When American Idol contestant Gabby Barrett took to the stage to give a powerhouse rendition of Journey’s ‘Don’t Stop Believin’, everyone knew it was going to be pretty special. What they didn’t realize, however, was that after Gabby’s performance, Journey’s original lead singer Steve Perry would show up in the audience to give her his congratulations for giving such an incredible rendition.
In a video that has since gone viral online and been watched by millions of people, Gabby screams, “Oh my gosh, I know who that is!” when she sees Steve Perry standing up to clap and congratulate her. The show’s judges are also left in awe, with Katy Perry left asking, “What is happening?” and Lionel Richie pointing excitedly in Steve’s direction.
Once the general excitement has subsided – including a wave of screams from the audience – Gabby makes her way off the stage to speak to Steve personally; she is clearly a little bit starstruck but holds it together well, giving Steve a huge hug and thanking him for attending. “It’s the most amazing version I’ve ever heard,” Steve says, prompting a look of shock from Gabby, before she tells him “it was an honour to sing it in front of you.”
If this sweet video has got you feeling a little bit nostalgic for Journey’s original version of ‘Don’t Stop Believin’, meanwhile, make sure you check out this incredible live video of the band performing the track in 1981. Steve Perry’s live vocals are, quite frankly, mind-blowing, with many viewers commenting on how he was one of the few singers of the era who could sound exactly the same live as he did on studio recordings (and sometimes even better).
Everyone knows that Steve Perry’s vocals on the original recording of ‘Don’t Stop Believin’’ can never be beaten, but Gabby Barrett gave it one hell of a good try. To see Steve being so supportive towards her is heartwarming too, and makes it clear that he is not only a fantastic singer but also a lovely man.