Thumbs up for Journey's Arnel Pineda from Manila

MANILA, Philippines - Singer and songwriter Arnel Pineda, born in Sampaloc, Manila, not only lived his dream of singing with his favorite American rock band, Journey, but also claimed acceptance from one of the music industry’s critics. “Mr. Pineda, who sings hard and with the appropriate vulnerability, gives it some distinction," said Ben Ratliff a noted critic who writes for the New York Times. “Beyond that, the band seems to have taken rock vitamins: it feels alive," he added. Ratliff reviewed Journey’s newest album, “Revelation"— with 11 new songs, 11 old songs and a live DVD—the band's first record with their new anointed front man. Journey emerged from the late 1970’s with raspy-voiced tenor, Steve Perry as the band’s best-known lead singer. The band spawned a series of hits that include “Don’t Stop Believing," “Faithfully," “Separate Ways," and “Open Arms." After Perry left in the late 1980s, there were a couple of replacements --- Jeff Scott Soto who was reportedly fired after a brief stint and Steve Augeri who dropped out in 2006 after eight years with the band due to voice problems. Enter Pineda early this year, a 40-year-old former engineering student, who did stints in various pubs in Quezon City, Makati, Manila, Olongapo and Hong Kong. Lead guitarist, Neal Schon discovered Pineda on YouTube when the boyish-looking, shoulder-length haired singer did a cover of “Faithfully" with his band, ‘Zoo.’ “Recently, Mr. Schon secured the services of another singer, Arnel Pineda, a 40-year-old from the Philippines whom he found on YouTube and who sounds a great deal like Mr. Perry," Ratliff said. There was a resurgence of interest on Journey after its song, “Don’t Stop Believing" closed last year’s final episode of the hit HBO series, “The Sopranos." Although he sounds very much like Perry, Journey fans have been pessimistic about Pineda’s introduction to the band, some even hitting his ethnicity. Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain in an interview however said that he actually liked the idea of Pineda joining them since now they are not just an American band but also a “world band." “We are international now. We are not about one color. I kind of like the whole idea of having a singer like him. It’s exotic," Cain said. Revelation would be released on June 3. Pineda is currently on tour with the band. - Mark Joseph Ubalde, GMANews.TV