Reading other music threads I notice some people enjoy this faux rock band.
Why, they had maybe two good songs very early.
The rest is insipid.
Here’s why. Journey has really dramatic songs that you can sing along with really loud when you’re alone in the car or something.
“So now I COOOOOOME to YOUUUUUUU with OOOOOOOOPEN AAAAAARRRRMS…”
Well, they’re pretty inoffensive and easy to put in the background. That puts them ahead of most bands right there.
Don’t Stop Believing and what else?
What’s wrong with liking a band that had a hit or two? I have a lot of albums with only one or two tracks that I ever listen to. If you asked, I’d say I liked that band but it’s just the songs I listen to often that I’m thinking of.
Neal Schon and Steve Smith are great musicians.
Plus, they have a string of hits through the 70’s and 80’s. This from their greatest hits site. I didn’t like Journey* all that much*, but I can sing these songs from memory, plus some others.
2.“Don’t Stop Believin’” (Perry, Schon, Cain) – 4:10
3.“Wheel in the Sky” (Diane Valory, Schon, Robert Fleischman) – 4:12
4.“Faithfully” (Cain) – 4:16
6.“Any Way You Want It” (Perry, Schon) – 3:21
8.“Who’s Crying Now” (Perry, Cain) – 5:00
9.“Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” (Perry, Cain) – 5:24
10.“Lights” (Perry, Schon) – 3:10
11.“Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’” (Perry) – 3:54
12.“Open Arms” (Perry, Cain) – 3:23
14.“Send Her My Love” (Perry, Cain) – 3:54
It’s an impressive hit list. What do you got?
Separate Ways absolutely ROCKS. Journey practically chokes you with the schmaltz and cheese of melodramatic arena rock but it’s fun as hell.
The first 3 albums were great. After that they kind of lost me.
I think Cracked said it best “There are two kinds of people in this world: People who love Journey ironically and people who love Journey genuinely.”
For me, it’s two main things: Steve Perry, IMO, is one of the all time greatest voices in rock, and Neil Schon, one of the great guitar players. Killer combo.
Their ballads are a little schmaltzy, I can see that.
Separate Ways, Chain Reaction, Don’t Stop Believin’, Girl Can’t Help It, Lights, Lovin’ Touchin’ Squeezin’… all great songs to sing along to.
And they must be the only rock band to have an arcade game made after them:
Steve Perry can SANG. (“Sanging” is different than “singing.”)
There will always be people who need to dedicate a song to their lady/guy.
Once it’s over, Journey is there with songs to soothe your broken heart. 'Cause you’re not alone and your pain is real, man.
Besides Aerosmith (Revolution X video), The Who (pinball) and Kiss (pinball). A few solo rock/pop acts also had arcade games of various sorts (Elton John had a pinball called Captain Fantastic, Michael Jackson had an arcade video upright of Moonwalker).
Yeah but Journey was first 
Everyone has their own taste in music and I make no apologies that I freakin’ LOVE Journey.
Name me ANY rap/hip-hop ‘artist’/group and in MY opinion it’s crap, but I don’t deny anyone else the opportunity to listen to it if they want.
I just don’t get the mindset that if you personally don’t like a performer that NO ONE should.
The pinballs for Kiss and Elton John predated Journey in the arcade, but Journey was definitely the first in video games (both arcade and home) in 1982. I don’t recall seeing any other pop/rock-related games until 1985 (Paul McCartney related “Give My Regards to Broad Street” and a Frankie Goes to Hollywood game).
Combined with their contribution to the original Tron soundtrack, Journey seems to have been consciously targeting that market segment.
There is no South Detroit…
Cool, didn’t know they contributed to the Tron soundtrack.
Journey’s first couple albums were somewhat prog, but they became commercialized on the third album. Many of their songs such as “Wheel In the Sky” are quite schmaltzy, but their Escape live tour was worth seeing. They were one of those bands who bridged the gap between 70s stadium rock and 80s … stadium rock.
I don’t like Journey. I don’t like Steve Perry’s voice. I am often labeled a heretic of my generation.