I feel privileged to be old enough to have witnessed this epic concert in Houston and heard his unmatchable voice live-the energy was through the roof!!
When I sang my niece to sleep, this song, along with 'Dance, magic, dance', 'Blue Shadows' and 'Simple Man', was on her playlist: until I realized, 'H'oh, shit...! (This song's about a prostitute!)' My older brother, when I shared this revelation, said, 'Yyyeah, we found that out, too, with our first kid.' 'But it's such an uplifting melody!' 'Right?'
Steve Perry has such a smooth and silky rich voice. I bet he is a favourite for a lot of people. He sure is one of mine. No wonder why he is called the voice. :)
I saw Journey live in 1980. It ruined all of the other live performances that I saw after that because nothing can compare to that. They were perfection.
Steve Perry gets my vote for best ever male rock vocalist, for all the reasons you mentioned. Love the pointers for aspiring singers and your little nuggets of info about the artists. Thanks for your evocative and very enjoyable videos!
Depending on what you're looking for or talking spacifically about many vocal geniuses; Live: Cluas Minor - Scorpions, Mr. Sweet - Stryper, sabastian Bach - Skid Row...
This was all LIVE back when no "autotune" existed on stage and even more,just to deliver like this in live performances and in front of such a huge crowd and have this song sound better,than most performances in a Studio,is incredible. Thats Steve Perry is a Real Legend and an Incredible singer .
Those kind of live recordings aren't far off from a studio recording, just done in a single take :) All instruments are mic'd up, and these days also have DI signal taken. Same with vocals. Then it's all mastered in a studio. Do you think this sound is recorded by some microphone in a middle of a venue? Not how it works :) Anyway, not to take away from an amazing performance. Just a heads up on why some lives sound like ass, and some like studio recordings :)
@@Quicksilver_Cookie yes ofc they are mic'd and the sound was and is checked before and during performances but it does not have anything to do with altering the voice and auto tuning it like in the last few years.Back then the technology did not even exist back then especially not outside studios and in live performances like these,heck Even the Internet Was Non existant back then
Its funny how people still make Autotune seem like a bad thing theres virtually Autotune in everything that's simply how it is there are plenty of current bands that are incredible performers
One of the things that make Steve Perry so amazing is that in his live performances his voice was more surprising than on the record (the band generally played better live). That's how wonderful he is. #respect
This man had so much vocal power , range, and agility. God given talent developed with tons of practice and hard work. This is a power song.... EPIC. Once again thank you Beth.
It definitely appears that it comes very easy to him. Most great vocal performances, show the effort and concentration for them to be done. Steve doesn't appear to be putting much effort into his, and it always turns out phenomenal! Truly one of the great vocalists in music.
When he pulls his head to his right, he's making a physical adjustment to his vocal chords to sustain a high register. It's not a performance aspect, he's done it in the studio also. He's been singing since he was a kid in a choir in Hanford without any coaching. It's good to look at Freddie Mercury, Robert Plant, and Steve Perry for epic rock vocals. They were the best in the biz.
@j scott A vocal coach commented on this feature when analyzing Perry's performance of Stone In Love live. And it is a feature of Perry's early singing career. Watching over a thousand Perry performances, I find that analysis consistent with what I've seen.
Completly agree. I do it myself sometime and it is a way to lock on to that long kept note. And I also think that many vocal analysts get lost in their theory. Many rock/soul singers don't arrange their singing with that much awareness as they do in much of musical or classical singing. You live the song and if you know your voice well it will do what you tell it to.
I think your description of his voice -- "stable and secure" -- is spot on. It's not only soaring and impressive, but allows users to sink into songs because there's no doubt he'll pull it off. And, as you note, his enunciation is the perfect balance of clear and dramatic. Thank you for putting it all together so nicely.
I was lucky enough to see Journey live many times during the Captured, Escape, Frontiers, and Raised on Radio tours- there will never be another like him. Wish I had a time machine so I could go back and watch them again.
“Why Can’t This Night Go On Forever” has amazing vocals by Steve Perry. The range he has is amazing. He will forever be one of the greatest if not the GOAT of rock singers.
The way he combines his consonant-to-vowel blends is so effortless. If you try doing it the way he dies you can see how it minimizes any stress on the voice and allows him to maintain that note perfectly. So amazing!!
First show I ever saw was Queen in 80 at the Summit in Houston. Second was this show. Both shows were great but I did notice Freddie had to alter how he sang some of the songs, presumably because it wasn’t physically possible to hit those notes night after night. I didn’t notice any of that with Steve. If it was on the record he sang it. What a talent!
Frank McBride Steve should have a movie about himself. But who could play him. He is one of a kind. Freddy was so out there you can get actors to play him. But Steve would be hard to imitate.
Yes, this is high as hell. He's singing a B4 on the regular. That's the highest note many great male singers can hit. And he's hitting it like it's nothing.
What singer besides Steve Perry could deliver the type of flawless performances he did nightly? No one I can think of. His voice is nothing short of magic. No auto tune here folks, this is the real deal.
When he tilts his head it's just one of his mannerisms he's not doing anything improper it's just the legend being himself he did that alot in concert, saw him in 1987 on the Raised on Radio tour he was everything and then some.He is truly a legend.
Saw Journey 2 weeks before Houston was recorded. Saw them a couple times previously but the pace of the whole Escape concert , to fit it into the scheduled video recording, was incredible and flawless. These guys worked their butts off.
I was at this concert and had no idea it was being filmed...was invited by some friends, didn't reallly want to go, but the whole concert blew me away and made me a huge fan. It was hit song after hit song.
Steve is the Platinum standard in singers. One of the greatest to me, I'm listening to music over 60 years. I believe he's making a comeback after serious back issues. Definitely he's one singer that should return.
I saw them when i was 11-12 with my mom,sister ,and aunt ..(i am 49yrs)..my very first concert..not good seats..lol..but the music/people/energy....just "good vibes"?..everything... just remember being some where/when..the good/bad/ugly....Don't Stop Believin'.....Good words..Never stop believin' in Yourself.
@@jasonmartin9469 I think you had the typical "first time concert experience" regarding "not good seats"!! But just being there is always the best of a bad situation!
Everybody knows "Don't Stop Believin'", but for me, the best Steve Perry studio vocal is on "Sweet And Simple"... I'm always amazed and blown away on that song... so much silk and soul.
Steve is one-heck of a singer. A great tenor! Great style and smoothness! Relaxed but firm! EPIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And not to forget: he doesn’t just sing this fantastic song in the most incredible way - he co-wrote the song and created the melody and the whole vocal side of it. It’s not just a great technical performance. It’s an amazing creative feat. Pavarotti could sing, but he sang stuff others created.
I haven’t had a voice coach in a very long time and it just does my heart proud to listen to you talk about all the things you talk about, brings a tear to my eye.
My mom is not classically trained but she grew up in a singing musical family like I did and that woman can break an operatic note from nowhere. So effortless. I was always flabbergasted by it because I have never been that great a singer but I do have an ear for tone.
That looks like the same setup they had at the Escape concert I attended back in 1981 in Canada. Best seats in the house, behind the drummer and piano player and Steve and the guitar players alternated back and forth and played for the crowd in front and us in back. It was an awesome way to see a concert. I've never been to a better concert in my lifetime.
