Head2Head: Steve Perry vs. Arnel Pineda Part 1 - Introduction

I already have four remakes of Journey songs (with Arnel Pineda) here in my phone, namely Faithfully, Open Arms, Separate Ways and Don't Stop Believin'. Before I have thought of making this entry about these two great Journey singers, and have actually tried listening to the above mentioned songs sung by Steve Perry, I was already hoping by my simple methods that I was to do for this entry will reveal, at least for my own opinion, who would turn out to be the overall better singer in their prime. But honestly, I was wrong and when the other reviews said Steve and Arnel have very similar voices, they were right. My opinion is they have very distinctive voices, but very very similar. So what separates the two of them?

I will try to compare these two singers the best way that I can. I have already assumed that they are of more or less the same vocal range (countertenor range with maybe around 3 octaves using the normal voice, let alone the range for falsetto as they do not use it in the Journey hit songs), but I'm just hoping I would stumble upon articles which really discusses their vocal range as I can't seem to find any. All I have read from random people here in the internet is that they are saying Arnel's range is higher than Steve's (maybe just by a few semitones). As they have sung some of the hits in the studio quite differently, I have already assumed one can sing how the other has sung it, and vice versa (except for Arnel's portamento in the ending of Separate Ways - which is a real tenor tester). So I am guessing this may be a battle of creativity, guts and showmanship.

Well, to introduce the two vocalists:

Steve Perry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Perry_(musician))



Steve came in the band Journey in 1977, replacing the band's former singer. He basically set the musical direction with his soaring tenor voice and his songwriting skills, making hit after hit after hit, especially on the albums Escape (1981) and Frontiers (1983), which included four songs I have enlisted above (except for Faithfully, which was written only by Journey keyboardist Jon Cain).

Aside from his success as a band member of Journey, he also pushed out efforts as a solo artist, released two solo albums entitled Street Talk (1984) and For The Love of Strange Medicine (1994). Street Talk includes the hit songs Oh Sherrie (which topped the charts, but I honestly don't know this song) and Foolish Heart. I don't know much about the latter album, but this was released just before the band's reunion in 1995.

Steve suffered a hip injury that caused him unable to perform, and needed corrective surgery. He was hesitant of having the surgery done, and the rest of the band had to wait since the tour had to be delayed (and it got so delayed). Steve parted ways from the band, after Neal Schon and Jon Cain set an ultimatum for Steve to have the surgery done. The tour was so delayed, that the band had to look for a replacement vocalist. That was 1998.

Around that time, Arnel Pineda and his band (band name at that time is New Age) was asked by an owner of a restaurant/nightclub in Hong Kong to perform there. Dressed in skeleton outfits, they called themselves "The Rolling Bones".

So let's move on to the other guy...

Arnel Pineda (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnel_Pineda)



I'd like to skip most of Arnel's very dark past and keep it private for him (and I know the story is already widespread in the internet).

Arnel started to be a band's lead vocalist when he was 15 years old, with the band named Ijos. Armed with passion and encouragement to sing by his mother, he was pretty much ready to rock at a young age.

Basically his band made a few changes in members and name along the way, joining a few contests and remained active doing their gigs mostly in Luzon. At the Yamaha World Band Explosion in 1990, Arnel won the best vocalist award while his band won as first runner up. A talent agent spotted Arnel and the band and was asked to perform in Hong Kong. In 1991, Arnel with his band moved to Hong Kong and performed six nights a week.

The year 1994 could have been the end of Arnel's singing career. His health was comprised after his long-term romantic relationship failed that year, almost losing his voice. He was advised by the doctor that his singing was over and he had to stop. But after several months of recuperation here in his homeland, he was able to sing again. By 1998, he and his band went back to Hong Kong to perform again, but flew back again here in Manila to record his solo self-titled album, with some of the songs he wrote and arranged himself. Added note: in the album, he cut his hair short and dyed it blonde.

From 2002 to 2005, Arnel and his band went back to Hong Kong to perform again, now sharing the lead vocals seat with a female singer. By 2006, Arnel flew back here with Monet Cajipe, the guitarist who had been in all bands were Arnel was in. They formed the band called The Zoo, and released the album Zoology in September 2007.

And who would have known just three months after that release, he would officially become the lead singer of Journey. Somehow, one of Arnel's fans and a good friend of his managed to record and upload most of The Zoo's performances with his VC. And somehow, from halfway around the globe, from the places where the timezones are maybe fifteen or sixteen hours in difference of Arnel's (and mine too) local timezone, Neal Schon made his way to these videos and had him convinced that Arnel could be the perfect frontman for their band.

And he was right. The whole band was right. Now they have released their first album with Arnel entitled "Revelation" which debuted at #5 in the US charts, and they have been touring around the world with their new music and the invigorated old ones.

Around this time, Steve is enjoying his retirement but some news spreading out rumors that he's making a new album. Dunno.

So watch out for my analysis on the head to head battle of these two undeniably great vocalists (at least when Steve was still in his prime). :) Three more parts to go.