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Don't Stop Believin'

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This article is about the song by Journey. For other uses, see Don't Stop Believin' (disambiguation).
"Don't Stop Believin'"
Song

"Don't Stop Believin'" is a popular song by the American rock band Journey, originally released as a single from their 1981 album Escape, which became a #9 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 on its original release. In the United Kingdom, the song was not a Top 40 hit on its original release; however, it did reach #6 on a 2009 re-release, having gained increased popularity through its use on television.

Mike DeGagne of Allmusic has described "Don't Stop Believin'" as a "perfect rock song"[2] and an "anthem", featuring "one of the best opening keyboard riffs in rock."[3] As of November 2011, it is the top-selling catalog track in iTunes history with over 5 million digital copies sold.[4]

Popularity

The song reached number eight on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart, and number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The song was released in the United Kingdom in December 1981[1] and peaked only at number 62[citation needed]. However, the song, never re-released in the UK, retained a cult following and re-entered the UK Singles Chart in February 2009 at number 94, due to digital downloads. On December 20, 2009, it reached number 9 in the Christmas chart week ending December 26, 2009, and remained in the top 10 well into 2010, hitting a peak of number 6. It has now achieved 63 weeks on the UK Singles Chart, making it the 9th longest runner of all time, and 89 weeks on the Top 100.[5]

It topped downloads in the iTunes Music Store amongst songs not released in the 21st century,[6] and was also the 72nd most downloaded song of 2008, and 84th most downloaded song of 2009 in the store, over 27 years after its release. On 31 August 2009 the song topped the 3 million mark in paid downloads,[7] and has sold 5,433,000 digital units in the US by October 2012.[4] It was placed just outside of the top twenty best selling digital songs of all time on September 2010.[8]

The song is one of the most popular rock tracks in Ireland and continues to remain in the top ten most downloaded songs.[9]

Charts and certifications

Song structure and references

While most popular songs have a refrain that is repeated several times throughout the song, the true chorus to "Don't Stop Believin'" (as well as first mention of its title) is not heard until the end of the song with only 0:50 left. The song's writers designated the musically similar sections before the chorus as the "pre-chorus."[19] The song's structure is:

  1. Introduction (instrumental) (0:00–0:17)
  2. Verse 1 (0:17–0:49)
  3. Instrumental (0:49–1:05)
  4. Verse 2 (half-length) (1:05–1:20)
  5. Pre-Chorus 1 (1:20–1:54)
  6. Instrumental (1:54–2:01)
  7. Verse 3 (2:01–2:33)
  8. Pre-Chorus 2 (2:33–3:05)
  9. Instrumental (Chorus) (3:05–3:21)
  10. Chorus until fade (3:21–4:11)

The song is played in the key of E Major at a tempo of 120bpm. The vocal range is E3–C#5.[20] The opening chords, which are played by the piano in the introduction and continued through most of the song, form a I-V-vi-IV pop-punk progression.[21]

While the lyrics mention being "born and raised in south Detroit", the area that would be considered south Detroit is actually the Canadian city of Windsor.[22] Steve Perry has said, "I tried north Detroit, I tried east and west and it didn't sing, but south Detroit sounded so beautiful. I loved the way it sounded, only to find out later it's actually Canada."[22]

Personnel (Escape)

Personnel (Revelation)

In popular culture

Movies, Music, and television

The song has appeared in numerous films, including The Wedding Singer (1998), Monster (2003),[23] Bedtime Stories (2008), Yogi Bear (2010), and The Losers (2010). It has also appeared in the 2009 pilot episode of Glee (see below), the 2005 Family Guy episode "Don't Make Me Over", the 2002 Soul Food episode "In Transition" and the 2007 Christmas special Shrek the Halls.

In 2007, the song gained press coverage for its use in the final scene of HBO's The Sopranos series finale "Made in America." Steve Perry was initially hesitant in allowing the song to be used in The Sopranos but later agreed.[24] The Sopranos ending was later parodied by The Daily Show, ESPN, WCBS-FM (when flipped from Jack FM back to Oldies), Celebrity Apprentice, a campaign video for Hillary Clinton[25][26] and for the final episode of Tony Martin's Get This radio show.

In the Disney Channel show Gravity Falls, Mabel is challenged to a "Party Queen" contest. In order to propel herself over her rival, Pacifica Northwest, she tells Soos (the DJ), to give her "the 80s most crowd-pleasingest" song he has on hand. The music immediately kicks in, and Mabel sings a very similar song, "Don't Start Unbelieving."

The song is also the closing number for the Broadway show Rock of Ages, and serves as the finale for the 2012 film adaptation.

