By the time he reached his mid-30’s, Jeff Scott Soto had already spent twenty years splitting his time between recording studios and concert stages around the world. From heavy metal and funk to AOR and pop, Jeff has done it all.
Born November 4, 1965, in Brooklyn, New York, Jeff Scott Soto relocated to the San Fernando Valley in California at the age of eight. During his formative years, while his friends were drawn to the likes of Kiss, Jeff’s musical tastes leaned more toward bands like Queen, Journey and Motown artists like the Jackson 5. Following graduation from high school in 1983, Jeff and his older brother Joey formed a series of dead-end metal bands.
In late 1984, Soto answered an open call for audition tapes by former Alcatrazz guitarist Yngwie J. Malmsteen. Jeff’s major label debut on ‘Yngwie J. Malmsteen’s Rising Force’ was released on Polydor that year. In 1985, Jeff returned to the recording studio to record Malmsteen’s ‘Marching Out’. The band began kicked off a tour in Japan, creating quite a stir; a Tokyo concert was filmed and later released on video as ‘Chasing Yngwie: Live in Tokyo, ‘85’.
After leaving Yngwie’s band, Jeff recorded demos with ex-Kiss guitarist Vinnie Vincent and later resurfaced with Japanese guitarist Kuni Takeuchi on 1988’s ‘Lookin’ for Action’. Jeff also recorded vocals, albeit under an alias, for ‘Kryst the Conqueror’, a project spearheaded by members of punk legends The Misfits.
In 1990 Jeff Scott Soto collaborated with former Rising Force band mate, bassist Marcel Jacob, in a distinctly European metal band called Talisman. He also appeared with hard-rocking California party band Eyes. Neither band toured extensively; Jeff found time to record 1991’s ‘Skrapp Mettle’ album, wisely appearing under an assumed name.
1992 brought Jeff together with German guitarist Axel Rudi Pell for ‘Eternal Prisoner’, the first of four studio albums he would record with Pell. Throughout the Nineties, Soto split his time between Axel Rudi Pell, Talisman, the short-lived Eyes and Takara. 1993 saw the release of four albums to feature Jeff’s vocal work: Talisman’s sophomore release ‘Genesis’, the Eyes demo album ‘Windows of the Soul’, the soundtrack to the cartoon film ‘Biker Mice from Mars’ and ‘Eternal Faith’ by Takara. Jeff went on to write and record two more albums with Takara, 1995’s ‘Taste of Heaven’ and 1998’s ‘Blind in Paradise’.
1994 was a banner year. Talisman released ‘Five Out of Five Live’, recorded on their successful debut Japanese tour. While they busied themselves writing the next studio album, ‘Humanimal’, Jeff recorded ‘Between the Walls’ with Axel Rudi Pell, and paired up with Takara’s Gary Schutt, contributing lead vocals to Schutt’s ‘Sentimetal’ solo disc.
1995 brought Soto’s first solo endeavor, ‘Love Parade’. It was a funky affair, with affectionate nods to influences Prince and Queen. Following the release of Talisman’s ‘Life’ that year, Marcel and Jeff recorded the first of two albums as Human Clay. Former taskmaster Yngwie Malmsteen appeared on the album, repaying Jacob and Soto’s contributions on Malmsteen’s own ‘Inspiration’ album. Rounding out 1996, Jeff recorded a third studio album with Axel Rudi Pell, ‘Black Moon Pyramid’. Two Talisman best-of compilations also appeared that year, ‘Besterious’ and ‘Best of Talisman’.
While Jeff could be heard on the raw ‘U4IA’ album by Human Clay and his final Pell album, 1997’s ‘Magic’, he could also be heard singing “Grease” and “YMCA” on the Boogie Knights album ‘Welcome to the Jungle Boogie’. The band was the premier party band of its kind, appearing in movies, on TV and at special events nationwide. The grueling pace of his Boogie Knights schedule didn’t keep Jeff from completing 1998’s ‘Truth’ album with the revamped Talisman. ‘Truth’ featured some of Jeff’s most impressive vocal work, as well as innovative arrangements of songs by Queen, Prince and Madonna.
Most of 1999 and 2000 was spent doing odd sessions here and there. Jeff recorded contributions for tributes to both Van Halen and Ozzy, laid down lead vocals for the film ‘Rock Star’ and recorded a series of demos with Zakk Wylde. Perhaps most interesting was an invitation to perform with Queen’s Brian May at the annual Queen convention in the UK. Jeff has since furthered his reputation among Queen fans with a series of appearances with the SAS Band (Spike’s All Stars), Queen sideman Spike Edney’s band.
In early 2002 Jeff, Marcel and guitarist Pontus Norgren convened under the banner of Humanimal to record a single self-titled album. Later that same year, Jeff shared the stage with Queen’s Brian May and Roger Taylor at an October event celebrating Queen’s induction to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Jeff also made his UK debut as a headliner at the 2002 Gods festival, an acclaimed performance later released on CD and DVD.
