Journey has always been a favorite band of mine because it reminds me of my youth. It especially reminds of being a teenager and having my first car. Journey was really popular when I was a teen. Many of us would be playing Journey songs on our tape decks and cruising the strip. Some of my more hard core rock and roll friends will call Journey, ballad rock, but I never cared because I like excellent lyrics and a melody.
I remember going to a Journey concert long ago and it was one of the best concerts I ever saw. Girls loved Journey back then and they were by far the majority of the people that attended the concert and for a young guy that was a good deal. That concert sold out, so Journey stayed over another night and sold out again. Amazingly they stayed another night and once again sold out. Three nights in a row, they sold out a pretty large indoor arena, with a capacity to seat 11,000 Journey fans.
If I remember correctly, they were all three weekdays, and not concerts on a weekend. It was amazing that they could just keep selling out like that. I truly believe that if they could have played another night, they probably would have sold out that night too, because of all the people left outside that couldn't get a ticket. Two of which shows weren't even planned. Here are just a few of my all time favorite Journey songs.
Journey's - Still They Ride
Still They Ride is from their Escape album in 1981. I am not sure what Journey had in mind when they wrote or performed the song, Still They Ride, but it has to be the quintessential cruise song. What I mean by cruise song is this. Every small town or any size town really, for that matter, usually had a drive-in fast food place, a mall, a movie theater, game room, or a parking lot where teenagers "cruised" in their cars. Or perhaps they had a favorite street or strip where they drove their cars, along with other teenagers driving their cars on a Friday or Saturday night. Like I said, I am not sure if Journey had that in mind, but every kid in the early eighties sure had this playing in their 8-tracks or cassette players, until they were too old to cruise the drag any more: This old town...ain't the same...now nobody knows his name..times have changed...still he rides...traffic lights...keeping time..whoa...leading the wild and restless...through the nights...
Journey's - Mother Father
Mother Father is from their Escape album in 1981. Mother Father, is a kind of sad song from Journey that sounds like a song about a broken home. I always liked this song because of the way it sounds and how it builds in intensity. Here is a small excerpt of the lyrics from the song Mother Father: With dreams he tried...but lost his pride...he drinks his life away...one photograph... in broken glass...It should not end this way...
Journey's - Good Morning Girl
Good Morning Girl is from their Departure album that was released in 1980. I really like the melody in Good Morning Girl. One thing that is great about Journey, is that you can easily remember the great melodies and words from their songs. Here is an example:
...good morning girl, how you been? Good morning girl, is love within?
Journey's - Faithfully
Faithfully is from their album called Frontiers in 1983. Journey's song Faithfully is one of Journey's most well known songs. It's a beautiful song that starts out with a memorable piano part. The song is about how having a family and a relationship is difficult for someone that is famous in the music industry. Check out some excerpts from the song Faithfully and sing along!...circus life, under the big top world..we all need the clowns to make us smile..through space and time...always another show wondering where I am...lost without you...And being apart ain't easy on this love affair...two strangers learn to fall in love again...I get the joy of rediscovering you...
Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)
Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) is a song from their album Frontiers which was released in 1983. Journey's song Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) was a very popular song for Journey on the radio. I remember it playing often and always enjoyed the guitar leads in the song.
Journey's - Any Way You Want It
Any Way You Want It, is song that was released on their album called Departure in 1980. Any Way You Want It was another very popular Journey song on the radio and everyone sang along with the song with the radio or tape players maxed out:...she loves to move...she loves to groove...she loves the loving things...ooh, all night, all night, ooh, every night...so hold tight, hold tight, ooh, baby, hold tight...ooh, she said, any way you want it, that's the way you need it, any way you want it...
Journey's - Wheel In The Sky
Wheel In The Sky is from Journey's fourth album called Infinity, which was released in 1978. Journey song lyrics always gave me the ability to actually visualize what they are singing...winter is here again...Oh Lord...haven't been home in a year or more...I hope she holds on a little longer...sent a letter on a long summer day...made of silver, not of clay...oh I've been running round this dusty road... see what I mean?
Journey's - Open Arms
Open Arms is from their Escape album released in 1981. Open Arms was a hugely successful and widely popular song by Journey. It is one of my all time favorite Journey songs and has some excellent lyrics....lying beside you, here in the dark...feeling your heart beat with mine...softly you whisper, you're so sincere...how could our love be so blind...we sailed on together, we drifted apart and here you are by my side..
Journey's - Lovin Touchin Squeezin
Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin' is a Journey song from their fifth album titled Evolution, which was released in 1979. Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin' is probably one of the most successful songs from the album Evolution and was played extensively on the radio.
Well, I have covered just a very few of some of Journey's great songs, because there are just so many that are wonderful songs. I hope that you have enjoyed revisiting some of Journey's great songs and some of my personal favorites as much as I did!
