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When musicians are called to achieve greatness, they often delve deep into their creativity for that spark that will elevate their performance.
Though, during the recording of their legendary anthem “Don’t Stop Believin’,” guitarist Neal Schon recalls that the producers had a rather unconventional request.
“They told me, ‘Play something simple,’” Schon shared in a recent conversation with Rick Beato.
This isn’t the typical guidance one might expect when crafting a song centered on perseverance and hope.
Yet,sometimes,that’s the secret sauce behind chart-topping hits.
Released in 1981 as a single from Journey’s seventh studio album, Escape, “Don’t Stop Believin’” soared into the top 10 and has since evolved into a cultural touchstone. The song gained renewed fame after its prominent feature in the 2007 finale of The Sopranos and is now a staple during the eighth inning at San Francisco Giants games. In a memorable moment during the Giants’ 2014 World Series, former Journey frontman Steve Perry led the crowd in a heartfelt singalong.
Today, “Don’t Stop Believin’” holds a prestigious spot in the Library of Congress National Recording Registry, a testament to its remarkable sales of over 18 million copies and its enduring cultural impact.
“It’s surreal. When we where writing it, I sensed there was something special about it,” Schon reflects.
“After we recorded it and I listened to the mix, I turned to the guys and said, ‘I think we’ve created something that’s going to outshine the entire album.’”
“And it took decades,but it did happen,” he adds.
This all circles back to that intriguing request from producers kevin Elson and Mike Stone: Play something simple.
In response, Schon crafted what he describes as a “chunky rhythm part” – a straightforward chord progression that kicks in during the third verse, propelling the song forward.
“It’s reminiscent of Bachman-Turner Overdrive’s ‘Taking Care of Business’ rhythm,” Schon explains. “It just fits perfectly. You might not notice it at first, but if you remove it, the song feels incomplete.”
“While the rhythm part wasn’t my initial idea, it’s a testament to what a grate producer can do – they push you to explore new avenues,” he adds.
“Don’t Stop Believin’” was a collaborative effort between Schon, Perry, and keyboardist Jonathan cain, who had recently joined the band. As Schon recounted in a 2023 interview with Guitar Player, Cain introduced the chord progression, and Schon suggested a Motown-inspired bass groove to enhance it.
“Jon had the ‘Don’t stop believin” chorus ready, so we focused on fleshing out the rest of the song,” he recalls. “I contributed the B section – ‘strangers, waiting.’ Perry loved it, and we pieced it all together. those were the core elements of the track.”
Regarding the iconic chorus?
“It doesn’t appear until the very end,” Schon notes. “I can’t think of any other massive hit that follows that structure. The conventional wisdom in songwriting is,’Don’t bore us,get to the chorus!’”
“But we broke that rule – and it worked! The song resonates becuase it has a captivating melody driving it forward.”
during the recording sessions, Schon utilized his beloved 1977 Gibson Les Paul electric guitar, which he played extensively on Escape and during subsequent tours.This iconic instrument sold for an notable $250,000 at auction in 2021.
He recalls that his notable contribution to the track, aside from the memorable solo, was the rapidly arpeggiated guitar part that introduces the second verse. “It felt symphonic and really helped propel the song,” he explains.
That’s quite a departure from the idea of playing something simple.
But, as they say, whatever works.In fact, Forbes magazine recently dubbed “don’t Stop Believin’” the Biggest Song of All Time in its March 2024 issue. Perhaps there’s wisdom in embracing simplicity.
