet fighting from me.

carry on.

[Ehwmatt]

Cast aside subjectivities like "emotion" and "tone." Hell, you can even cast aside semi-subjective things like whether the notes Arnel hit sounded good, sour, or mediocre. His phrasing and timing stand out as objectively horrible to me on most live performances. He simply doesn't seem to have a natural feel for rhythm, and without rhythm, no professional musician can survive a trained ear's scrutiny.

Have you ever tried to sing karaoke to a song you thought you could sing and knew well, but then the karaoke screen is highlighting the words at a weird cadence that isn't like the original because the karaoke track doesn't quite match the original? It quickly becomes a train wreck for all involved. To me, Arnel has NO clue when to sing certain parts and how long to draw certain words/phrases/notes out, and it sounds a lot like someone singing karaoke to a slightly unfamiliar backing track. It's bad on the rockers, but it's even worse on the slow ones (e.g., Faithfully). I'm not trying to rehash the Asian karaoke stereotype, but frankly, I've played music with Asians before and they do have a tendency to be robotic about things. I DO chalk this up to Arnel coming from a culture that prides itself on imitation, rather than artistry.

I've heard a lot of guitar players who know all kinds of cool licks, riffs, and chords (i.e., have good technical chops, like Arnel arguably does to an extent), but have NO sense of rhythm or phrasing. It's why I'd rather listen to David Gilmour than some anonymous basement shredder on YouTube. To me, Arnel is no different, and that's largely the reason why I really can't stand listening to him sing, especially live.

[Eric]

Cast aside subjectivities like "emotion" and "tone." Hell, you can even cast aside semi-subjective things like whether the notes Arnel hit sounded good, sour, or mediocre. His phrasing and timing stand out as objectively horrible to me on most live performances. He simply doesn't seem to have a natural feel for rhythm, and without rhythm, no professional musician can survive a trained ear's scrutiny.

Have you ever tried to sing karaoke to a song you thought you could sing and knew well, but then the karaoke screen is highlighting the words at a weird cadence that isn't like the original because the karaoke track doesn't quite match the original? It quickly becomes a train wreck for all involved. To me, Arnel has NO clue when to sing certain parts and how long to draw certain words/phrases/notes out, and it sounds a lot like someone singing karaoke to a slightly unfamiliar backing track. It's bad on the rockers, but it's even worse on the slow ones (e.g., Faithfully). I'm not trying to rehash the Asian karaoke stereotype, but frankly, I've played music with Asians before and they do have a tendency to be robotic about things. I DO chalk this up to Arnel coming from a culture that prides itself on imitation, rather than artistry.

I've heard a lot of guitar players who know all kinds of cool licks, riffs, and chords (i.e., have good technical chops, like Arnel arguably does to an extent), but have NO sense of rhythm or phrasing. It's why I'd rather listen to David Gilmour than some anonymous basement shredder on YouTube. To me, Arnel is no different, and that's largely the reason why I really can't stand listening to him sing, especially live.

Seems to me Arnel and Augeri need to get into a groove but someone like JSS can just come out flying....

[Ehwmatt]

Cast aside subjectivities like "emotion" and "tone." Hell, you can even cast aside semi-subjective things like whether the notes Arnel hit sounded good, sour, or mediocre. His phrasing and timing stand out as objectively horrible to me on most live performances. He simply doesn't seem to have a natural feel for rhythm, and without rhythm, no professional musician can survive a trained ear's scrutiny.

Have you ever tried to sing karaoke to a song you thought you could sing and knew well, but then the karaoke screen is highlighting the words at a weird cadence that isn't like the original because the karaoke track doesn't quite match the original? It quickly becomes a train wreck for all involved. To me, Arnel has NO clue when to sing certain parts and how long to draw certain words/phrases/notes out, and it sounds a lot like someone singing karaoke to a slightly unfamiliar backing track. It's bad on the rockers, but it's even worse on the slow ones (e.g., Faithfully). I'm not trying to rehash the Asian karaoke stereotype, but frankly, I've played music with Asians before and they do have a tendency to be robotic about things. I DO chalk this up to Arnel coming from a culture that prides itself on imitation, rather than artistry.

I've heard a lot of guitar players who know all kinds of cool licks, riffs, and chords (i.e., have good technical chops, like Arnel arguably does to an extent), but have NO sense of rhythm or phrasing. It's why I'd rather listen to David Gilmour than some anonymous basement shredder on YouTube. To me, Arnel is no different, and that's largely the reason why I really can't stand listening to him sing, especially live.

Seems to me Arnel and Augeri need to get into a groove but someone like JSS can just come out flying....

Hmm. Augeri suffered from clear range problems, but I don't think phrasing and musicality was ever anywhere near an issue for him. I always thought one of his best assets was having a natural groove. See, for example, his ad libs in the live breakdown in the Augeri-era band's early days of performing DSB

[The_Noble_Cause]

Easily done.

Here's another one from Boyce Avenue - DSB.

Much better than Arnel:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mPAO0R8 ... ure=relmfu

LMAO. That is one Dashboard emo faggy rendition. The tempo is so slooowed down that virtually anyone could cover it. I think you just really hate Arnel.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Seems to me Arnel and Augeri need to get into a groove but someone like JSS can just come out flying....

