Video didn't kill Journey's star

Let's face it: Journey is about eight years overdue for a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Eligible since 2000, our San Fran rockers are victim to the sort of pre-Darwinian mentality that puts Madonna into the hall before them.

But our Neal, Ross and the gang are no threat to win the coveted MTV Video Vanguard award for a career of great music videos. I can't think of a band in the 80s that did less with MTV than Journey. And that's OK with fans, so long as they keep banging out great music and hitting the road for tours.

Still, if you force the issue, here's what you have...

TOP 5 JOURNEY VIDEOS:

5. WHEN YOU LOVE A WOMAN (watch it): Ah yes, the obligatory "look, we're recording the song" video.

4. SEND HER MY LOVE (watch it): Note to all our favorite bands. Always gotta love the "live concert" video with the studio version of the song laid in over the top.

3. ANY WAY YOU WANT IT (watch it): Late 70s cheesy goodness. Ross Valory looks like he belongs in Molly Hatchet, not Journey.

2. SEPARATE WAYS (watch it): I think the air-playing of the instruments is border-line creepy, but this video is as '80s as it gets.

1. FAITHFULLY (watch it): Steve Perry with a mustache in the ultimate "weary band on the road" tale. Any more questions?

Comments

[J Dub]

The Separate Ways video sums up everything I love about the 80's. It's absolute crap, and yet I just watched it three times in a row, and sang along so loudly that my dog is hiding under the couch, shivering in fear. The keyboard attached to the outer wall of the building is my favorite touch, even better than the fact that Steve Perry wears a muscle shirt with jeans to bare his toothpick arms. God bless Journey.

[don in tulsa]

mike, that's separate ways and yes it's cheesy. cain's air keyboards look more at home in the thriller video as if he should be dancing, they are that bad. then steve smith is playing the junkyard drumset while the others all have their real instruments. it didn't make sense back then and it still doesn't.

[Mike Frazer]

I remember one cheesy Journey video set in a junkyard, and the drummer was using old hubcaps instead of cymbals...can't remember the song, though.

[CHAD]

i know the video for separate ways never won any awards, but theres something about it i like. it just harkens back to everyones childhood, and playing air guitar, drums, or keyboards to your favorite song. i can see the band, doing these same things to beatles, or the rolling stones tunes back when they were wee bit lads. i know the video isnt anything to brag about, but everytime i heard those keyboard sounds coming out of my tv, i would run to watch it. separate ways is my absolute favorite journey song, so the video holds a special place in my heart. but for a giggle or two, check this out: http://youtube.com/watch?v=ghJ-RXe5tRA

[Greg Jones]

Note the picture to the right of the Send Her My Love video (the ad for Journey ringtones): how did those guys ever get any dates? What a bunch of goobers. Well, except, Mr. Ross Vallory with the too tight baby blue jumpsuit thing. Enough said.

[jane]

Good lord, that's a lot of hair on stage in that "Any Way You Want It" video. And I kept expecting Ross to segue into "Flirtin' with Disaster."

And the mustache totally steals the spotlight in "Faithfully". Most excellent.

[Matt]

Like "Send Her My Love," another great live concert video overlaid with the studio version......Motley Crue's "Home Sweet Home." I never get sick of that one.

[Michelle]

I think I still have a pair of white pumps like the gal in the "Separate Ways" video.