# Which one's your favourite? REO / Styx / Journey / Foreigner **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 11, 2011, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ones-your-favourite-reo-styx-journey-foreigner/588682 "2011-07-11T22:59:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ones-your-favourite-reo-styx-journey-foreigner/588682/41 "2011-07-13T18:43:08Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I see you’re from Illinois, so maybe this applies, but around the Chicagoland area, that song is very much identified with the 2005 White Sox World Series run. > > Also, it was used in the final scene of _the Sopranos_. > > Interestingly, Jonathan Caine of Journey thinks [the White Sox](http://www.quora.com/When-how-and-why-did-Journeys-Dont-Stop-Believing-get-its-second-wind-of-popularity-1) are the main instigator of the song’s renaissance. Those two, plus it was the first hit from the first episode of **Glee**. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ones-your-favourite-reo-styx-journey-foreigner/588682/42 "2011-07-13T18:51:08Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > \*\*Junior Walker’s \*\*sax solo in \*\*Foreigner \*\*4’s song \*\*Urgent \*\*is the best thing across all of those albums. > > Not sure what else to say. Agreed. And Lou Gramm has one of the great voices in rock 'n roll. I like Styx, but I can agree with those who don’t much like the schmaltz. There are two Styx’s, the Dennis De Young side and the Tommy Shaw side. I’ve always favored Tommy’s songs, such as _Renegade_, _Too Much Time On My Hands_, and _Blue Collar Man_. Dennis’ songs are the ones that make people think of high-concept, overproduced theatrical rock. (_Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto_) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ones-your-favourite-reo-styx-journey-foreigner/588682/43 "2011-07-13T18:54:00Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I see you’re from Illinois, so maybe this applies, but around the Chicagoland area, that song is very much identified with the 2005 White Sox World Series run. Ironic, for a song about being “born and raised in south Detroit.” You’d think Styx and REO would get the Illinoisans’ home town favorites votes. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ones-your-favourite-reo-styx-journey-foreigner/588682/44 "2011-07-13T19:02:21Z")
Journey, Styx, REO, and Foreigner in that order. ---
**Author:** ![born\_too\_late](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba9def/32.png) [@born\_too\_late](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/born_too_late)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ones-your-favourite-reo-styx-journey-foreigner/588682/45 "2011-07-13T19:14:21Z")
Styx always seemed like it had a split personality - there were the earnest rocker songs, and then there were the cringe-inducing theatrical abortions sponsored and sung by that wanker Dennis DeYoung. Mr. Roboto is an abomination. All four bands had at least a few great tunes, but because they were all trying to make money in the era of the power ballad, they each had their share of sappy, dated crap. On preview: what **cochrane** said. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ones-your-favourite-reo-styx-journey-foreigner/588682/46 "2011-07-13T22:29:36Z")
I picked Journey but I loved Styx just about as much. Of course if Rush had been an option . . . ---
**Author:** ![CPomeroy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ed8c4c/32.png) [@CPomeroy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CPomeroy)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ones-your-favourite-reo-styx-journey-foreigner/588682/47 "2011-07-13T22:31:06Z")
I never liked Journey, but to be fair, they are probably the one that stuck with the rock and roll the most. Foreigner and REO both sold out badly, with really lame ballads and Styx never was as clever as they thought they were and they just kind of collapsed under their own pretentiousness around Paradise Theater. I think the pre-Hi Infidelity REO and Pre-Four foreigner are both reasonably good, but seeing REO live in their home town of Champaign, Illinois gives them the edge to me. They really could rock live, which in a way makes the sell out all the more disappointing. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ones-your-favourite-reo-styx-journey-foreigner/588682/48 "2011-07-14T13:09:37Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I see you’re from Illinois, so maybe this applies, but around the Chicagoland area, that song is very much identified with the 2005 White Sox World Series run. I think you’re right. That would be the right time-frame. Thanks **pulykamell**. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ones-your-favourite-reo-styx-journey-foreigner/588682/49 "2011-07-14T13:23:42Z")
