Top selling iTunes song? Yep, it's Journey
Journey's 1981 signature hit Don't Stop Believin' has just surpassed the 2-million mark in digital sales, making it the all-time leader in this new era of music downloading.
The Guardian newspaper in the UK says downloads of the power ballad soared after its inclusion the series finale of The Sopranos: "iTunes sales rocketed 482 per cent in the period between the episode airing on June 9 and the following Tuesday, June 12," the paper said.
The sales landmark, first reported by SoundScan, means the tune has surpassed the elite "double platinum" status, something that seemed impossible once the record biz reluctantly embraced the digital sales world.
(By the way, the live video of the band performing the song in Houston back in '81 during the Escape Tour? Yeah, that one at the top of this post. It's been viewed more than 11-million times.)
Relive the music, movies and culture of the greatest decade ever with Times online editor Steve Spears. A teen during the decade, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to Reaganomics.
E-mail Steve Spears:
I'm with Chad. I have always loved the deeper cuts and Escape has some which are so "choice."
Posted by: Blaine | November 13, 2008 at 03:05 AM
I great song but I can't stop looking at his outfit. Check out the package....hhhhuuuhhhh.....meat gazer!!!!!
Posted by: Mike in Austin | November 12, 2008 at 08:03 PM
by the way, escape totally rocks. if i was a kid i'd still get the whole cd, not just a single.
Posted by: CHAD | November 12, 2008 at 05:17 PM
how many times are people gonna describe this song as a power ballad? have they ever listened to a ballad. as much as i love journey, reo invented the power ballad as we know it. sure they're were ballads before them, but they weren't constructed the way keep on loving you was. once keep on loving was a hit, everyone else followed. all of a sudden all these rock bands are doing slower stuff. just my two cents
Posted by: CHAD | November 12, 2008 at 05:16 PM
It's because nobody wants to shell out the bucks for the whole album, but for 99 cents, it's worth it...
Posted by: KatieDid | November 12, 2008 at 04:57 PM
UGH!! I didn't feel in love with the song, I fell in love with it...although on occasion I do feel the love.
Posted by: Angie | November 12, 2008 at 12:26 PM
I feel in love with that song the first time I heard it. Thank you for putting a new song in my head. I walked around all day yesterday with The Fixx in my head.
Posted by: Angie | November 12, 2008 at 12:25 PM
That makes me happy.It`s good to see people considering this old tune in contrast with the desposable tunes from our current "music artists". It`s not one my favourites 80s tunes,but good.
Posted by: Miguel | November 12, 2008 at 11:42 AM
What can you say, a great song never dies.
Posted by: Bassnote | November 12, 2008 at 10:10 AM