Gone are the days when lovers of Pinoy Video and pinoy artists confine their attention to what's playing at home. Thanks to YouTube. Arnel Pineda of the Philippines, is now the lead singer of a rock great Journey. Now, Pinoy New Video lovers in the Philippines beam their attention and support not only to pinoy artists at home but also to pinoy artists abroad. And conversely now, people from outside the country, Filipinos and non-natives alike have beamed and continue to focus their keen ears and eyes to the artists of the vibrant Pinoy New Video scene.
Arnel Pineda, who is now Journey's frontman, is the latest toast-if not the prime example, of this new phenomenon in music fandom. His life story, which is good enough material for a block-buster movie of one who rose from rags-to-riches-in the most literal sense, changed for the better. Thanks to the music industry. Pinoy New Video could not give a better example of one with talent who perseveres and gets his place in the sun in the end.
Literally living (and sleeping) in the streets, eking out his daily food consumption from the little money he gets out of scavenging scrap iron and selling them, or from whatever left-over food he could get from relatives, Arnel Pineda lived life with stoic perseverance until he got a break singing for a little-known band.
This poor kid, Arnel Pineda, started his journey in the music scene at age 15. For twenty five years, he came in and out of the Pinoy New Video scene as he came and out of the country in pursuit of his career. The longest stint was nine years in Japan. His career was not without its share of peaks and valleys, while he won an international award, he also got involved in drugs (which in retrospect he regrets and says it almost made him lose his voice.)
Going back to the Philippines where Pinoy New Video is also at its most vibrant, Arnel Pineda got his share of the local limelight with his regular gigs at the country's capital's most popular bars. Pinoy New Video lovers just couldn't get enough of Arnel Pineda's vocal prowess as he convincingly sing covers of the songs of Journey, Air Supply, Aerosmith, Queen, John Farmham, and a lot of other popular groups whose songs are favorites of the Filipino and foreigners who frequent the bars where he performs.
The big break came when Neil Schon of Journey saw the videos of his performances which were posted over YouTube. The rest of what happened after this has been extensively written about in internet blogs, music magazines, and even CNN and other giant tv networks in the United States.
While Arnel Pineda's journey with Journey continues, Pinoy New Video continues to flourish and continues to discover, develop and nurture more Filipino music talents. It is easy to say that Arnel Pineda's joining journey is a loss to Pinoy New Video development back home, but Arnel's role now has transcended local Pinoy New Video business. He is global now, and instead of seeing this as a loss to the local Pinoy New Video scene, Arnel Pineda of Journey is the Philippine's prime example of the pinoy's excellence. He does better service to Pinoy New Video this way.
