Journey's New Frontman

Since in the 80's, Journey has been one of my favorite bands. Melodic riffs and Steve Perry's high-pitched crooning were more than enough to capture my attention and keep it for the past several decades.

Journey formed in 1973 and released several lukewarm albums in the first couple years. But it wasn't until Steve Perry came onto the scene in 1977 as Journey's lead vocalist that the band really started to skyrocket. The following year Journey's fourth album, Infinity, gave the band its first platinum record and several hit singles.

From 1977 to 1983, Journey continued to be a success thanks to the direction of Perry and lead guitarist Neal Schon. But creative differences plagued the band. Perry and Schon both pursued solo careers throughout the mid-80's and Perry left the band in 1987.

Since that time, Journey has tried to replace Perry with several leads, but each failed to give audiences what they desired. Finally in June 2007, Neal Schon discovered a Filipino singer, Arnel Pineda, online.

Pineda at the time was the lead singer for a cover band called The Zoo. The Zoo performed cover songs by Journey, Survivor, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, Air Supply, The Eagles, Kenny Loggins and other popular acts from the 70s, 80s and 90s, began appearing on YouTube.com early in 2007. Schon contacted Pineda via e-mail who initially dismissed it as a hoax. Eventually the two connected and Pineda was announced as Journey's new lead vocalist in December 2007.

Who says that broadcasting yourself on YouTube can't be valuable?

So what do you think? Does Pineda sound like Perry?

KT Tunstall - If Only

"If Only" is an alternative rock song performed by Scottish singer KT Tunstall for her third album Drastic Fantastic (2007).

I apologize for the video, which isn't much of a video at all, but rather a picture with the song embedded. But just get carried away in the music and forget the lack of eye candy.

Michael and Janet Jackson - Scream

Scream" was a duet between Michael Jackson and his sister Janet, released in 1995. It dealt with the mass media attention both siblings had received in their careers as well as the difficult relationship they shared with their father.

"Scream" remains as one of Jackson's most well-received music videos. It has a futuristic sci-fi theme which features clips of anime and pop culture (such as Andy Warhol's self portrait). At a cost of $7,000,000 (unadjusted for inflation) this video was the most expensive music video of all time. The video went on to win several MTV Video Music Awards and a Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video.

Maroon 5 - Makes Me Wonder

With the release of their second album, It Won't Be Soon Before Long, Maroon 5's popularity continues to skyrocket. This isn't surprising once you consider that their catchy tunes are inspired by likes of pop icons such as Prince and Michael Jackson.

According to Wikipedia,

The first single, "Makes Me Wonder", was released to radio March 27, 2007. The making of the music video was previewed on MTV's Total Request Live, and premiered on the show March 29. The song debuted at number 84 on the Billboard Hot 100, the lowest debuting single of the group's five chart entries. In the first week of May, the single skyrocketed from a lowly position of 64 to #1, the biggest jump in Billboard history. "Makes Me Wonder" has also achieved #1 on Billboard's Hot Digital Songs, Pop 100, and Hot Dance Club Play charts.

The video is just as hypnotic as the song. Not only is frontman, Adam Levine, a snappy dresser, but let's just say that if flying was actually this sexy (with the hot flight attendants and the security checks and all), I wouldn't have anything to complain about. :D



(I know 7aki Fadi wasn't originally too keen on this song, but I find it to be pretty groovy so I figured it was worth showcasing again in its own post.)

R.E.M. - Furry Happy Monsters

They say that you haven't really achieved true stardom status until you've been invited as a guest on the hit American children's television show, Sesame Street. I was delighted to one day catch R.E.M. performing a parody of their hit song, "Shiny Happy People". (This took place way back when my kids were of Sesame Street watching age.)



Here's the actual song, for those who have never heard it:

Billy Idol - Cradle of Love

Peroxide blonde, snearing punk crooner, Billy Idol, released the hit song, "Cradle of Love" on his fourth studio album Charmed Life in 1990. I was 14 when I first saw the video. It is not really suitable for kids, but I was one year past "teenager" status and was mesmerized. Once you watch it, you'll see why.

At the 1990 MTV Video Music Award, the video was nominated for Best Male Video and Best Special Effects and won the award for Best Video from a Film. Oh, and the song rocks.

And did you know that the director, David Fincher, made the decision to film Idol from the waist up as he was unable to walk from a motorcycle accident that had happened in February 1990?

