Twenty Six Songs: D

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The next song in this series is a Journey song, and since I have said that, I am sure those of you who know anything about Journey already have a pretty good idea of what song I am going to choose. Of course, it is "Don't Stop Believin'." I know some of you might consider this a cop-out for the letter D, and honestly, I figured a few of you might feel that way. But before anyone starts judging my song choice, let me explain myself a little bit. Actually, I was stuck between this song and "Dancing Queen" by ABBA. Now, those are two pretty different songs, but I have loved both of them for as long as I can remember. Narrowing it down to just one wasn't the easiest thing to do. However, "Don't Stop Believin'" won because it means a little more to me personally. It is also the first Journey song I can remember ever knowing and learning, which I imagine is probably the case for a whole lot of other people, too. For those who might not know, Journey is an American rock band that formed in San Francisco in 1973. They became one of the biggest rock bands of the late seventies and eighties, especially after Steve Perry joined as their lead vocalist. And let's be honest, that man's voice is pretty hard to mistake once you have heard it. Journey gave us a whole collection of songs that have stood the test of time, including "Faithfully," "Open Arms," "Any Way You Want It," and "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)." But if you ask me, "Don't Stop Believin'" is probably the song that has become the most recognizable of them all. The song was released in 1981 on Journey's album *Escape*. It was written by Steve Perry, Neal Schon, and Jonathan Cain. One of the interesting things about it is that the message behind the song is actually pretty personal. Jonathan Cain came up with the title after remembering advice his father gave him while he was struggling to make it as a musician in Los Angeles. His father encouraged him not to give up on his dreams, and that idea eventually became one of the most recognizable messages in rock music. And isn't that something we can all relate to in one way or another? We have all had moments when things weren't going the way we wanted them to, when we wondered if we were ever going to get where we wanted to be, or when we needed a little reminder to keep going. Sometimes you just need a song that reminds you not to give up on yourself. This one manages to do that without being overly complicated about it. The opening piano notes are instantly recognizable, and I would bet that even people who don't consider themselves Journey fans could probably identify this song within the first few seconds. It is one of those songs that seems to bring people together, whether they are singing along in the car, belting it out at karaoke, or standing in a stadium with thousands of other people singing every word. There is just something about it that makes you want to join in, even if you weren't planning on singing in the first place. And here is a fun little fact about the song: despite becoming such a massive hit and one of the most famous rock anthems of all time, "Don't Stop Believin'" originally peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 when it was first released. Its popularity continued to grow over the years, thanks in part to appearances in movies and television shows, including the famous final episode of *The Sopranos* and the television series *Glee*. In 2022, the Library of Congress even added it to the National Recording Registry because of its cultural and historical significance. So, yes, I know choosing "Don't Stop Believin'" might not be the most surprising choice for the letter D. I could have gone with something less obvious, but sometimes there is a reason certain songs become classics. They stick with us, bring back memories, and mean something different to each person who hears them. And when it comes to this song, I just couldn't pass it up. Besides, this is my list, and I am going to choose the songs that mean something to me. If that means a few predictable choices sneak their way in, then so be it. Now I want to know: are you a Journey fan? Is "Don't Stop Believin'" your favorite Journey song, or is there another one you would have picked? And be honest, how many of you can hear those opening piano notes in your head right now?