2003 was all about Jeff Scott Soto the solo artist. First came the release of Jeff’s second solo album, ‘Prism’, featuring a who’s who of musicians from Jeff’s career and a duet with the great Glenn Hughes. Then upon the release of ‘Cats & Dogs’, a reunited Talisman undertook a short tour in the late summer, at the tail end of Soto’s successful European solo tour. Highlighting Jeff’s solo tour was an encore performance at the 2003 UK Queen Convention, issued on CD and DVD to the delight of Soto’s growing fan base.
Soto began 2004 with the writing and recording of his third solo album, titled ‘Lost in the Translation’. In addition, a performance at the January, 2004 NAMM show with Journey guitarist Neal Schon blossomed into a new project called Soul SirkUS. Jeff released ‘Lost in the Translation’ – which also featured Soul SirkUS band mate Neal Schon - to widespread acclaim, and effectively brought 2004 to a close with a return to stages in the United States, Europe and South America in support of the album. He also extended his reach around the globe with a two-week solo tour of Australia.
Soul SirkUS became Jeff’s focus for much of 2005. Following the release of the band’s debut CD ‘World Play’, Soul SirkUS spent all of April and May on tour, criss-crossing the United States and Europe. Soto returned to Europe and South America for a solo tour in the Fall of 2005, before returning home to begin work on what would be his fourth solo album.
The early months of 2006 were spent writing music in an altogether new direction, as Jeff collaborated with several notable Swedish songsmiths. At the same time, Jeff squeezed in enough time to record vocals for a somewhat unexpected Talisman album, the appropriately titled ‘7’. Thanks to a promotional push in the UK spearheaded by Richard Mace, Soto’s music garnered valuable airplay on the BBC radio network. In May of 2006, Soto parlayed his surge in popularity into ‘Essential Ballads’, a compilation of album cuts, b-sides and rarities that acted as a perfect calling card for the uninitiated. In July 2006, having just kicked off a major co-headlining tour of North America with Def Leppard, Journey suddenly found itself without a lead singer. Within the week, and without the benefit of a rehearsal, Jeff Scott Soto found himself face to face with 20,000 screaming Journey fans. By the time the tour buses rolled to a halt at the tail end of November, due to overwhelming demand the tour had been extended a full three months beyond its original August ending date. In December of 2006 came the official announcement of Jeff Scott Soto as the lead singer for Journey.
June 2007 brought the disappointing news of Jeff Scott Soto’s departure from Journey. This turn of events precluded any opportunity for Journey and JSS to collaborate in the studio and capitalize on the enormous potential of their union, a sentiment echoed on countless forums and fan sites across the internet. Jeff wasted no time, however; he dedicated the remainder of 2007 to completing his next solo album, begun prior to joining Journey. ‘A Beautiful Mess’, initially released via iTunes in September 2008, proved to be some of the most forward-thinking songs of Soto’s career, making it apparent that Jeff had reached the next stage in his evolution as an artist.
Jeff Scott Soto, or JSS as he is affectionately referred to by his fans, continues to stir the numerous irons he has in the fire at any given moment. News of Jeff’s latest and greatest endeavors will be forthcoming, as always, when they are ready to share with the world.
It’s an exciting time to be a fan of the music of Jeff Scott Soto. And in case you hadn’t noticed, Jeff’s made a lot of music to be a fan of. This biography is only the tip of the iceberg. So for the completists out there, print off a copy of Jeff’s discography, and happy hunting!
W.E.T.
Alongside members of Work Of Art and Eclipse, Soto founded W.E.T. The group, named after the initials of the band involved, Soto's representing Talisman, released a self-titled debut album in November 2009. In 2013, they released their second album Rise Up, and their third studio album Earthrage followed in 2018. They began recording a new album in 2020.
Sons of Apollo
In May 2017, he joined a progressive metal supergroup named Sons of Apollo with Derek Sherinian, bassist Billy Sheehan, drummer Mike Portnoy and guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal. Their debut album, Psychotic Symphony, was released Oct 20, 2017 with Inside Out/Sony. After releasing a live album in 2019, Sons of Apollo released their second album MMXX in January 2020.
Octavision
In 2020, alongside his Sons Of Apollo co-bandmate Billy Sheehan, Soto was invited by a Glendale, California based Armenian guitarist Hovak Alaverdyan to participate in his progressive metal project Octavision. There, Soto performed vocal duties on two tracks - "Coexist" and "Apocalyptus". The album titled Coexist was released on 29th December 2020.
Solo albums
* 1994 - Love Parade
* 2002 - Holding On (EP)
* 2002 - Prism
* 2003 - JSS Live at the Gods (live)
* 2004 - Believe in Me (EP)
* 2004 - Lost In The Translation
* 2006 - Essential Ballads
* 2009 - Beautiful Mess
* 2012 - Damage Control
* 2017 - Retribution
* 2020 - Wide Awake (In My Dreamland)
* 2021 - The Duets Collection, Vol. 1
* 2022 - Complicated
Forever Young
Jeff Scott Soto Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Heaven can wait we're only watching the skies
Hoping for the best but expecting the worst
Are you going to drop the bomb or not?
