Pardon this interruption.....
Feb 16, 2006 12:51:43 GMT -5
Post by icubud on Feb 16, 2006 12:51:43 GMT -5
I can not help it. Every time I listen to TBF two thoughts run through my mind:
1. I would love to see and hear these songs in concert with the group.
2. *%#@ it!
You know I think too much sometimes. It has its definite disadvantages. Actually what I call the process is stew and chew. I have been thinking through this TBF and the divorce and I would like to share my conclusions about the whole thing. Nothing brilliant or deep just finally thinking I am getting my mind wrapped around what has been bugging me about the whole thing.
And to be honest what really got my thoughts to form was a discussion I had with my wife in lieu of the recent rumors/truth/whatever – that Van Halen is going to look for a new lead singer the same way INXS had and they are in the process of contract negotiations etc.
Ok – here it is:
First the whole idea that NS, JC, RV and whomever had that they needed to strike while the iron was hot and since SP was having health problems – time to find a new lead singer. This reasoning has always been a little weird to me. Strike while the iron is hot – and go with a different group. Now I know some out there say Journey had developed over the years with different players – Tickner leaving, Dunbar leaving replaced by Smith, Rolie leaving replaced by Cain, RV and SS gone replaced by Baird and Jackson hence SA replacing SP makes sense.
Okay – pre-Infinity the “voice” of Journey was GR. While I am sure the jammed in concert and have a couple songs that if edited a little could have been good radio songs – the group was built for jamming. Enter SP – which was a choice by HH and group that to go to the next level they needed something more. That would be translated by music sales which occur when your music is played and people hear it, like it and buy it. This was a key process that Journey had not experienced yet.
Infinity – Capture and what do we see? Zoom! Radio hits = Album $ales = Profitable Tours.
Now let me interject something here: if you are NS or GR and it was ALL (your goal in music) was just about jamming and not about the money you must have been against the selection of SP. I don’t think that was the issue. The $ is nice and necessary to have the luxuries and needs met.
GR left and enter JC. Did GR leave because he was sick of SP? Did he leave because the music “man” is not jamming anymore? Did he leave just because he was tired of the road and the demand of the HH managed Journey was 200+ shows a year? I don’t know. We have heard/read the different stories. But for whatever reason – GR left and enter JC.
JC liked to write music the way Journey was playing music at the time. His writing style was more geared for radio than a GR. Not saying one was better than the other, they were/are different. What happens next is phenomenal – Escape & Frontiers. Ladies and gentlemen VAVOOM! They are turbo charged atomic rocket that absolutely scorches the world, radio, charts, competition, and themselves. We know that during this time lives changed. WELL DUH! Unbelievable success will do that (see JK Rowling for example). How in the world do you cope? How in the world do you just survive? There are personal crisis occurring – why? It is called LIFE. If your on Earth and breathing you are taking part in LIFE – which means you must deal with the ups and downs – NO ONE gets a free pass – no matter how much money/success you have. From the scorched existence and mud of life comes the ROR project which sees major poor and unsatisfactory personnel changes and treatment of one another.
Why all these words? From Infinity – ROR: there was a nucleus of SP and NS. While RV and SS can never be duplicated – they could be replaced. The same can be said for GR or JC. The nucleus not only was the source of the lyrics and music – it was also the voice and image/show of the group.
A lot of ego damage was done. A lot of personal relationship wounds were inflicted. It was undoubtedly tough.
Which brings me to TBF and the reason behind the divorce: an iron can not be hot if the voice, lyricist, show front-man is gone. Understand – for Journey – SP can not be duplicated nor replaced. However you can have a “stand-in” and by that I mean nothing mean to SA. [As SA he is great.] So the iron was not being struck when it was hot. Further more the decision to go on without him did something else – it created a HUGE divide within the fan base because of the decision. Now – how is that striking while the iron is hot? No – something else was involved. Something far more natural – this was all about pride and ego. “Thanks SP for the Ferrari it sure is a trade up on the 1969 VW van I was driving;” was what NS was saying. In fact – that is what JC and RV agreed to as well. As a business decision – this did not make sense in the least. As a “up yours” – it fits all too well.
With SA – NS has the no name, grateful for a gig and job guy who will not question NS authority/decisions. That – as a business decision – works. (See the connection to Eddie VH looking for a new lead singer tie in here.) Not a business decision for the success of the group and the longevity and growth of the music – but a business decision for one Mr. Self.
In addition as a business decision the moved doomed Journey. I have got to say that “All the Way” and “Higher Place” are two fantastic songs. And – catch this – and would have been huge successes on the radio which would have translated to music sales if – and only if – it was not under the name Journey. Proof? Bad English. They had some great tunes that got played on the radio, MTV, and had good shows. If JC and NS had marketed it as Journey – it would not have flown. I “guarantee”. Business is not just doing what you want (duh) it is delivering to the customer (fans and potential fans) what they want --- meet and exceed their expectations. Not say “you want porterhouse steak, sure here ya go” and then deliver a hot dog. Nothing against the hot dog – I was in the mood for, expected, and wanted the porterhouse steak. NS – BAD BUSINESS DECISION on your part.