The song was released as downloadable content for the music video game series Rock Band on March 31, 2009.[27]

The song is referred to in the chorus of the song "This'll Be My Year" performed by Train on the album California 37, in which Pat Monahan sings "I stopped believin', although Journey told me 'don't'".[28][29][30]

In sports

The song became a rallying cry for the Chicago White Sox in their successful run to the 2005 playoffs, when catcher A. J. Pierzynski and teammates heard the song being sung in a bar in Baltimore. The White Sox invited Journey lead singer Steve Perry to the team's celebration rally, where he sang the song along with several members of the team. In 2008, in a tight battle for first place with the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League West, the Los Angeles Dodgers began to play "Don't Stop Believin'" in the middle of the 8th inning at all of their home games.[31] Subsequently, the song was played at Dodger home games throughout the 2009 season, much to the chagrin of Steve Perry, a self-proclaimed San Francisco Giants fan (the band itself formed in San Francisco).[31]

The song also became the unofficial anthem for the Giants' 2010 postseason, especially after local musician Ashkon created a parody version of the song following their winning the 2010 National League West Division.[32] The song was used during the end montage following the Fox network's coverage of the 2010 World Series, which was won by the Giants. Steve Perry appeared in the Giants' subsequent victory parade,[33] and the song was played at the start of the Giants' victory rally.[34]

Perhaps most notably in sports, the song has for years been commonly played at Detroit Red Wings hockey games; at Red Wings home games (especially during the last minutes of playoff victories), the recording is turned down during the line "born and raised in south Detroit" so the home fans can sing the line from the song.[35][36] It is also used at numerous Detroit sporting events.[37]

Internet

In December 2010, The Key of Awesome had sampled the chorus of "Don't Stop Believin'", as part of their Black Eyed Peas spoof.[38] However, in October 2011, the members of Journey had taken down the original video due to the copyright infringements.[39][40]

Cover versions

Northern Kings cover

The Finnish symphonic metal band Northern Kings covers the song on their album Reborn.

Petra Haden cover

The 2007 "covers" album Guilt by Association Vol. 1 contains an a cappella version of "Don't Stop Believin'" by Petra Haden (member of That Dog and daughter of jazz bassist Charlie Haden) recorded via multiple vocal overdubs.

Alvin and the Chipmunks cover

Alvin and the Chipmunks recorded a cover version for their 2008 album Undeniable.[41]

Glee cover

"Don't Stop Believin'"
Song

"Don't Stop Believin'" was recorded by the cast of American television series, Glee. It is the first single released from the soundtrack of the series, Glee: The Music, Volume 1 and was performed on the first episode of the season, "Pilot".[42] A portion of the song was covered again in the episode "The Rhodes Not Taken". A second version was covered by the cast in the season finale episode "Journey to Regionals" for their Regionals competition, was also released as a single, and is included in the EP soundtrack, Glee: The Music, Journey to Regionals. The Glee arrangement was adapted from Petra Haden's version.[43]

Released as a digital download on June 2, 2009, the song performed well in the United States, Ireland, the United Kingdom and Australia, where it charted within the top five of their national charts. The cast performance of "Don't Stop Believin'" was certified gold in the US in October 2009 and platinum in March 2011, achieving over 1,000,000 digital sales,[44] and platinum in Australia, with sales of over 70,000.[45]

"Don't Stop Believin'" was put on the BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 2 playlists in the UK in January 2010.

Critical reception

New Directions original formation performing the song during "Pilot" episode

Aly Semigan of Entertainment Weekly critically praised the song stating "Fox's Glee put the ultimate earworm back in its rightful place." She then continued saying "even if you aren’t one for show choirs (which, is quite frankly, shocking), it’s pretty damn hard to resist." Semigan also compared it to the original version stating "it sounds slightly different in this Freaks and Geeks meets High School Musical pilot, but it's a good kind of different."[46]

"Don't Stop Believin'"
Song

Track listings

  • Digital download[47]
  1. "Don't Stop Believin'" – 3:50
  • German CD single[48]
  1. "Don't Stop Believin'" – 3:52
  2. "Rehab" – 3:26

Cover versions

The Almighty Glee Glub did their remix version including a radio edit, club mix, dub mix and instrumental. Pop-Punk band All Time Low performed a cover of this during several live concerts, and was featured once in a special of their straight-to-DVD concert video.

Chart performance

In United States, the song debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 on week dated June 6, 2009, behind Black Eyed Peas's "Boom Boom Pow", Lady Gaga's "Poker Face" and Jamie Foxx's "Blame It", respectively the number one, number two and number three on the chart.[49] The song received certification Platinum by RIAA for more than 1 million copies of digital sold.

