JOURNEY - SEPARATE WAYS (WORLD APART)

Released: January 4, 1983

Charts: US: #8 

“Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” is a 1983 single by Journey from their album Frontiers. It reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and held the top spot on the Top Tracks chart for four weeks. Written by Steve Perry and Jonathan Cain during a tour, originally worked out on a small Casio keyboard in a hotel room. The band finalized the song at soundcheck and debuted it that same night, receiving an enthusiastic response despite incomplete lyrics. The song was inspired by the emotional toll of life on the road—specifically the divorces of bandmates Neal Schon and Ross Valory. Perry and Cain aimed to turn that pain into something meaningful, resulting in a powerful anthem about heartbreak and resilience.

The music video, shot on a New Orleans wharf, became iconic for its “air band” style, with members pretending to play instruments. Though the band disliked making videos, they understood MTV’s impact and let directors take creative control. On set, tensions rose due to Perry’s girlfriend, Sherrie, objecting to another woman playing his love interest.

The song gained renewed popularity in 2022 after a dark, haunting remix by Bryce Miller was used in the Stranger Things Season 4 trailer, leading it to chart again digitally.