Top 10 Journey Covers on YouTube

Don’t you get annoyed when you have to sit through a commercial just to watch your YouTube video? Sometimes you’re forced to watch “30 seconds” of an ad before you can click “skip”. In many of those “30 seconds”, I am sure that the words “Don’t Stop Believing” or “Anyway you want it, That’s the way you need it” have been played. From powerful anthems to beautiful ballads, the songs of Journey have been monumental in our mainstream culture. It’s no surprise that many musicians pay tribute to the vocals of Steve Perry and the guitar riffs of Neal Schon through their own versions of this band’s greatest hits.  Hunting through YouTube, I have complied a list of 10 covers of Journey songs (in no ranking whatsoever) that you surely don’t want to miss.

1. Stone in Love – Cover performed by Alex Ward

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnzeRiuJJgQ

I am not a sucker for solely instrumental versions of songs, but this is an exception. While Steve Perry gets credit for his outrageous vocal range in the original song, the real star is Neal Schon’s guitar-work. Alex Ward, a not-so-very-known guitar cover artist on YouTube imitates Schon’s riffs flawlessly. Alex brings out the element of guitar of this song like never before.

2. Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’ /Anyway you Want it – Cover performed by Glee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HfrWzdcOHc

It’s almost hard for me to admit that I am a fan of Glee, but it’s hard for me to deny how perfectly the musical director blended these two songs together.  This short medley is fun, feisty, and worth a listen to many times over.

3. Who’s Crying Now – Cover performed by Yotsuya OutBreak!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X90IdAQcoBg

What? A Japanese Journey cover band? Count me in! From the instrumentation to the vocals, it’s pretty easy to forget that you aren’t listening to the real deal. Yotsuya OutBreak depends a little more on their keyboards and synthesizers to play the song, so this cover has that Asian rock zest to it.

4. Wheel in the Sky – Cover performed by James Patrick

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WP6YP2JvoCs

I am a firm believer that pretty much any song can be “acoustified”, yet I was still pleasantly surprised to find a acoustic guitar version of this song. Yes, this guy has a decent voice, but really his folk-style playing that draws me in. In my opinion, the guitar accompaniment of James Patrick to me gives more emotions to the words than the original song.

5. Separate Ways – Cover by Michael Henry and Justin Robinet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGEPrw6Xla4

Michael Henry and Justin Robinet are best known for their renditions of Owl City songs and other more recent artists. Not only do their voices complement each other, but also they are both fantastic pianists, and have fun while playing. They harmonize perfectly with each other, and neither overpowers the other. The original “Separate Ways” would definitely be seen as a rock anthem, yet these two artists somehow managed to slow it down and make it more passionate. I approve of this rendition 100%.

6. Lights – Cover by PDxguitarfreak et. al

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHsxouvpS9c

What do you do if you are a musician who wants to form a band but does not know any other musicians around? You go on YouTube and find other artists in order to make a virtual band. From the west coast all the way down to Florida, PDxguitarfreak assembled a team in order to recreate this classic. While this cover was influenced by much technology, it is really easy to appreciate the unique flavor each member brings to this piece.

7. Anyway You Want it (Punk Rock Version) – Cover by Rise Against

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rO4US2payNs

No one captures that “in your face” feeling much like Rise Against. This song was definitely meant to pump up a crowd and get them going, and this cover more than does it. Its raw energy only makes me want to have this song “just the way I want it.”

8. Faithfully – Cover by Boyce Avenue

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALph_u2iee8

Boyce Avenue is one of the more famous YouTube stars known for covering classic hits. The lead man, Alejandro Manzano, has a voice very similar to Scott Stapp (Creed’s frontman).  What I love about this cover is the use of the Cajon to carry the rhythm along. The Cajon is basically percussion instrument that simply looks like a box

9. Don’t Stop Believing – Cover by Sam Tsui

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIoSTbPt_PI

            One Sam Tsui. Two Sam Tsui. Three Sam Tsui? Multiple Sam Tsuis? Sam is another famous YouTube cover artist, who actually had auditioned for Glee. Using only his voice, Sam overlays the vocal parts for all the instrumental in this song, and quite successfully may I add. He has a voice that will definitely melt the lady’s hearts, and he has a range rivals that of Steve Perry.

10. Open Arms – Cover by Arnel Pineda and The Zoo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpnEnt-qOw4

            If I told to close your eyes while listening to this cover, you would probably bet me $100 that this was a live performance of Journey. You would be wrong. Arnel Pineda, currently the lead singer of Journey, was actually discovered on YouTube for his perfect replica of Steve Perry’s voice. What makes this song so powerful is its soft sweet and emotional verses that ultimately build up to a high ranged belting of notes in the chorus. Arnel Pineda does not skip a beat on this cover.

