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"Don't Stop Believing" the most popular iTunes track ever: a victory for the ironic generation?
Of the bands whose have benefited from revisionist history this decade, Journey may be the most perplexing. "Don't Stop Believing" is now a staple at virtually any Brooklyn party, and even more so at karaoke bars. Let's also not forget all those YouTube spoofs of the Sopranos finale. Yet, Journey occupies that strange place between ironic and sincere appreciation. I don't know if the appeal of "Don't Stop Believing" is tied to its ironic cheesiness, or if music snobs and laymen alike actually will themselves to submit to the cheeseball factor. I don't know if we will ever know the trust. (For further reference, see ironic generation spokesman Jeph Jacques's take).
Whether the Journey love is ironic or sincere, the one place that has benefitted the most from the reawoken popularity is Journey's pockets. Soundscan reports that "Don't Stop Believing," which was first released on iTunes in 2003, has become the first track ever to sell more than 2 million copies on iTunes. This constitutes the closest thing this generation has to a double platinum record. Bruce Houghton called the news sad, and I'm inclined to agree. Though on the plus side, as least someone's making money off music.
[Hypebot]
Journey apparently played the Super Bowl pre-game (Video)
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In an odd way, this might be good news. Yes, Journey is cloying and yes, I HATED them back in the day. But at least there's some songwriting chops evident in "Don't Stop Believing." For one thing, it has an interesting structure, piling on descrpitive verses, going into a bridge ("staange lights..."), then finally hitting the chorus to the end. Plus, it tells a story (even if the story is a bit cliche). And the piano line is catchy.
People could have done worse. I assumed the honors for most downloaded song might go to empty bombast like Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" or a novelty like "Who Let the Dogs Out."
I agree with everything that tonys said. The fact that the song waits until the final minute to hit that chorus makes it all the more gratifying when it does arrive. The guitar work is also fantastic.
All that said, I hated this song until the Sopranos finale. Cliche, perhaps, but true nonetheless.
Steve L