Good Charlotte - Dance Floor Anthem

The punk band, Good Charlotte, recently released their fourth album entitled Good Morning Revival. One of the more popular songs from the album, "Dance Floor Anthem", is garnering a lot of airtime with its arena rock sound.

The music video is intensely hyped with its never-ending hospital hallway and dancing nurses. Front man Joel Madden doesn't quite have the moves as other more seasoned rockers, but the voice is there. Speculation is that the song was written after Madden's split with pop princess Hilary Duff.

The energetic song and punchy base sounds great if played through a good set of speakers (which excludes the weenie ones on your computer). You'll need to play this one on some decent equipment to really get the full rockin' effect.

Music For A Rainy Day

As the cold, winter season in Jordan approaches and the days become more dreary, I find myself lapsing into "moodier" tunes, songs that might be apropos coming out of the speakers at Starbucks. Perhaps such songs appeal to my desire to be sitting in a snug corner of some quaint coffee house, sipping a hot drink and reading a good book on a cold, rainy day. Who knows.

But for those of you feel the need to get in touch with your "moodier" side as the clouds roll in, here are some of my favorites:

• James Blunt's All the Lost Souls album


• John Mayer's Continuum album


• A few delicious songs from KT Tunstall's album, Eye to the Telescope (namely "Other Side of the World", "Under the Weather", "Universe & U" and "Stoppin' the Love")


• Any song by Nora Jones (including one sung with Ray Charles entitled "Here We Go Again" from the Genius Loves Company album)


• "Wicked Game" by Chris Isaak


• "Hearbeats" by Jose Gonzalez


• "Chasing Cars" by Snow Patrol


• "Sparks" by Coldplay

I hope this gets you started. Please feel free to share your own personal recommendations as I'm still building my "Coffee House Tunes" playlist to last me throughout the winter.

Mika - Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)

Flamboyant crooner Mika (pronounced Mee-ka) pranced onto the music scene last year with his debut album Life in Cartoon Motion and a number one single "Grace Kelly". His kaleidoscopic music has been compared with artists such as Freddy Mercury (of Queen fame), Elton John, Sister Scissors and David Bowie.

For some, Mika's magpie sound and tight jeans may be an acquired taste. Others may instantly be drawn to his campy, over-the-top melodies.

One of the "bouncier" songs off of Mika's debut album, "Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)", is a kickback to Queen's "Fat Bottom Girls". The video was shot candid and low budget and features curvaceous women running down Croydon High Street and Surrey Street Market in Croydon, Surrey, England.

Mis-heard (or 'Your bus will take me there')

I got a bit of a chuckle reading Hani's comment on the Madonna post. You can read it for yourself, but to recap:

I remember in school everyone had to pick any song and try to explain what the lyrics mean, and I picked (Like a prayer). Only when I wrote the lyrics, instead of writing (your voice can take me there). It sounded to me like (your bus can take me there), and I explained how the song is about her boyfriend the bus driver, and the whole class laughed, as I died of embarrassment.

The reason it was so funny to me was because I've also mis-heard (or misinterpreted) hundreds of lyrics. And I'm even willing to share one of mine.

In the song "Flashdance...What a Feeling" (by Irene Cara), I used to think that the line "take your passion and make it happen" was "take your pants down and make it happen". A Freudian slip, perhaps, but I know I'm not the first person to hear it that way. I still sing it like that from time to time. In the car, when no one is listening. Don't tell anyone.

Mis-hearing lyrics is such a common thing that there have been several funny books addressing the subject, including 'Scuse Me While I Kiss This Guy and When a Man Loves a Walnut.

So who out there is brave enough to share their mis-heard lyrics? Do tell.

Aerosmith - Sweet Emotion

If there's one band who has withstood the test of time, it's Aerosmith. They have sold 150 million albums worldwide, 65.5 million albums in the United States alone, making them the bestselling American hard rock band of all time. Their musical evolution over the years has made them major innovators in American hard rock, pop, glam, blues, and rap, and has inspired legions of rock artists that came after them.

Aerosmith has become well known for their ability to create slightly veiled, double entendre-laced, innocent-sounding raunch. And what better way to illustrate than to showcase their first Top 40 hit, "Sweet Emotion".

I remember first watching the "Sweet Emotion" video back in the 80's. I was fascinated by frontman Steven Tyler's brash moves and fancy footwork. I loved the concept of a 1-900 midnight phone chat (which would never work in today's internet culture). But the best part of the video is the twist ending (which probably contains more truth than we realize).