In terms of owning the stage, JSS didn't need any lessons on showmanship. Vocally, however, those first shows were very rough.

[Ehwmatt]

Easily done.

Here's another one from Boyce Avenue - DSB.

Much better than Arnel:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mPAO0R8 ... ure=relmfu

LMAO. That is one Dashboard emo faggy rendition. The tempo is so slooowed down that virtually anyone could cover it. I think you just really hate Arnel.

I agree with TNC here. That was gay as fuck. I'm all for interesting rearrangements, but turning it into something like this defeats the purpose of the song.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Are you kidding me about the Soto comment?

There was more excitement brewing with Soto than this guy has produced.

In niche rock circles (like here on MR.com) there was plenty of buzz about Soto. Arnel's story, as sappy and as overplayed as it is, managed to breach the mainstream. I don't think a JSS or Jeremey-fronted Journey would've been on Oprah or Ellen or caught fire in nearly the same way.

[knox]

Easily done.

Here's another one from Boyce Avenue - DSB.

Much better than Arnel:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mPAO0R8 ... ure=relmfu

LMAO. That is one Dashboard emo faggy rendition. The tempo is so slooowed down that virtually anyone could cover it. I think you just really hate Arnel.

I agree with TNC here. That was gay as fuck. I'm all for interesting rearrangements, but turning it into something like this defeats the purpose of the song.

Funny... I take music at face value. Freddy Mercury, for example - great vocalist, but a huge flamer. I would call his music gay, even though he clearly was. The dude is a born singer - take a look at other Boyce Avenue vids. And the Faithfully cover is better than any other I have heard.

But that made me laugh, nonetheless

[knox]

Are you kidding me about the Soto comment?

There was more excitement brewing with Soto than this guy has produced.

In niche rock circles (like here on MR.com) there was plenty of buzz about Soto. Arnel's story, as sappy and as overplayed as it is, managed to breach the mainstream. I don't think a JSS or Jeremey-fronted Journey would've been on Oprah or Ellen or caught fire in nearly the same way.

I never thought Jeremy had the chops for Journey, either (sorry dude...)

Soto is the Real Deal.

[The Sushi Hunter]

Are you kidding me about the Soto comment?

There was more excitement brewing with Soto than this guy has produced.

In niche rock circles (like here on MR.com) there was plenty of buzz about Soto. Arnel's story, as sappy and as overplayed as it is, managed to breach the mainstream. I don't think a JSS or Jeremey-fronted Journey would've been on Oprah or Ellen or caught fire in nearly the same way.

I never thought Jeremy had the chops for Journey, either (sorry dude...)

Soto is the Real Deal.

So if Soto is the real deal, why then isn't he with the band anymore? If anyone is the real deal, they would be with the band.

[The Sushi Hunter]

I said this in the other thread. Arnel was AWFUL in that clip. No annunciation. Vocal tone was horrible. Sour notes toward the end. Third rate singer at best.

How anyone can say he was good is beyond me.

That's funny, that awful performance convinced a Journey-hater to buy their Greatest Hits CD, Revelation & Eclipse last night after the awards. I had texts last night saying how Journey's new lead singer sounded great and how impressed they came away with the band. Especially country fans, they can be brutal

Unbelievable...

Ohhh-kay, enough of the agenda.

Go read comments from the VAST...VAST majority of people who loved last night's performance and made them more aware of Journey.

This is melodicrock.com, the CENTER of the world's greatest music ears Journey's young audience has been bigger than EVER over last few years. This will do nothing but solidify that even further. I was listening to Journey relentlessly when I was 17 years of age, way before the craze of "GLEE" emerged. My friends had no idea who Journey even was. Those SAME friends in the present day work the SHIT out of tunes like DSB and attend Journey concerts yearly with their groups of buddies that range from 19-24 years of age. You'd be a fucking liar if you can sit there and say their CMT performance could/will HURT the band. That, or your simply what you stated above, a grouchy HATER with an agenda.

If the current Journey is so popular with the younger generation now as you are saying, why is it that every time I hear a Journey tune being played on the raidio, it's always the Steve Perry version of the song? But on the other hand, I can mention Arnel's name in a conversation and everyone knows who he is.

[knox]

Are you kidding me about the Soto comment?

There was more excitement brewing with Soto than this guy has produced.

In niche rock circles (like here on MR.com) there was plenty of buzz about Soto. Arnel's story, as sappy and as overplayed as it is, managed to breach the mainstream. I don't think a JSS or Jeremey-fronted Journey would've been on Oprah or Ellen or caught fire in nearly the same way.

I never thought Jeremy had the chops for Journey, either (sorry dude...)

Soto is the Real Deal.

So if Soto is the real deal, why then isn't he with the band anymore? If anyone is the real deal, they would be with the band.

You would have to ask Neal and Jon. Consensus thinking is that Arnel can be a puppet for them much more than Soto. He would have wanted actual input and artistic creativity and they couldn't have that.

[The Sushi Hunter]

Are you kidding me about the Soto comment?

