Meet the Philippines’ Arnel Pineda (that’s “pin-eh-da”), the most recent man responsible for encouraging those wonderful YouTubes of nobodys covering somebodys we all love so. Journey’s needed a lead singer, and guitarist Neal Schon told Blabbermouth:
I was frustrated about not having a singer, so I went on YouTube for a couple of days and just sat on it for hours. I was starting to think I was never going to find anybody. But then I found THE ZOO and I watched a bunch of different video clips that they had posted. After watching the videos over and over again, I had to walk away from the computer and let what I heard sink in because it sounded too good to be true. I thought, ‘he can’t be that good.’ But he is that good, he’s the real deal and so tremendously talented.
The Zoo is Arnel’s band, who’ve been rocking Journey covers and originals for years and, of course, posting ‘em to YouTube. Neal called Arnel, Arnel called bullshit followed by promptly losing his shit when Schon confirmed it all via email: Arnel had received a formal invitation to be the new lead singer of Journey. Pineda’s wise to the ways of überfans — gotta figure he’s one himself — and he’s “actually looking forward to the scrutiny I’ll get from the hardcore JOURNEY fans. I know they’ll expect me to sound exactly like ‘the voice’ (Steve Perry), but that will never happen. I know there’s only one Steve Perry in this world.” That said, he does seem to stick to Perry’s stylings pretty, yep, faithfully.
The band’s stoked, citing great chemistry and Arnel’s big smile and warm heart and so on. It’s just a cute story and he’s got a great voice so we have no takedown angle on this one. Congrats, Pin-eh-da. This is what happens when you … don’t stop believin’? (Terrible.) Seriously though, bet he gets pretty emotional when they tour that tune. Journey’s working on a new album for ’08 with Kevin Shirley.
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skillful talented singers can just simply sing the heck out of it.look at him ,this man can not only sing jouney by note to note but amazingly also many legendary bands like aerosmith,guns n roses,police,U2,queen,B.adams you name it.how many people have you seen can they do all in note by note with soul and emotion.even perry himself could have hand picked him,was it necessary. thanks to his all in one golden voice.journey and pineda must be two sides of a same coin.
I have always loved Journey since I was a teenager when the original albums were coming out and love to sing all of their songs… believe it or not I can hit those high notes also I’ve just never made the jump to professionalism and it’s only been recreational. I first realized it when I seen Journey live and Steve Perry was doing Wheel in the Sky and just kept that long high note for what seemed like forever! I thought to myself “I can do that!” I was amazed because listening to the albums I never realized it was actually him singing I thought it was the keyboard blending in at that point. I don’t want to get off track though…The reason I am submitting a comment is to say Arnel Pineda is just Awesome!! I was stationed at Subic Bay, Phillippines in the Navy from 88-91 and watched AMO play at Cal Jam religiously if they were in in town (Olongapo). As someone who really appreciates vocals I knew the first time I heard him he was great! The first song I heard him doing was Barracuda by Heart and it was incredible. Cal Jam was a pretty big bar and AMO was so good that you could be in the back playing pool and not even realize they were playing because whatever they were playing sounded exactly like the original version of the group…amazing! There is so much unrecognized talent in the Philippines, no matter where you go you can see great singers and bands. Salamat Po Arnel, I wish you all the best!!!!!
Ok, ..I had a few comments to me and SORRY I still feel the Same. I did by the cd Revelations and Ya .. there are good tracks on it , One Funny thing too…Say, Inosense / Inosunce……HEHE … Hey My wife caught it too… WE BOth LAUghed….She LIKes HIm too…. We did go to Sharon Cuneta Concert In T.O it was fun. Like I said NOTE for Note HIgh PICH DIDN”T HAppen….thats Ok…Maybe his next Album will Have it…. As for Steve Perry we Might Get our WISh……. He IS MAKING A NEW CD>>>>> then we will see/hear the VOICE again……LOL. KIdding. Anel IS part of JOURNY an all the best too him. But it does Make it Interestin for Journey , Steve Perry Singing again……. Mybe they will sing together… we’ll See…..
Bye for now
Give Arnel a break. All singers started with singing other singers’ songs. Well, if you are so good at singing to critisize someone as good as Arnel, then maybe you never sing any songs which you made yourself. Well, that’s if you are so good that you even have to compose your own song in order to sing. Everyone starts with imitating famous singers. And to hell with his accent! We, Filipinos, learn English fast and good that even Japanese and Koreans are going here at Philippines to study English. Just keep you negative feedback to yourself! MUKATSUKU NAN DA YO KISAMA WA!