Steve Perry Talks About 'Believin'' on 'Glee,' 'Sopranos'

By Bryan Alexander Posted Nov 23rd 2009 08:44AM

Exclusive: Just how good was 'Glee''s version of the Journey classic 'Don't Stop Believin''? That was the question that castmember Corey Monteith asked Popeater last week, wondering if Journey lead-singer Steve Perry felt that they "crapped" on the iconic anthem. 'Glee' asked and PopEater answered, tracking down Perry even as he recovered from a nasty flu ("I don't think it was the pig thing. But it was definitely bad," he says.) Perry's verdict on the "Glee" version? Find Out After the Jump!

The Journey of 'Don't Stop Believin'''

'Glee'

Original

'Sopranos'

"I would give it an A," Perry tells PopEater exclusively. "I think they did a good job." He then added, laughing along the way, that "A+ is reserved for the original. That's a little shameless promotion, forgive me."

When asked directly if 'Glee' "crapped on" the song, the singer answered honestly. "No. They did a really nice heartfelt high school interpretation of a song," Perry tells PopEater.

Perry has maintained vigilance with projects using his former-group's classic song, making sure they "don't degrade the music" -- even insisting on knowing how the 'Sopranos' producers were going to use the song to end that iconic series. "I didn't want to see Tony Soprano get whacked during Just a Small Town Girl," Perry tells us.

For 'Glee,' Perry was shown a rough cut of the wildly popular show's finale before it aired and was blown away. "I thought it was edgy writing and I was impressed," he says. "That was before we got to the song."

He's not alone in loving the revamped version, which hit gold certification for digital sales in excess of 500,000 downloads.

The new take on the tune didn't exactly bring back high school memories for the rocker who didn't do the glee-club. Not surprisingly, he rocked drums in an R&B band. "The jocks didn't like us and the glee club didn't like us," Perry admits. "We were admired by the people who went to the after-game dances. They could dance to our music."

The dancing continues. Perry even heard that whole new generations of "Believin'" fans were belting out the tune as 'Glee' producers accepted the gold plaque for the song. "There were people around the area singing during the ceremony," Perry says. "Can I ask you one thing? What is possibly wrong with that?"

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,entry&id=756811&pid=756810&uts=1258982019

http://www.popeater.com/mm_track/popeater/music/?s_channel=us.musicpop&s_account=aolpopeater,aolsvc&omni=1&ke=1

http://cdn.channel.aol.com/cs_feed_v1_6/csfeedwrapper.swf

PopScene: Week's Hottest Pics

Sandra Bullock attends "The Blind Side" benefit premiere at the Prytania Theatre on November 19th in New Orleans.

Skip Bolen, WireImage

PopScene: Weeks Hottest Pics

Sandra Bullock attends "The Blind Side" benefit premiere at the Prytania Theatre on November 19th in New Orleans.

Skip Bolen, WireImage

Heidi Klum walks the runway at the Victoria's Secret fashion show at The Armory on November 19th9 in New York City.

Jason Kempin, Getty Images

Sean "Diddy" Combs is joined by his sons Justin Combs, Christian Combs and Quincy Brown on stage to blow out candles on his 40th birthday cake in New York City.

Jemal Countess, Getty Images

Kristen Bell, Elisha Cuthbert and Christina Hendricks attend the Holt Renfrew Celebration for their new store in Calgary on November 19th.

George Pimentel, WireImage

Jimmy Fallon and Joseph Gordon-Levitt attend the Museum Gala at the American Museum of Natural History on November 19th in New York City.

Andrew H. Walker, Getty Images

Viggo Mortensen and Josh Brolin attend History Channel's NYC Premiere Of "The People Speak" on November 19th.

Kevin Mazur, WireImage

Heidi Klum gets strapped on an NYPD horse as she promotes a Victoria's Secret model campaign in Times Square. The model, who gave birth a little over a month ago, won't walk in the Victoria's Secret fashion show, but is hosting the event.

Bauer-Griffin

Wyclef Jean and Bono share a song together at the RFK Center Ripple of Hope Awards dinner in New York City.

Stephen Lovekin, Getty Images

Holly Madison and Diane Vincent reenact a famous scene from "I love Lucy" at the 2009 Georges DuBoeuf Beaujolais Nouveau celebration in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Denise Truscello, WireImage

Zac Efron greets fans at the UK film premiere of 'Me & Orson Welles' in London, England.

Dave M. Benett, Getty Images

Tags: dont stop believin, DontStopBelievin, Glee, journey, sopranos, Steve Perry, StevePerry

Comments

(25)

Monday 23 November

By Akrilyka

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

I miss you Steve!!

Sunday 24 January

By cutlets29

Vote down Vote up Report this

Hi Steve, The board went crazy celebrating your birthday friday, so many fans making birthday videos for you it was great! Lots of my perry girlfriends listened to your videos all day and watched dvd's of you and journey. I even baked you a birthday cake, and asked the DJ from WBAB to wish you a happy birthday and play Be Good To Yourself! It was nice to read your birthday message that you do leave every year except for last year, but thats probably because you started working on your new cd around your birthday and forgot!I was praying you would say something about your new album but when you are ready you will. I just have to say Mr Perry, you sir have touched the hearts of so many and your loyal fans will always stay by your side 4ever. One more thing please, please, tour!!!

