Faithfully (song)

"Faithfully"
Single by Journey
from the album Frontiers
B-side	"Frontiers", "Back Talk"
Released	April 16, 1983
Format	7"
Recorded	1982
Genre	Rock
Length	4:24
Label	Columbia
Writer(s)	Jonathan Cain
Producer	Kevin Elson, Mike Stone
Journey singles chronology
"Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)" (1983) "Faithfully" (1983) "After the Fall" (1983)

"Faithfully" is a popular song and power ballad by the band Journey, and the second single from their album Frontiers. It was written by Jonathan Cain. It peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100, giving the band their second consecutive top twenty hit from Frontiers. While the song was relatively successful on the charts, it has gone on to become one of their most recognizable songs, and has enjoyed lasting popularity.

Song meaning

The song describes the relationship of a "music man" on the road. The difficulties of raising and maintaining a family, two strangers having to fall in love again, and staying faithful while touring are brought up. However he suggests that he gets the "joy of rediscovering" her, and insists "I'm forever yours... Faithfully."

Music video

The music video featured a then-unique "life on tour" theme parallel to the song's lyrics, showing the band's performances in different venues and their travels around the USA. Steve Perry can be seen shaving his short-lived but talked-about moustache in the video. This video utilized footage from the documentary video Journey: Frontiers and Beyond narrated by John Facenda, voice of NFL Films, shortly before his death in 1984. The concept of the "road video" was later utilized by several other bands, including Bon Jovi, Guns N' Roses, Genesis, Mötley Crüe and Richard Marx.

Legacy

After recording the song Purple Rain, Prince phoned Cain asking him to hear it, worried it might be too similar to Faithfully. Caine did not agree and told Prince the songs only shared the same four chords.

Cover versions

• A Cantonese version, with a more pronounced piano presence, was recorded by Anita Mui.
• American indie folk music artist Matt the Electrician covered the song on his 2009 album Animal Boy. An audio sample can be heard on his official website.
• The song was performed by Lea Michele and Cory Monteith in the first season finale of Glee, along with several other Journey songs in the same episode.
• Claudio Sanchez, lead singer of Coheed and Cambria, played this song acoustically as an opening act for their Neverender tour.
• Safety in Numbers covered the song on a split EP made with Brand New
• Faithfully was covered by Broadway and Glee actress, Idina Menzel on her I Stand tour during a show in Atlantic City, NJ.

Appearances in other media

• Mega Man for the Nintendo Entertainment System has a level (Elecman's) sharing the keynotes of the song.
• The song was used during a bar scene in the film Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.
• The song was also a popular prom song in the United States in the 1980s.^{[citation needed]}
• The song was sung by Jovit Baldivino in his audition for Pilipinas Got Talent.
• The song was used in an episode of The Game in season four.
• The song was performed in Journey, an episode of the TV series Glee.