jun.anteola

I wonder if it qualifies as one other Cinderella story, but Arnel Pineda’s discovery by Journey’s lead guitarist Neal Schon is one seemingly impossible dream turned into evident reality, Pineda might still be pinching himself to check if it’s all true.

When the rock band announced its inclusion of Pineda, a Filipino, as its new lead singer, much speculation arose, mostly nitpicking from die-hard fans of Steve Perry, Journey’s original lead. Quite inevitable as the former’s voice has much similarity to that of Perry. While yet to be introduced to the core of their fans in the US via a live concert and an upcoming album, the group’s new lineup has received remarkable reception, meriting two encores at the Festival Viña del Mar 2008 in Chile, one of (if not the) biggest music festivals in Latin America. Hopefully, it’s a good sign.

… and if to see is to believe, go check this video of the renewed group doing Steve Perry’s signature song, Don’t stop Believing.

The complete set of performance videos are on this blog and at the Canal13 site, while very good photos are posted on this forum.

The worst consequence yet I know from not attending to this blog for awhile, is to get a ridiculous amount of unwanted comments and spam, and email notifications about some awaiting moderation. A few safe comments from blogger friends have been mistaken as potential threat by Akismet too, and I hope none of these have been summarily dismissed as spam. It takes time to sieve them through, eating up my time for writing decent entries instead. I hope it can’t get any worse.

So much trash online. As much trash as on the news, and on the Philippine political scene. And just as foul and gross as trash can get. I just hope it doesn’t spoil Kenkay’s vacation.

As much as many Filipino expats may want to come back, yearning to bask in the familiar comforts of home, and with eager anticipation of change and hope, there always seem to be reasons to offset, say upset, these and make coming back unpalatable, if not unwise.

But then they may always opt to see the other side of the coin.

Kenkay, here’s your song. Continue reading this entry »