There was more excitement brewing with Soto than this guy has produced.

In niche rock circles (like here on MR.com) there was plenty of buzz about Soto. Arnel's story, as sappy and as overplayed as it is, managed to breach the mainstream. I don't think a JSS or Jeremey-fronted Journey would've been on Oprah or Ellen or caught fire in nearly the same way.

I never thought Jeremy had the chops for Journey, either (sorry dude...)

Soto is the Real Deal.

So if Soto is the real deal, why then isn't he with the band anymore? If anyone is the real deal, they would be with the band.

You would have to ask Neal and Jon. Consensus thinking is that Arnel can be a puppet for them much more than Soto. He would have wanted actual input and artistic creativity and they couldn't have that.

That is a concept but I don't think it's the determining factor.

[Deb]

Are you kidding me about the Soto comment?

There was more excitement brewing with Soto than this guy has produced.

In niche rock circles (like here on MR.com) there was plenty of buzz about Soto. Arnel's story, as sappy and as overplayed as it is, managed to breach the mainstream. I don't think a JSS or Jeremey-fronted Journey would've been on Oprah or Ellen or caught fire in nearly the same way.

I don't know about that. Jeff has performed on Ellen at least once already. @ around 4:40 ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AC7TgG6HdLo

[Deb]

Are you kidding me about the Soto comment?

There was more excitement brewing with Soto than this guy has produced.

In niche rock circles (like here on MR.com) there was plenty of buzz about Soto. Arnel's story, as sappy and as overplayed as it is, managed to breach the mainstream. I don't think a JSS or Jeremey-fronted Journey would've been on Oprah or Ellen or caught fire in nearly the same way.

I never thought Jeremy had the chops for Journey, either (sorry dude...)

Soto is the Real Deal.

So if Soto is the real deal, why then isn't he with the band anymore? If anyone is the real deal, they would be with the band.

You would have to ask Neal and Jon. Consensus thinking is that Arnel can be a puppet for them much more than Soto. He would have wanted actual input and artistic creativity and they couldn't have that.

That is a concept but I don't think it's the determining factor.

Was for me. Nothing against Augeri or Arnel, but in my opinion the only time they had a frontman with balls enough to push Cain/Schon creatively and/or on decision making was with Perry and Soto......and they knew it. Notice neither of which is in the band anymore......and of course they are still comfortably playing the same dirty dozen night after night.

[knox]

I keep waiting to hear an Arnel fronted song on the radio

[Abitaman]

THIS IS WHAT JOURNEY SHOULD BE:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOJ3KnL_eBQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z22WFzYX ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meHJCUSj ... re=related


NO ONE can tell me that Arnel is anywhere close to this guy.

No one is close to Perry, get over it and move on. If you can't get over it stop listening to them now.

[Eric]

I keep waiting to hear an Arnel fronted song on the radio

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTVLHZh_u4s

[slucero]

THIS IS WHAT JOURNEY SHOULD BE:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOJ3KnL_eBQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z22WFzYX ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meHJCUSj ... re=related


NO ONE can tell me that Arnel is anywhere close to this guy.

No one is close to Perry, get over it and move on. If you can't get over it stop listening to them now.

nah... no need to stop listening to them... just listen to the Perry stuff...

[The Sushi Hunter]

:lol: Was for me. Nothing against Augeri or Arnel, but in my opinion the only time they had a frontman with balls enough to push Cain/Schon creatively and/or on decision making was with Perry and Soto......and they knew it. Notice neither of which is in the band anymore......and of course they are still comfortably playing the same dirty dozen night after night.

What you mention is key as in what made it for you. When looking at the entire fan base worldwide, not restricting it to a specific country, radio station or website, Arnel has a much greater in numbers fan base, no question about it. And that is the ultimate determining factor when it comes to the entertainment industry. It's all business in the entertainment industry and what they do depends on what is going to generate the best revenue.

[knox]

No one is close to Perry, get over it and move on. If you can't get over it stop listening to them now.

Seriously?

I appreciate your concern and self appointed wisdom, but 1978 - 1981 Journey is perfectly fine with me. No need to drop that musical genius for this current crap.

[knox]

What you mention is key as in what made it for you. When looking at the entire fan base worldwide, not restricting it to a specific country, radio station or website, Arnel has a much greater in numbers fan base, no question about it. And that is the ultimate determining factor when it comes to the entertainment industry. It's all business in the entertainment industry and what they do depends on what is going to generate the best revenue.

And yet, they still play the Perry stuff 99% of the time. If Arnel is such a musical genius, why isn't the modern stuff driving their tours? Why is the Perry stuff STILL so freaking popular?

Answer - because THAT was stellar music. Period. Far above anything they have done since he left.

[The Sushi Hunter]

What songs did Journey play at shows between the time Steve Perry and Arnel Pineda fronted the band?

[Abitaman]

No one is close to Perry, get over it and move on. If you can't get over it stop listening to them now.

Seriously?

Not really.

[knox]

What songs did Journey play at shows between the time Steve Perry and Arnel Pineda fronted the band?

The good ones. Perry's stuff.