Favorites Playlists: No1--Journey
Delving into the creation and sharing of playlists on my YouTube Music account has become a fascinating pastime. I can't quite decide which platform offers a better experience for sharing—YouTube Music or regular YouTube—since it likely varies based on devices and personal circumstances. If you have a preference, please drop a comment and let me know!
Today, Journey unexpectedly popped into my head, inspiring me to listen to their 1979 album Evolution. This led me down a nostalgic rabbit hole. Initially, I thought I might find about 30 songs that felt worthy of my Favorites list—a substantial number, indicating a treasure trove of great music. Surprisingly, by the time I was done, I ended up with 40 Journey songs that hit the mark, amounting to over two and a half hours of stellar tunes.
Reflecting on another playlist attempt earlier in the week, for a band from a slightly earlier era but also in the Hall of Fame, I struggled to get past 18 songs before I landed in the realm of 'this is pretty interesting' versus 'this kicks ass.' The contrast was startling.
I won't delve into Journey's well-documented history—you can find that on Wikipedia. However, my personal history with Journey is deeply entwined with my formative years. The band rose to prominence during my time in junior high and became a significant presence throughout my high school years, especially with the first three albums featuring Steve Perry. Their fourth album with Perry, Escape, truly exploded, becoming ubiquitous in that distinctly 1980s radio-saturated way.
My relationship with their music began to wane with each subsequent album after Escape, yet my fandom persisted, fueled by hope for a resurgence. I still found their music above average, bolstered by radio stations that played their older, more amazing tracks relentlessly. A memorable moment was attending their 1986 Raised on Radio tour concert in Indianapolis. Initially, I remembered bringing a girl, X, along with a friend and his date, and those songs are wrapped in nostalgia because of her. However, a recent fact-check reminded me that it was actually Y whom I took, almost a year before I had even met X. This revelation has made me ponder the malleability of our memories, especially since I've been reading about how fallible and easily manipulated our recollections can be.
In 1981, I frequently played Escape in the car with the first girl I ever drove around. She chose Infinity and Evolution as our soundtrack for making out in the basement, though she eventually broke up with me for being too slow-paced for her romantic expectations. My naive attempts at understanding romance were guided by hearsay from peers rather than direct experience, which didn't serve me well during my junior or senior year.
Despite the heartache of being dumped before homecoming for an older guy, my friends tried to lift my spirits by setting me up with a dateless friend for the dance, themed 'Open Arms.' Later, at my senior prom, Faithfully became one of the night's anthems, a song I also played countless times while parked with my date after the dance.
No Journey song post-Perry, or even from the album before his departure, makes it into my top 40 favorites today. My last brush with Journey involved a Twitter debate around the time they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, about whether Arnel Pineda's Journey could hold a candle to Steve Perry's era. Despite my respect for what Pineda brings to the table, if given a time machine and tickets to any Journey show, I'd undoubtedly choose to see them in their heyday with Perry.
Reflecting on this exchange, I was surprised when Jonathan Cain, whom I admire from his days with The Babys, Journey, and Bad English, liked my critical tweet. It was an unexpected affirmation, though I later chose to retreat from the debate. Interestingly, upon checking recently, Cain still follows me, which leaves me feeling slightly special.
As we explore these playlists and the stories they evoke, I invite you to enjoy the music and share your thoughts!
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