Chart (2009) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[50] 5
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[51] 16
US Billboard Hot 100[52] 4
US Pop 100 (Billboard)[53] 18
Chart (2010) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[54] 37
Ireland (IRMA)[55] 4
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[56] 91
UK Singles (OCC)[57] 2
Chart (2011) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[58] 68
France (SNEP)[59] 48
songid field is MANDATORY FOR GERMAN CHARTS 50
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[60] 74

Year-end charts

Chart (2010) Position
European Hot 100 Singles [61] 82
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)[14] 22

Live performances

Glee Cast performing the song during Glee Live! In Concert!

"Don't Stop Believin'" was part of the setlist of Glee Cast's worldwide 2010/11 concert tour, Glee Live! In Concert! tour.

On April 7, 2010, Glee Cast performed the song on the The Oprah Winfrey Show.

On April 13, 2009, Glee Cast performed the song on the 2010 White House Easter Egg Roll, along with "National Anthem", "True Colors", "Somebody to Love", "Over the Rainbow", "Home" and "Sweet Caroline".

On December 5, 2010, Glee Cast performed the song on the UK version of the The X Factor.

Personnel

From the album Glee: The Music, Volume 1:

From the EP Glee: The Music, Journey to Regionals:

From the Tour Glee Live! In Concert! & CD/DVD Glee: The 3D Concert Movie (Motion Picture Soundtrack)

  • Dianna Agron
  • Chris Colfer
  • Ashley Fink
  • Kevin McHale
  • Lea Michele
  • Cory Monteith
  • Heather Morris
  • Chord Overstreet
  • Amber Riley
  • Naya Rivera
  • Mark Salling
  • Harry Shum, Jr.
  • Jenna Ushkowitz

Don't Stop the Sandman

In 2010, the mash-up band Rock Sugar released their only album Re-Imaginator. The first track one the album is "Don't Stop the Samdman," a mash-up of Don't Stop Believin' and Enter Sandman by the heavy metal band Metallica. Don't Stop the Sandman has gained more positive critical reception than negative.

Big Brother 2010

The housemates of Big Brother 2010 recorded a version of the song, coached by Andrew Stone of Pineapple Dance Studios, in July 2010.[62] Stone also choreographed and shot a video of the performance. According to Digital Spy, the video "almost out-Glees Glee"[63] Steve and Rachel sang the lead vocals.

The Aquabats

In recent years, the Third Wave Ska/Punk/Surf band The Aquabats perform this song live in concert occasionally.[citation needed]