Top 5 Best Drummers of All Time

            Across all musical genres, drums and the great drummers that accompany them create the backbone upon which the rest of the track is built.  While there certainly exist great songs that do not include drumming, it would be difficult to find a successful artist that does not employ drumming in at least one of their successful tracks.   The following is a list of some of the greatest drummers of all time. Whether they are known for their excellent technique, or loud and powerful sound, all of these drummers have contributed something unique and memorable to rock music.

5. Karen Carpenter (The Carpenters)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H47v7yYRfjA

            Before her untimely death, Karen Carpenter was known for her vocal performances in the duo, The Carpenters.  While she did possess great vocal talent, Carpenter’s great skills as a drummer are often overlooked.  As one can see from this video, Karen Carpenter’s technique and control hold their own against some of the bigger names in drumming.  One gets the sense that behind the controlled, even rhythms that Carpenter creates is the ability to produce a drum solo that totally kicks ass.

4. Neil Peart (Rush)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHkucr1jJpQ

            Like Karen Carpenter, Neil Peart exhibits amazing technique and control.  His style is anything but sloppy; it seems extremely well thought out and executed.  While Peart’s style may not appeal to fans of bands such as Nirvana or Pixies because it lacks that grunge appeal, one cannot argue that Peart is one of the most technically advanced drummers of all time.

3. Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Them Crooked Vultures, Foo Fighters)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLTuqWpaUBw

            Dave Grohl supposedly learned to play drums on pillows when he was too poor to afford a real drum kit -- a trait that’s made evident by his loud, powerful drumming.  Grohl beats the drums as if he’s back home playing on pillows, determined to produce some kind of sound.  Fans of Peart and Carpenter might not find Grohl’s style appealing, because technically it isn’t as impressive.  But Grohl exemplifies the rock ‘n’ roll style of grungy, loud, powerful music that defined rock music for decades.

2. Keith Moon (The Who)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WT5uAIPFft8

            Find any list of great rock drummers and Keith Moon will be on it -- and for good reason.  Moon exemplifies a great blend of the technical prowess of Karen Carpenter and Neil Peart along with the grungy style of Dave Grohl.  His drum solo in the opening of “Won’t Get Fooled Again” (found in the above link) combines admirable technical skills with a powerful rock sound – a feat that’s anything but easy.

1. John Bonham (Led Zeppelin)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRuTcnd8YLU

            While Keith Moon does a great job of blending technical ability with soul, no one does it like John Bonham.  Bonham’s technical skill trumps almost anyone, blending soft and loud tones to create a sound that demonstrates spectacular control.  In the midst of this great technical prowess, though, lies a funky, soulful sound that can be found in few other drummers’ styles.  Bonham is one of the few drummers that could hold his own in a funk band, a grunge band, a punk band -- the list goes on.  His unique sound helped to define Led Zeppelin and propel them to fame, and helped to establish him as what many, including myself, consider the greatest drummer of all time.

The Evolution of Rock and Roll

I don’t think I realized how hard it would be portray the movement of rock and roll in just ten songs, until I tried. Queen, Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana—the list of those who have tremendously impacted the genre goes on and on. However, for the sake of honoring that “Top Ten” constraint, here is a compilation of songs I feel highlight some of the best moments of rock and roll! Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJUBpbTuvmuh1Wut5SEUS7_16uGJFUtV1

1954: Billy Haley and His Comets’ rendition of Rock around the Clock marks the critical period when rock and roll finally pushed its way into mainstream American culture. The first of Haley’s songs to hit the top of the Pop charts, Rock around the Clock was a key contributor to rock and roll’s explosive popularity across the globe. The song was especially well-received by the younger generations of the 1950’s. (For fear of belittling Billy Haley and His Comets, I’m hesitant to compare the song to a teen-obsession like “Call me Maybe” or “You Don’t Know You’re Beautiful.”) Nonetheless, the song’s impact on American youth was tremendous, becoming an anthem of the time.

1956: Inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and ranked #45 on The Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll, Heartbreak Hotel by Elvis Presley changed the early sounds of the genre. The song incorporates an eight-bar blues progression and exemplifies Presley’s unique style. His southern twang and vibrato-infused vocals mixes into the music, resulting in this great, echoing sound that people now associate with Presley. Regular performances of big hits like Heartbreak Hotel helped glorify Elvis, as the King of Rock and Roll.

