Posted on 01/30/2024 1:06:14 PM PST by nickcarraway
Journey performed during the halftime show of the NFC championship game on Jan. 28, and the band switched up the lyrics to one of their most famous songs during the set.
The NFL matchup pitted the visiting Detroit Lions and against the San Francisco 49ers, with the winner earning a spot in Super Bowl LVIII.
Journey, as most rock fans know, was founded in San Francisco in 1973. Given the band’s Bay Area ties, they were a natural choice to perform during halftime of the playoff game.
The group’s set included four songs: “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart),” “Be Good to Yourself,” “Any Way You Want It” and “Don't Stop Believin'.” The latter song features some of the most memorable lyrics in rock history, yet the band opted to make a notable change.
Traditionally, the second verse of “Don’t Stop Believin’” begins with the lines, “Just a city boy / Born and raised in South Detroit.” However, Journey clearly didn’t want to show any love for Detroit given that they were opposing the 49ers in the game (and happened to be up by 17 points at halftime). Instead, singer Arnel Pineda belted out the line: “Just a city boy / Born and raised in San Francisco.”
As you’d expect, fans at Levi’s Stadium – technically located in Santa Clara, about 45 miles south of San Francisco – cheered the change. You can see footage of Journey’s performance at the NFL game below.
While Neal Schon and company can’t take all of the credit, the NFC Championship game certainly changed after their halftime show. The 49ers mounted an unlikely comeback in the second half to pull out at 34-31 victory. They’ll face the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl on Feb. 11 in Las Vegas.
Umm...they change the lyrics in every city they play the song. If you listed to their “Live in Houston” album, at the very time that album was in full force, Steve Perry sings “Born right here in Houston”.
Stupid article.
It says he was born in Hanford, CA.
Arnel Pineda was 14 when the song came out. Is anybody in the group now part of the original group?
And “South Detroit”? Sounds more like Bob Seger.
The guitarist and keyboardist are the same.
I’m surprised they didn’t change it to “just a city they/them”
A little off topic however, I saw a documentary about Journey......I had absolutely no idea steve perry was a lunatic jackass that got just about everybody connected with the band before he got there fired...even the original manager that basically built the group.
What a freakin’ devious Ahole. Unbelievable. SMH
“.they change the lyrics in every city they play the song.”
Good catch—I had noticed that as well years ago...
Doobie Brothers do that with “Black Water” with “Mississippi Moon” replaced with the city they’re in.
What do you mean he got them?
What’s an “nfl”?
No. I HATE that song!
Greg Rolle on keyboard? I saw Journey in 1979 in Phoenix,AZ. I was mostly watching Neal play his leads.
That’s a shame. He was a great fit for that time. Personally, I liked the era with him and Gregg Rolie doing vocals together. If you haven’t yet, you should check out the Neal Schon “Journey Through Time” video on YouTube. They play many of their old hits with Rolie singing some of them and Dean Castronovo singing the Perry vocals. Amazing live set.
Would be cool to see Rolie and Schon get back with Santana and do their early songs, they did reunite a few years ago.
Maybe they figured out there is no “south Detroit.”
He left in 1980, but it says Jonathan Cain was there since, for their peak popularity.
The 2005 Chicago White Sox had several players who like to play Journey songs. When the team began rolling through the postseason, Steve Perry of Journey began hanging with the team in the month of October.
Naturally, the Sox players liked “Don’t Stop Believing.” The team defeated the Houston Astros (then a National League team) in four straight to capture the World Series title for the first time since 1917.
Yes, he got them fired. Sorry for the type-o.
It was onan episode on the “Breaking the Band” series.
Season 2 episode 9
Well, Neal Schon was still there. I don’t know if I’d believe it one way or the other. The remaining two are now feuding.
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