A Song For This Day and the Next
As my kids get taller, I’ve begun to recognize their personal music tastes diverging. While they remain undeviating Beatlemaniacs (these are of course, my children), the tunes they listen to reveal their distinct personas to those lucky enough to live with them. Their song libraries grow ever separate. That is, except for one particular song — one they’ll each sing along with, in full voice, at the drop of the proverbial hat.
And there’s a specific reason for that: they both went to the same elementary school, which to its credit, used it as the school song*. I guess if Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’ was good enough to escort Tony Sorprano out of this world in the series finale, then it’s good enough for them and my children.
Oh, you thought Tony didn’t die because you did not see it happen onscreen? In that case, read this.
Released 30 years ago in 1981, the song experienced a resurgence in the first decade of the 21st century via other media. First, it accompanied a key scene in the film Monster (2003). It became the anthem for the Chicago White Sox in 2005 — which so happened to be their World Series winning season, btw. Then of course, came the last of The Sorpanos. With that, the pre-digital age song marched into music history by becoming the first song to reach 2 million downloads on iTunes.
I would mention the 00s covers the casts of Glee along with the Family Guy animated series episode did, but I don’t regularly watch either of those shows. No doubt, I’m sure there are other instances the melody has appeared. Not bad for a tune that ran second to the Open Arms track (a soapy song which doesn’t claim me as much) among Journey fans. Happy Independence Day to your all.
* though it should be said, school administrators did drop certain parts of the song’s lyrics they thought inappropriate for school age children.
It Rains... You Get Wet 
4 Responses to “A Song For This Day and the Next”
Journey! My family loves Journey. We have introduced the kids to the band. Let’s face it- Journey never gets old! They classic rock! Hope you had a great 4th!
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It’s a great song and a great group. Our 4th was great. Hope yours was, too. Thanks.
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Hi Michael! I had just seen The Losers and Chris Evans was singing this song in one of the best scenes in the movie! I don’t know if you want to see that movie but I’m sure you’ll get a chuckle of that one.
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I remember that scene. I thought Evans came off well in that film. Thanks, Ruth
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