‘Don't Stop Believin’ is a rock song by American band Journey. It was released in October 1981 as the second single from the group's seventh studio album, Escape (1981). The song shares writing credits between the band's vocalist Steve Perry, guitarist Neal Schon, and keyboardist Jonathan Cain. A mid-tempo rock anthem and power ballad, ‘Don't Stop Believin'’ is memorable for its distinctive opening piano riff.
By 1980, the Californian rock outfit Journey was on its way to becoming one of the most successful acts of the era. After discarding its roots in progressive rock, the group hired vocalist Steve Perry and smoothed out its sound. The band had notched several domestic top-25 hits with "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'" and "Any Way You Want It". Original keyboardist Gregg Rolie, with the group since its progressive days, amicably departed in 1980, leaving the foursome without one of its signature elements. Rolie recommended the band invite Jonathan Cain of British rockers The Babys to be his permanent replacement, who accepted and joined the band as it prepared to record its next album, Escape (1981). Cain had kept the song title from encouragement his father gave him as a struggling musician living on Los Angeles' Sunset Boulevard. The band recorded the song in one take at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, California.
The song reached number eight on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart, and number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It sold over a million copies in vinyl. The song was released in the United Kingdom in December 1981 and peaked only at number 62. It is the best-selling digital song from a pre-digital-era, and it was also the best-selling rock song in digital history until it was overtaken by Imagine Dragons' "Radioactive" in January 2014. It was placed just outside the top twenty best-selling digital songs of all time in September 2010. It has sold over 7 million digital units in the US as of July 2017.
Billboard called it an "uptempo, melodic track" and praised the "fluid guitar and vocal." Record World said that the "piano intro anticipates a powerful rock chorus for maximum airplay." Mike DeGagne of AllMusic has described ‘Don't Stop Believin'’ as a "perfect rock song" and an "anthem", featuring "one of the best opening keyboard riffs in rock." In 2021, it was ranked #133 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It is the best-selling digital track from the 20th century, with over seven million copies sold in the United States.
A top-10 worldwide hit in 1981, ‘Don't Stop Believin'’ became the group's signature song and has continued to endure over the years. Decades after its release, it became the best-selling digital track from the twentieth century, with over seven million downloads. In 2021, the song received the Grammy Hall of Fame award.
Label – Columbia
Songwriters – Jonathan Cain, Steve Perry, Neal Schon
Producers – Kevin Elson, Mike "Clay" Stone
SONG LYRICS
[Verse 1]Just a small-town girl, livin' in a lonely world
She took the midnight train goin' anywhere
Just a city boy, born and raised in South Detroit
He took the midnight train goin' anywhere
[Verse 2]
A singer in a smoky room
The smell of wine and cheap perfume
For a smile, they can share the night
It goes on and on and on and on
[Pre-Chorus]
Strangers waitin'
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searchin' in the night
Streetlights, people
Livin' just to find emotion
Hidin' somewhere in the night
[Verse 3]
Workin' hard to get my fill
Everybody wants a thrill
Payin' anything to roll the dice
Just one more time
[Verse 4]
Some will win, some will lose
Some are born to sing the blues
Oh, the movie never ends
It goes on and on and on and on
[Pre-Chorus]
Strangers waitin'
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searchin' in the night
Streetlights, people
Livin' just to find emotion
Hidin' somewhere in the night
[Guitar Solo]
[Chorus]
Don't stop believin'
Hold on to that feelin'
Streetlights, people
Don't stop believin'
Hold on
Streetlights, people
Don't stop believin'
Hold on to that feelin'
Streetlights, people