Shew! I think I feel better now.
1. I would love to see and hear these songs in concert with the group.
2. *%#@ it!
You know I think too much sometimes. It has its definite disadvantages. Actually what I call the process is stew and chew. I have been thinking through this TBF and the divorce and I would like to share my conclusions about the whole thing. Nothing brilliant or deep just finally thinking I am getting my mind wrapped around what has been bugging me about the whole thing.
And to be honest what really got my thoughts to form was a discussion I had with my wife in lieu of the recent rumors/truth/whatever – that Van Halen is going to look for a new lead singer the same way INXS had and they are in the process of contract negotiations etc.
Ok – here it is:
First the whole idea that NS, JC, RV and whomever had that they needed to strike while the iron was hot and since SP was having health problems – time to find a new lead singer. This reasoning has always been a little weird to me. Strike while the iron is hot – and go with a different group. Now I know some out there say Journey had developed over the years with different players – Tickner leaving, Dunbar leaving replaced by Smith, Rolie leaving replaced by Cain, RV and SS gone replaced by Baird and Jackson hence SA replacing SP makes sense.
Okay – pre-Infinity the “voice” of Journey was GR. While I am sure the jammed in concert and have a couple songs that if edited a little could have been good radio songs – the group was built for jamming. Enter SP – which was a choice by HH and group that to go to the next level they needed something more. That would be translated by music sales which occur when your music is played and people hear it, like it and buy it. This was a key process that Journey had not experienced yet.Infinity – Capture and what do we see? Zoom! Radio hits = Album $ales = Profitable Tours.
Now let me interject something here: if you are NS or GR and it was ALL (your goal in music) was just about jamming and not about the money you must have been against the selection of SP. I don’t think that was the issue. The $ is nice and necessary to have the luxuries and needs met.
GR left and enter JC. Did GR leave because he was sick of SP? Did he leave because the music “man” is not jamming anymore? Did he leave just because he was tired of the road and the demand of the HH managed Journey was 200+ shows a year? I don’t know. We have heard/read the different stories. But for whatever reason – GR left and enter JC.
JC liked to write music the way Journey was playing music at the time. His writing style was more geared for radio than a GR. Not saying one was better than the other, they were/are different. What happens next is phenomenal – Escape & Frontiers. Ladies and gentlemen VAVOOM! They are turbo charged atomic rocket that absolutely scorches the world, radio, charts, competition, and themselves. We know that during this time lives changed. WELL DUH! Unbelievable success will do that (see JK Rowling for example). How in the world do you cope? How in the world do you just survive? There are personal crisis occurring – why? It is called LIFE. If your on Earth and breathing you are taking part in LIFE – which means you must deal with the ups and downs – NO ONE gets a free pass – no matter how much money/success you have. From the scorched existence and mud of life comes the ROR project which sees major poor and unsatisfactory personnel changes and treatment of one another.
Why all these words? From Infinity – ROR: there was a nucleus of SP and NS. While RV and SS can never be duplicated – they could be replaced. The same can be said for GR or JC. The nucleus not only was the source of the lyrics and music – it was also the voice and image/show of the group.
A lot of ego damage was done. A lot of personal relationship wounds were inflicted. It was undoubtedly tough.
Which brings me to TBF and the reason behind the divorce: an iron can not be hot if the voice, lyricist, show front-man is gone. Understand – for Journey – SP can not be duplicated nor replaced. However you can have a “stand-in” and by that I mean nothing mean to SA. [As SA he is great.] So the iron was not being struck when it was hot. Further more the decision to go on without him did something else – it created a HUGE divide within the fan base because of the decision. Now – how is that striking while the iron is hot? No – something else was involved. Something far more natural – this was all about pride and ego. “Thanks SP for the Ferrari it sure is a trade up on the 1969 VW van I was driving;” was what NS was saying. In fact – that is what JC and RV agreed to as well. As a business decision – this did not make sense in the least. As a “up yours” – it fits all too well.
With SA – NS has the no name, grateful for a gig and job guy who will not question NS authority/decisions. That – as a business decision – works. (See the connection to Eddie VH looking for a new lead singer tie in here.) Not a business decision for the success of the group and the longevity and growth of the music – but a business decision for one Mr. Self.
In addition as a business decision the moved doomed Journey. I have got to say that “All the Way” and “Higher Place” are two fantastic songs. And – catch this – and would have been huge successes on the radio which would have translated to music sales if – and only if – it was not under the name Journey. Proof? Bad English. They had some great tunes that got played on the radio, MTV, and had good shows. If JC and NS had marketed it as Journey – it would not have flown. I “guarantee”. Business is not just doing what you want (duh) it is delivering to the customer (fans and potential fans) what they want --- meet and exceed their expectations. Not say “you want porterhouse steak, sure here ya go” and then deliver a hot dog. Nothing against the hot dog – I was in the mood for, expected, and wanted the porterhouse steak. NS – BAD BUSINESS DECISION on your part.
Shew! I think I feel better now.