Three terrible, terrible bands and one that I couldn’t even name a song by (Styx). In short, I’d rather gnaw off my own cock. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ones-your-favourite-reo-styx-journey-foreigner/588682/50 "2011-07-14T13:27:16Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > Three terrible, terrible bands and one that I couldn’t even name a song by (Styx). > > In short, I’d rather gnaw off my own cock. Now? Or 30 years ago? ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ones-your-favourite-reo-styx-journey-foreigner/588682/51 "2011-07-14T13:32:28Z")
Styx taught an entire generation of Americans to say “thank you” in Japanese. Unfortunately, I had expectations of something as great as 2112 but was sorely let down. On the other hand, there is the absolute awesomeness that is [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvLXOZKSve8&feature=related) and [this.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAAa1YPcoV4&feature=player_detailpage#t=8s) ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ones-your-favourite-reo-styx-journey-foreigner/588682/52 "2011-07-15T10:27:35Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Now? Or 30 years ago? You asking if they were terrible 30 years ago or if I’d like to have preferred to gnaw my cock off 30 years ago? A bad band is a bad band, whenever. Three of them are utter shite and a fourth is totally off my radar. And I was seven thirty years ago. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ones-your-favourite-reo-styx-journey-foreigner/588682/53 "2011-07-15T10:43:27Z")
This thread title is parody to me. ---
**Author:** ![Mince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Mince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mince)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ones-your-favourite-reo-styx-journey-foreigner/588682/54 "2011-07-15T10:58:32Z")
False Dilemma, but I’ll choose anyway: Journey. Every song they did from Captured to Escape was so amazingly feel-good it gave me chills (the good kind) and inflated my sense of self-worth. It’s like when, as a kid, you see Superman or a Chuck Norris movie in a theater, you left thinking you could fly or kung-fu everyone to death. Even today, when I hear Velvet Curtain/Feeling That Way, I believe I can rule the world; and I just might one day, all thanks to Journey. REO: Only really good song is “Time for Me to Fly,” but I love that one a lot. Styx: A few really good songs, but mostly mediocre. Foreigner: Utter crap and historically overrated. What, nor Rush? ---
**Author:** ![Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swords_to_Plowshares)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ones-your-favourite-reo-styx-journey-foreigner/588682/55 "2011-07-15T14:38:44Z")
Journey out of the ones listed, although I’d take Kansas over all of them. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ones-your-favourite-reo-styx-journey-foreigner/588682/56 "2011-07-15T15:33:12Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > \*\*Junior Walker’s \*\*sax solo in \*\*Foreigner \*\*4’s song \*\*Urgent \*\*is the best thing across all of those albums. > > Not sure what else to say. Well, that and the intro to “Woman In Black”. Always loved that screaming guitar. https://www.youtube.com/embed/AnWzF-C-u-M?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ones-your-favourite-reo-styx-journey-foreigner/588682/57 "2011-07-15T15:45:43Z")
By the way, does anybody else put them in the fairly broad category of ‘lobotomy rock’? ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ones-your-favourite-reo-styx-journey-foreigner/588682/58 "2011-07-15T15:58:20Z")
I had to pick REO. Back when I was a student at Southern Illinois University, REO would perform in the local bars there on a fairly regular basis and I was a huge fan. However, not being yet 21, I couldn’t get in to see them. I used to get there early, wait behind the bar, and the band would let me sneak in as a Roadie. They were really nice guys and I did this so often that they really did let me help (a bit) with set up. I was really happy for them when they started to get “big” and perform at larger venues than just local campus bars. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2011, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ones-your-favourite-reo-styx-journey-foreigner/588682/59 "2011-07-15T18:54:46Z")
This poll very much needs a “None of the above” option. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ones-your-favourite-reo-styx-journey-foreigner/588682/60 "2011-07-16T04:05:58Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > This poll very much needs a “None of the above” option. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. I specifically NOT put an “other” option, because it only derails the poll. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ones-your-favourite-reo-styx-journey-foreigner/588682.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-ones-your-favourite-reo-styx-journey-foreigner/588682.md?page=4)