By webbigail1

I would give a major limb to see Steve Perry join back up with Journey. I grew up listening to my parents' Journey records(!) and casettes and would love to get to hear them live with Perry behind the mic.

By Luna

You and me both sister! I paid a boatload of money for seats close to the stage at the LA Forum (a looonnnggg time ago) and it was worth every penny. Absolutely one of the best concerts I ever attended. I quit going to live performances but would love to see Steve Perry one more time. The new singer tries but there is no one like the original.

Monday 30 November

By Anna

I'd give two major limbs! Please Steve. We miss your wonderful voice so much.

Friday 12 March

By sandrahopesharp

i am 58yrs old and still "in love" with steve perry.His voice is so awesome.Would love it if Steve perry were to acknowledge us fans and return the favor of answering this mail lol.My brother's daughter,whom is married to a record promoter got the chance to say hi to Steve Perry on the phone~!!! Lucky her.I would drop faint away if I were to even talk to him, let alone go to a tour.I will always love Steve Perry /journey's band.They are truely awesome together.Get well Steve.with love for you and Journey,sandrahopesharp

By MsBev

Yes, Steve...I sure do miss your music...still pop in the cd's I have to hear you during my drive to work daily...thanks, Steve, for the great music...

By bernie

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

It's great that Steve Perry can admire a great version of his song. But sorry Steve, Glee definiitely gets an A+ for their version

By Mike

how about an f for using someone else's music. the point he was making is that the creator of the music would get an extra grade for the creative talent. saw journey in Tahoe last year. not the same nor will it ever be. Perry is a class act.

By rosey

I miss Steve Perry too. The new singer for Journey is good but he is no Steve Perry. I do congradulate him on all his success but Journey without Steve Perry, I don't care to see. I heard Steve sing with Journey in Ventura in the 80's....what a voice. A real natural.

By Shelly

I miss Steve Perry too!! There is no one else that would ever measure up to him!! I listen to the original journey everyday, all my kids even know all their songs!!

By Judy

I love the new singer for Journey. He's as good as and even better that Steve Perry.

Tuesday 24 November

By Shannon

I'm sorry, but I SOOOOOOO disagree with you! There is only ONE Steve Perry and everything is is a cheap knockoff version of the original gifted creation. The most recently lead singer of Journey is mimicking Mr. Perry at best! Certainly, there are songs where he sounds somewhat like him, but there are plenty of songs where he really doesn't like him at all. No one can reproduce "The Voice"... NO ONE!

By luna

When I lived in Japan there was a Filipino band that played in the local bars. They did great imitations of bands like Led Zepplin. Imitations are not the real thing and the new singer, try as he might, can never top the real thing and the real thing is Steve Perry. Journey was just an OK band before SP joined; without him they are not the powerhouse they were no matter who the imitator behind the mic is. I guarantee you if SP were to rejoin the group, they would drop the new guy in a red hot minute. Steve Perry was the magic behind the music and I'm sure most true fans would agree.

By Annette

He's still smokin' hot, and has one of the most unique voices ever!

By D

Oh, how right you are, Luna! Saw him in Jax, FL and it was absolutely the BEST concert I've ever been to. Singing live, he sounds exactly like he does on the albums. Ahhhh, it was a 3 hour long hormonal rush...There is NO Journey anymore. Glad to see there are die-hard fans!

By terry

steve is the one , can't be duplicated . an imitator is just that ....just an imitator . steve has the power . the new guy sound good , but steve is among the greats of rock vocalists . nobody can ever take that away from him .

By peanutbutterstew

In the midnight hour, we call your name...
In the midnight hour, it's never the same...
Do you hear us baby?

We MISS you, Stevie!

I remember the first time I heard Journey. I was driving and a Journey song came on the radio. I was so blown away by the voice I stopped my car in a parking lot so I could focus on it. I had just studied voice for 13 years so I knew a good voice when I heard one. My question then and now is: "Why wasn't he a solo act?" He was great in Journey, but I'd love to hear him do more stuff like "I Stand Alone" with an orchestra. His voice is sexy, soulful and just plain beautiful. I miss it Steve, more than you will ever know.

Tuesday 01 December

By PerryGirl

I totally agree with you all. The Journey ended for me when Steve left. I cannot possible hear the new singer without noticing the huge difference and downgrade. I recently forced myself to watch him on Oprah a few weeks ago (as I would not pay even a penny to see the new Journey) and it was as bad as I thought it would be. I noticed the big difference instantly. Why do they have to do the classics that Steve made a household name? If Pineda is as good as they want to pretend he is why don't they write all new stuff and leave the classics Steve left us with to remember how good we had in ONCE? I often read in articles that if you close your eyes Pineda sounds like Steve??? Why on earth would I want to pay big concert prices to close my eyes? I closed my eyes when he was on Oprah and Uh NO!! Wrong. He does not sound like Steve Perry. Steve's voice is one in a million and can never, ever be duplicated. I love the music of Neil Schon, Jonathan Cain and Ross Valery...but without Steve to belt out their classic tunes...NO CIGAR. Can you imagine how spectacular of a concert it would be if they (Schon, Cain and Vallory) just put their jealousy and egos aside and reunited with Steve???

Page 1 of 2