Don't Stop Believin' is a rock song by American band Journey. It was released in October 1981 as the second single from the group's seventh studio album, Escape released through Columbia Records
Don't Stop Believin'' is a rock song by American band Journey. It was released in October 1981 as the second single from the group's seventh studio album, Escape released through Columbia Records. Don't Stop Believin' shares writing credits between the band's vocalist Steve Perry, guitarist Neal Schon, and keyboardist Jonathan Cain. A mid-tempo rock anthem and power ballad, Don't Stop Believin' is memorable for its distinctive opening keyboard riff. At the dawn of the 1980s, Journey was becoming one of the most successful rock acts of the era. The band added Cain on keyboards before entering the studio to record Escape. Cain had kept the song title from encouragement his father gave him as a struggling musician living on Los Angeles' Sunset Boulevard. The song is unusual in that its chorus does not arrive until the song is nearly finished; its structure consists of two pre- choruses and three verses before it arrives at its central hook. The band recorded the song in one take at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, California. A top-10 worldwide hit in 1981, it became the group's signature song and has continued to endure over the years. Decades after its release, it became the best-selling digital track from the twentieth century, with over seven million downloads. Critics acclaimed its anthemic qualities. In 2022, the single was selected by the US Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Recording Registry as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." Cover versions have included the cast of the American comedy-drama Glee in 2009, which outperformed the original internationally. Billboard magazine called it an "uptempo, melodic track" and praised the "fluid guitar and vocal." Record World said that the "piano intro anticipates a powerful rock chorus for maximum airplay.” while Mike DeGagne of AllMusic has described it as a "perfect rock song" and an "anthem", featuring "one of the best opening keyboard riffs in rock.” In 2021, the song received the Grammy Hall of Fame award.
Journey is an American rock band that formed in San Francisco in 1973 by former members of Santana, Steve Miller Band, and Frumious Bandersnatch. According to the Recording Industry Association of America, Journey has sold 48 million albums in the US. Their worldwide sales have reached over 100 million records making them one of the world's best-selling bands of all time. Journey was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the class of 2017. Inductees included lead singer Steve Perry, guitarist Neal Schon, keyboardists Jonathan Cain and Gregg Rolie, bassist Ross Valory, and drummers Aynsley Dunbar and Steve Smith.
