Journey Band Reborn With Filipino Lead Singer
Journey band, the multi-platinum rock band of the 70’s has just got a massive shot in the arm: it’s got for itself a new lead singer. Arnel Pineda, a Filipino veteran of music gigs in clubs in the Philippines and Japan, was literally plucked out from the Zoo band (as seen in YouTube) in Quezon City, Philippines, and flown to Marin County to have him auditioned. The rest is the beginnings of a modern Cinderella story.
Arnel Pineda just had two months to let this change of fate sink in and barely two weeks to “acclimatize” himself with the music gods that is Journey Band, and off he went to his baptism of fire: the unforgiving “Monster” of Via del Mar, Chile Festival. 15,000 strong audience who also serve as judges is a tough deal for any seasoned singer. And here comes Journey band’s new and un-acclimatized lead singer, this could be nerve-wracking. The result, however, was more than phenomenal.
At first, the crowd was a bit less receptive, and Arnel Pineda of the Journey band seemed to be having the jitters too. Some would even say he seems to have forgotten the lyrics that he seems to be reading them from a teleprompter (if there ever was).
Eventually, everything started to warm up. But it only got really hot and cozy when the Journey band’s lead singer belted out the very popular ballad, “Open Arms.” Latinos are a very passionate people, Arnel Pineda, a Filipino, sang passionately-and boy, it was awesome. After that song, everything went well like everybody found their comfort zone. The “Monster” was tamed!
Arnel Pineda’s singing of “Faithfully” just caught everyone’s heart with excitement. What used to be doubts of his capability to be with Journey finally disappeared. The “Monster” was transformed to Arnel and the rest of Journey band, claiming their long lost position of the greatest rock bands of all time.
Encore after encore was asked of the Journey band. The last song even took longer to take off because the musical equipment were already either turned off, or disconnected. But man, was it a blast! The feverish crowd, Arnel Pineda finally proving his worth, and the rest of the Journey band finally plugging off any trace of doubt on their new singer’s worth.
Neal Schon was like the over-proud father of a son he introduced to the world, Jonathan Cain (rumored to be not so sold-out with Arnel Pineda) now mouths AP “is the real deal,” Ross Valory constantly flashes that otherwise so rare grin, and Deen Castronovo vows to Arnel Pineda at the end of the show.
Isn’t this just material for a mushy Cinderella story?
What an opposite situation where it is like a Cinderella story for Arnel Pineda while Journey band is the Lazarus who came back from the dead.
Some musical big wigs coined Journey band has become a “Greatest Hits” group. Schon, Cain, Valory, and Castronovo are riding the wave of Journey’s past glorious moments. They attempted some new materials but they did not seem to hit the sales records. They might still posses the admiration of the original fan groups, but this fans base could either go for other bands or genre, or they could just rot and die of being old.
Steve Augeri, and Jason Scot Soto are equally great singers but they simply try to extend Journey band’s life span. With the inclusion of Arnel Pineda, the band is repackaged without losing its old aura. Arnel Pineda’s clear tenor sound, powerful voice and soulful rendition of the song keeps the sound and feel that is “Journey.”
Gradually, Arnel Pineda, as Journey’s lead singer, his contributions to the band doesn’t end there. Being Asian, his vibrant energy, his really “rock” version and style could provide a new way of penetrating the admiration of today’s generation both in America and internationally.
