ttango1 wrote:http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=88177928
Journey Takes Cue from Judas Priest
if you want to get an idea of just how faithful he is to the Steve Perry sound, we actually dubbed Pineda on top of Perry to create a virtual duet.
The first clip they posted claiming it was the "original" version of Don't Stop Believin' by Journey wasn't Journey at all. It was the Zoo with Pineda. Then they went on to repeat the full length version of that exact same clip claiming the second clip was Pineda as a comparison.
I do, however, hear the studio version of DSB in the fade in duet track. I can tell by his vocal character that is Perry in that section.
What I hear is a guy with a good voice who can sing the song, but that's not what makes it special. Augeri could sing the song as well and even had a very similar tone to Perry, but it wasn't special. You know, that unquantifiable "it" factor?
Very easy to tout someone who can imitate what another artist originated. That's much easier than originating new material with that "it" factor. Perry had that "it" factor by the truck load and that's what made Journey the success it became. Neal and Jon agree with this or they wouldn't have hired 3 singers who sound like Perry and fired a 4th because he didn't.
If Pineda can create music with that "it" factor with Journey, then he'll have my vote. But if all he turns out to be is the best voice to date to continue the "tribute to Steve Perry's legacy band", then all this band is going to be is a nostalgia group year after year.
What Journey does with Pineda on original music is what will determine if this band becomes reborn or just continues the GH's tour like they did with Augeri. Waiting for the studio album before I make that determination, but if all they did was make an album of tired photocopies of previously created songs (eg. Never Walk Away/Be Good to Yourself)? No way they move beyond the GH's tour. At least not in the states.