The song “Don’t Stop Believin'” has been honored with an 18-times platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America, with Forbes declaring it the most monumental song ever. Neal Schon, a member of the band, couldn’t hide his enthusiasm as he shared this achievement with his followers on social media. He exclaimed, “We now officially hold the title for the most significant song ever in music history! A big shoutout to everyone involved.”
Schon didn’t miss the opportunity to reach out to Steve Perry, his co-creator of the song along with Jonathan Cain. In a gesture of camaraderie, he sent Perry a congratulatory message, even sharing a screenshot of it online. In his message to the former Journey frontman, Schon said, “Big congrats, Steve, we really nailed it.”
When asked by a fan if Perry had replied, Schon humorously responded that he hadn’t, but emphasized, “I’m over the speculation of leaving Steve out. Come on, it’s common knowledge he was part of this. My congratulations extended to everyone.”
Perry himself has always believed in the song’s potential. In a discussion with CBC in 2009, he reminisced about the song’s inception and its warm reception. Perry highlighted the song’s deep message of perseverance, youthful spirit, and the universal search for elusive emotions in the shadows, underlining the importance of hope and resilience.
We now officially have the biggest song in the world ever in the history of music ! Congratulations to all ☝🏽🙌🏽👌🏽 @NealSchonMusic @JourneyOfficial pic.twitter.com/KXWsmQ9OPr
— NEAL SCHON MUSIC (@NealSchonMusic) March 18, 2024
Did he respond to your message? Congratulations on Don't Stop Believing!
— Dave West (@dave_west1990) March 18, 2024
However, Journey recently faced criticism from fans over a lyrical change during a performance. At a football match between the Detroit Lions and the San Francisco 49ers, they altered the lyrics of “Don’t Stop Believin'” to pay homage to San Francisco, leading to a backlash from Detroit fans. Despite performing four songs at the event held in Santa Clara’s Levi’s Stadium, it was this lyrical tweak in “Don’t Stop Believin'” that sparked the most conversation among the audience.
