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The Music
It would be impossible to complete my tribute to Journey without some mention of their music. After all, it was their songs that first made me take interest in them, and I'm sure it was that way for many other Journey fans. And while I don't exactly have an unbiased opinion, I'd like to say I think that Journey, in all of its incarnations, is one of the best bands the music world has ever seen. The talent of each of its members is apparent in their solo works, but when the guys all come together and perform as a band, the result is pure magic.
Journey has taken a lot of crap from the critics and has been repeatedly labelled as a commercial band, "corporate rock." Record reviewers would like to have the public believe that Journey's music is soulless crap coming from a bunch of guys who couldn't play if their lives depended on it. And while the fact that Journey has sold millions of albums seems to support this argument, one has to think about the faithful fan base the band still has, even after their intial break-up in 1987. I believe that most record-buyers can tell the difference between a group of sincere, talented musicians and a band that's just out to make a quick buck. Music that's genuine and heart-felt is timeless and can win new fans even as the years go by. That's the kind of music that Journey has played since their birth in the 1970s, and that's the kind of music they play today.
On a more personal level, I've found that Journey's music has both affected me on a personal level, and is just good music to have around when I feel like some rock and roll. The ballads ("Open Arms, "Faithfully," etc.) can still make me tear up even though I've heard them over and over and I've found that the rockers are great music to listen to on a long drive. When I've gone through some very rough times, Journey's music has had a healing effect on me, making me think of the more positive things in life. And even though I've gone through musical phases throughout my life, Journey still remains one of my favorites, a band I always come back to.
If I had to pick favorites, I'd have to say that Escape is my favorite album. It's more or less safe to say that I have an appreciation for almost every song Journey has ever done, but the following are the songs that I usually listen to when I'm in the mood for Journey:
Stone in Love
Faithfully
Girl Can't Help It
After the Fall
Chain Reaction
Escape
Feelin' That Way
Eyes of a Woman
I'm sure my list of favorites will continue to grow when Journey releases a new album, due out next year.
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