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?"

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

Comments

(25)

Tuesday 01 December

By Barbie

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Steve,its been too long! Glad to hear you are still around! Just saw the picture from the U2 concert and your lookin mighty tanned and well. I never realized tho that your so short! I can handle it tho...I did a karoke sp? this summer at a bar it was "Girl Can't Help It", I thought it went really well since I have been singing your songs for over 20 plus years, so I have it all down pretty well. Only thing was toward the end, I was doing your part and backup and seriously ran out of air! lol! It was great tho and I havent done it since. It was a good time! Too bad there will never be a voice like yours again. So unique and beautiful and of course sexy. Too bad your Journey in music ended too soon, for certainly...Miss you so much....xoxo

Tuesday 19 January

By Jeannie

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Dear Steve,
Happy Birthday on Friday! I love your music and am looking forward to hearing the new music that you said you were working on! You have the most amazing voice in all creation, and you will always be 'The Voice'! The Journey ended when you stepped off the stage for the last time. I love your solo work, and in the memory of the 'For The Love Of Strange Medicine' tour - "I've missed you, Stevie".
Love you, babe. -Kitten >"<

By gluchnurse

Happy Birthday, Mr. Perry! Hope that you and yours share a lovely day-the beginning of a year filled with love and laughter, with good health thrown in for good measure. We are all waiting with bated breath for the album you referenced in your interview on CBC radio in July. Please don't keep us waiting-we know that whatever you produce will be done with meticulous care and be full of emotion made with the highest standard of musical craftmanship. We have our credit cards at the ready-may I say, PLEASE don't delay!

Saturday 13 February

By Paula

Five years ago I stopped listening to music, except for an occasional Christmas song or two. I found old songs brought back too many painful memories. Just 6 months ago I heard Steve Perry and Journey on my daughter's ipod and discovered these songs made my toes start tapping once again. More than 30 years after his success with Journey, Steve Perry still is getting new fans like me and I am his age! Where have I been all these years? Not listening to him obviously, but now I have the "joy of rediscovering" Steve Perry's music. Thank you. My life has beautiful music to listen to once again.

Monday 10 January

By Ivette Martinez

I love you Steve

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