1958: No curation of Rock and Roll would be complete without including something by Chuck Berry. Commended by The Rolling Stone Magazine for his guitar-driven melodies, Berry shaped the sound of rock and roll with his blues-style picking and upbeat rhythm. His chart-topping hit Sweet Little Sixteen encompasses key elements that made rock and roll an early, musical phenomenon. Catchy lyrics, a lively tempo, guitar riffs—who wouldn’t tap their foot to a beat like this? The song also proved to be extremely influential on later rock and roll super stars. In fact…listen closely and you’ll realize that the melody is pretty similar to a certain Beach Boys song… any ideas which one? If not, the tune will definitely ring a bell soon!

1963: Up until this point, the Beatles had proven extremely successful in the British music industry. With the release of I Want to Hold Your Hand, however, the British rock band broke into the American market. Catchy tunes with bold instrumentals helped turn “Beatle-mania” into rock and roll’s next biggest phenomenon. Songs like this and the well-acclaimed Hey Jude not only popularized the Beatles in the 1960’s, but contributed to the band’s legacy as THE timeless identity of rock and roll.

1965: Over 6 minutes long, Like a Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan wasn’t even released to the public ears of rock and roll until a month after its recording. Thank goodness the song was eventually leaked, though, because it ended up becoming a really influential piece in the genre’s modern age. Many rockers would later cover the song, and Bob Dylan, himself, considered it to be the highest point of his career. Dylan’s compelling lyrics and that famous organ riff—just two of the many elements that contributed to the song’s revolutionary appeal during the post-war era. Today, ranked as #1 on The Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Best Songs of All Time, Like a Rolling Stone represents a big cultural milestone in popular music.

1965: I had to include something from the Rolling Stones. Yes, part of the reason was because they have an internationally acclaimed magazine named after them…but more than that, the band’s ability to reach out and engage America’s younger generations marks a pivotal point in rock and roll history. Bands began using their music as a weapon against the world’s greatest problems, and no band was more successful at doing so than the Rolling Stones. Bringing back the blues of black musicians and rebelliously singing about sexual subject matter, the Rolling Stones reacted to discontentment of the times. In the midst of the civil rights and women’s movements, the explosive music and provocative lyrics of Satisfaction was well-received. Probably their most well-known song, today, Satisfaction by the Rolling Stones ranks as the second best song of all time (second only to Bob Dylan’s Like a Rolling Stone).

1966: When we think Beach Boys, the first song that may come to mind is Surfin’ USA, one of the California band’s earliest hits. (To answer that previous question, this was the song that “borrowed” the melody of Chuck Berry’s Sweet Little Sixteen.) However, the Beach Boys were known for much more than their summertime tunes. Often referred to as the Beach Boys' “pocket symphony”, Good Vibrations demonstrates the band’s innovation in musical arrangement and their signature vocal harmonies.  It is one of rock and roll’s big successes in the 60’s age of psychedelic pop.

1970: The guitar-driven melody and husky vocals of Eric Clapton’s Layla helped usher in a softer side of rock and roll. Originally released by Clapton’s band, Derek and the Dominos, the song was not well received in the 1970’s. However, in the following decades, Layla gained enormous acclaim—definitively becoming the best known love song in the history of rock and roll. Inspired by Eric Clapton’s love affair with Pattie Boyd (former wife of George Harrison from The Beatles), the acoustic, unplugged version ranks as #27 on the Rolling Stones Magazine’s list of “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” and earned Clapton a Grammy for Best Rock Song in 1993.

1971: Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven is one of those dynamic songs that keeps you on your toes. Over the course of 8 minutes, the English band progresses through an acoustic folk feel, to an electric sound, all the way to a bold finale of hard rock; each section brings something amazing to an audience’s ears. Stairway to Heaven took a few years to gain anthem-status in the US and UK, but even today, the song has made a lasting impression on rock and rollers, worldwide.  Not a huge rock-junkie myself, I admit that this song is the first that comes to mind when I think Led Zeppelin. I started the clip from the end of Jimmy Page’s phenomenal 4-minute guitar solo during the song, as it is widely considered one of the best all time.

1975: Bruce Springsteen played a huge role in revitalizing rock and roll. He sought to embody the energy and vibrancy that had characterized the music of early stars like Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry. The title song of his third album, Born to Run, captured the rebellious attitude of the 1970’s, infusing a sense of liberation and exhilaration into the genre of rock. The song is especially demonstrative of Springsteen’s break from the conventional organization of rock. He and his band incorporate multiple instruments to create this rich, overpowering sound that proved extremely appealing to the disillusioned audience of the time.  

That concludes my curation of the Ten Biggest Moments of Rock and Roll. Feel free to comment or add to the list!