JOURNEY - OPEN ARMS

Released: January 8, 1982

Charted:  US: #2 

"Open Arms" is a power ballad by Journey, co-written by Steve Perry and Jonathan Cain. Released as a single from both the “Heavy Metal” soundtrack and their album "Escape" in 1981, the song resonates with its heartfelt lyrics aimed at rekindling a fading romance. It remains one of the band's most iconic hits, peaking at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in February 1982, where it stayed for an impressive six weeks.

Jonathan Cain's melody for "Open Arms" initially faced skepticism from some members of Journey, with Neal Schon and Cain himself unsure about its potential. Cain had originally presented the melody to John Waite of the Babys, but it was rejected as "too syrupy." When Cain played it for Steve Perry, the reaction was immediate – Perry loved it and wanted to pursue it. Despite initial reservations from the band, "Open Arms" became a single and catapulted Journey to new heights of success. It not only became their highest-charting single but also played a significant role in popularizing the power ballad genre. 

Steve Perry expressed deep emotions while producing “Live in Houston 1981: The Escape Tour”, particularly when listening to the band perform "Open Arms." Reflecting on the performance from 24 years prior, Perry revealed that he struggled to contain his emotions during certain moments of the song. Specifically, he mentioned the line "wanting you near," which he envisioned as a soaring, heartfelt expression. Whenever this line played, Perry found himself overcome with pride for the song, needing to keep his head down and swallow the lump in his throat. 

In the VH1's Behind the Music episode featuring Journey, Steve Perry reminisced about the challenging recording sessions for "Open Arms." Perry recalled tension in the studio, with Neal Schon taunting him and Jonathan Cain during the process. When the band performed the song live for the first time during their Escape Tour in 1981, the audience's overwhelming response stunned Schon. After two encores, Schon admitted, "Man, that song really kicked ass!" Perry, feeling incensed by Schon's change of heart, later admitted to wanting to confront him, reflecting the complex dynamics within the band during that time.