G.O.A.T.: DON’T STOP BELIEVING-Journey (1981)


THE GREATEST OF ALL TUNES (G.O.A.T.) is a series of posts, producing my 100 favorite songs of all time.  The master list is here, and I update it about every two weeks or when I have another 10 songs or so.

Until David Chase gave Steve Perry the last line on The Sopranos, it wasn’t cool to like Journey. And this song didn’t even crack the top 40 until 25 years after it was released (again, thanks to Sopranos). I mean, how can you be hip and dig a band whose lead singer was replaced by a soundalike who can’t speak a word of English?

Well, I do. I always have. Actually, that’s not true. I only like a few of their songs. And I only love one. This one. Which never fails to raise my heart rate.

Further listening: I can’t with good conscience recommend more Journey for you, but Don’t Look Back by Boston is pretty much in the same genre.

Covers: There are millions of covers of this song, and most suck. But Marnie Stern shreds with ridiculous glee. Then check out Clem Snide’s for a completely opposite take on the tune. Then, a fairly straight-ahead one, but still good, by Badly Drawn Boy.  And then a free for all.







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