Other Covers

References

  1. ^ a b c Strong, M. C. (1995). The Great Rock Discography. Edinburgh: Canongate Books Ltd. p. 443. ISBN 0-86241-385-0.
  2. ^ Don't Stop Believin' at AllMusic
  3. ^ allmusic
  4. ^ a b Grein, Paul (24 October 2012). "Week Ending Oct. 21, 2012. Songs: Maroon 5′s "Nixon Moment"". Chart Watch. Yahoo Music. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  5. ^ chartstats.com
  6. ^ Journey's Timeless Power Ballad "Don't Stop Believin'" Becomes First Catalog Track Ever to Reach 2 Million Mark in Digital Sales
  7. ^ Paul Grein. "Week Ending Aug. 23, 2009: Over 50 And Still On Top". Yahoo Chart Watch.
  8. ^ Grein, Paul (2010-09-22). "Week Ending Sept. 19, 2010: "It Goes On And On And On And On"". Yahoo!. Retrieved 2009-09-23.
  9. ^ The song was used by Waterford people to support the Waterford hurling team in a bid to win the All Ireland title in 2008.iTunes 2008: Top Overall Songs
  10. ^ "Journey - Don't Stop Believing", swedishcharts.com 1 October 2010. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  11. ^ http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/1981YESP.html
  12. ^ "Charts Plus Year end 2009" (PDF). Charts Plus. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
  13. ^ European Hot 100. Billboard.
  14. ^ a b "2010 Year-end UK Singles". BBC (BBC Online). 2010-12-26. Retrieved 2010-12-26.
  15. ^ Rhian, Jones (2012-05-08). "Will Young's Evergreen named best selling single of the 21st century". Music Week. Retrieved 2012-07-18. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  16. ^ Grein, Paul (2012-10-24). "Week Ending Oct. 21, 2012. Songs: Maroon 5′s "Nixon Moment"". Yahoo! Music. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
  17. ^ "American single certifications – Journey – Don_t Stop Believin_". Recording Industry Association of America.
  18. ^ "Top 100 Downloads of All Time". BBC. 2 January 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
  19. ^ Flans, Robyn (1 June 2007). "Classic Tracks: Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'"". Mix Magazine.
  20. ^ "Journey: Don't Stop Believin' Sheet Music". sheetmusicdirect.com. Weed High Nightmare Music/Lacey Boulevard Music, USA.
  21. ^ Lynskey, Dorian (17 December 2010), "Don't Stop Believin': the power ballad that refused to die", The Guardian, p. 3 (Film & music), retrieved 19 February 2011
  22. ^ a b "Journey song cements status as cultural touchstone". CBC News. 20 July 2009. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  23. ^ Monster (2003) Soundtrack
  24. ^ Journey Rocker Kept Sopranos Boss Waiting
  25. ^ Video Hillary Clinton reprend les Sopranos - Hillary, Clinton, Sopranos - Dailymotion Share Your Videos
  26. ^ Audiofile: Music Blog, Music Articles - Salon.com
  27. ^ Rock Band Gets 'Don't Stop Believin' as DLC
  28. ^ [1]
  29. ^ [2]
  30. ^ [3]
  31. ^ a b Henry Schulman (2009-09-15). "Perry's 8th-inning Journey". SFGate.com. Heart Communications. Retrieved 2009-09-26.
  32. ^ Joe Eskenazi (2010-10-11). "'Don't Stop Believing' Finally Giants' Anthem". SF Weekly. Retrieved 2010-11-04. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  33. ^ http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20101103/NEWS/101109836/1334/
  34. ^ "Live Blog of the San Francisco Giants' Victory Parade | KQED News Fix". Blogs.kqed.org. 2010-11-03. Retrieved 2012-01-05.
  35. ^ Jeff Z. Klein (2009-06-01). "At the Joe, Detroiters Sing "Don't Stop Believin'"". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-12-11. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  36. ^ Rick Paulas (2009-09-01). "A smell of wine and cheap perfume". ESPN. Retrieved 2010-01-22. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  37. ^ Chris Willman (2009-06-29). "Don't Stop Believin as pop-cultural touchstone". latimes.com. Tribune Company. Retrieved 2010-09-06.
  38. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV2ThB7ENA0
  39. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=iv&src_vid=UdbHiDnbhb0&list=PL1C90BDF46E6EACFD&annotation_id=annotation_148297&v=U6XFwMyPoBo
  40. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ho75P1zQkgw
  41. ^ "Undeniable". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2012-09-05.
  42. ^ "Episode Recaps: Glee - Pilot". 20th Century Fox. fox.com. Retrieved 2009-10-01. [dead link]
  43. ^ "Glee Cast Glee: The Music, Volume 1 Review". BBC. 11 Feb 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-11.
  44. ^ "RIAA Gold & Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  45. ^ "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2010 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. June 30, 2010. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
  46. ^ Semigan, Aly (May 21, 2009). "'Glee' propels Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" to go on and on and on and on". Entertainment Weekly. music-mix.ew.com. Retrieved 2009-10-01.
  47. ^ "Glee Cast - Don't Stop Believin' - Amazon.com".
  48. ^ "Glee Cast - Don't Stop Believin' - Amazon.de".
  49. ^ "Black Eyed Peas - Boom Boom Pow". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 2009-06-06. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
  50. ^ "Glee Cast – Don't Stop Believin'". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  51. ^ "Glee Cast – Don't Stop Believin'". Top 40 Singles.
  52. ^ "Glee Cast Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  53. ^ "Glee > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
  54. ^ "Glee Cast Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  55. ^ "Chart Track: Week 2, 2010". Irish Singles Chart.
  56. ^ "Glee Cast – Don't Stop Believin'" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved January 28, 2011.
  57. ^ "Glee Cast: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  58. ^ "Glee Cast – Don't Stop Believin'" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved January 28, 2011.
  59. ^ "Classement officiel des ventes de singles & titres en France du 28 mars au 03 avril 2011". SNEP (in French). SNEP. April 8, 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2011.
  60. ^ "Glee Cast – Don't Stop Believin'". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved January 28, 2011.
  61. ^ "European Hot 100". Billboard.com. 2010-12-31. Retrieved 2012-01-05.
  62. ^ Tom Eames (July 21, 2010). "Stone teaches 'Don't Stop Believin". Digital Spy. Retrieved 24 September 2010.
  63. ^ Alex Fletcher (July 23, 2010). "Video: BB11 'Don't Stop Believing'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 24 September 2010.
  64. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jh_GDjK2890
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