I *really* hope it's not Borja. He would provide the most Scott-sounding option, but that's precisely why I don't want them to pick him. I watched that documentary on Journey and Arnel Pineda, and Borja reminds me of Pineda - immensely talented singer, but essentially more of a vocalist impressionist than a actual frontman. Pineda sings *exactly* like Steve Perry, and while it's admirable to be able to do that, it's something for a nostalgia band to do, not a band still looking to move forward artistically.
You are entitled to your own opinion, but you are probably hearing things very differently than how they are in real life.
1) Arnel Pineda does NOT sing exactly like Perry. Perry has some Sam Cooke impressions that is nowhere to be found in Pineda. (And it is ironic if you ask me if you are blasting on Pineda for being a Perry impressionist when Perry himself admits to be heavily inluenced by Sam Cooke).
2) JOURNEY WAS PRACTICALLY DEAD before Pineda came into the picture. They have tried Augeri and Soto and did not have the same success as with Pineda, for the last 9 years... filling stadiums and being one of the highest grossing acts in the past 9 years. Pineda deserves the respect for this feat alone.
3) Pineda deserves every inch of respect as a singer if you knew what he had gone through before he achieved his dreams (and $750M net worth) from being a scavenger.
4) Pineda has his own voice, but just fits Journey and many will agree.
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Regarding Borja:
1) He IS NOT a Weiland Clone. Yes he does sing in a rock band doing covers 4-5x a week, prolly 40 songs a night for a measly $20 a night. That is a step up from his measly $8 per night shows. That is his source of living but...
2) He has been in MANY original music bands, INCLUDING METAL BANDS. This alone puts him in a different light and gives an additional palette for STP should they go heavier.
3) He also has a balladeer background. In his much earlier years (pre-teens and early teens), he had won singing contests for cheapass money singing the likes of James Ingram and those cheesey 80s music.
4) HE COMPOSES DIFFERENTLY but is more of a collaborator. (This I can discuss further if you are truly interested)
5) BORJA can do EVERYTHING STP can ask him to do, musically. Soft music? Go. Catalog? go. Heavy music? Go.
I just wish when we saw that Delta Deep Show last year at the Coach House, John showed himself sitting in the audience. We were at the farthest part from the stage. When we had the chance to meet Rob at the parking lot after the show (hence the photos) Rob said if he only knew John was in the audience, he would ask him to join up on stage and do a jam.