Let us die young or let us live forever
We don't have the power but we never say never
Sitting in a sandpit, life is a short trip
Can you imagine when this race is won
Turn our golden faces into the sun
Praising our leaders we're getting in tune
The music's played by the madmen
Forever young, I want to be forever young
Do you really want to live forever, forever and ever
Some are like water, some are like the heat
Some are a melody and some are the beat
Sooner or later they all will be gone
Why don't they stay young
It's so hard to get old without a cause
I don't want to perish like a fading horse
Youth is like diamonds in the sun
And dimonds are forever
So many adventures couldn't happen today
So many songs we forgot to play
So many dreams are swinging out of the blue
We let them come true
The song "Forever Young" by Jeff Scott Soto is about the desire to stay young and the fear of growing old. The lyrics are filled with a sense of urgency, as if time is running out and the singer is pleading to hold onto their youth forever. The line "let's dance in style, let's dance for a while" sets the tone and suggests a moment of celebration before the reality of aging sets in. The line "heaven can wait, we're only watching the skies" indicates a lack of concern for the future, as they are focused on the present.
The second verse emphasizes the uncertainty of the future, with the line "hoping for the best but expecting the worst." The singer acknowledges that they don't have the power to control what happens and that they may not live forever. The sandpit is a metaphor for the brevity of life, and the music is something that brings comfort to those who are sad.
The chorus reflects the longing to stay young forever, with the repetition of "forever young" and the question "do you really want to live forever?" The bridge suggests that everyone is unique and that they will all inevitably age and die, but there is a desire to hold onto their youth.
Overall, the song speaks to a universal fear of growing old and losing the vibrancy and energy of youth.
Line by Line Meaning
Let's dance in style, lets dance for a while
Let's enjoy the moment and celebrate life with great enthusiasm for as long as we can
Heaven can wait we're only watching the skies
We have lots of time to worry about heaven, so let's focus on enjoying the present and watching the beautiful skies
Hoping for the best but expecting the worst
We want things to go well, but we are prepared for any challenges or difficulties that may arise
Are you going to drop the bomb or not?
Are you going to do something that will cause destruction, conflict, or harm? We want to avoid that at all costs
Let us die young or let us live forever
We want to make the most out of life, whether it be a short or long life, and leave a lasting impact on the world
We don't have the power but we never say never
We may not have ultimate control over our lives, but we never give up hope and always remain optimistic for the future
Sitting in a sandpit, life is a short trip
Life can be fun and enjoyable, but it also goes by quickly and we should make the most of every moment
The music's for the sad men
Music is a way for people to express their emotions, and it can be especially helpful for those who are feeling sad or down
Can you imagine when this race is won
Can you imagine what it will be like when we have achieved our goals and accomplished everything we set out to do
Turn our golden faces into the sun
We will face the future with optimism and brightness, like shining gold reflecting the beauty of the sun
Praising our leaders we're getting in tune
We want to work together and be in harmony with our leaders and the people in charge in order to achieve a common goal or vision
The music's played by the madmen
Music can be a way for people to express their craziness or wildness, and can bring together people of all different backgrounds and personalities
Forever young, I want to be forever young
We want to keep the youthful spirit alive within us, no matter how old we get, so that we continue to strive, learn, and grow
Do you really want to live forever, forever and ever
Living forever may seem like a tempting idea, but we have to consider the consequences and implications of immortality, and whether it is truly worth it
Some are like water, some are like the heat
People have different personalities and temperaments, and can behave in different ways depending on the circumstances
Some are a melody and some are the beat
People have different roles and functions in life, and can contribute in different ways to create something beautiful or meaningful
Sooner or later, they all will be gone
Everything comes to an end eventually, whether it be people, experiences, or things we cherish, and we should cherish them while we can
Why don't they stay young
It's natural to want to preserve youth and hold onto the good times, but we need to accept that we all get older and focus on making the most out of every moment
It's so hard to get old without a cause
Growing old can be difficult if we don't have something to strive for or believe in, and we need to find purpose in life to keep us motivated and inspired
I don't want to perish like a fading horse
We don't want to become irrelevant or forgotten over time, so we need to keep working hard and finding ways to stay relevant and make an impact
Youth is like diamonds in the sun
Youth is a precious and valuable time in life, like sparkling diamonds that are shining brightly in the sun
And diamonds are forever
Things that are precious and valuable, like youth and timeless memories, can stay with us forever and hold a special place in our hearts
So many adventures couldn't happen today
While we can still have adventures and new experiences in life, some things from the past may not be possible due to changes in time, culture, and society
So many songs we forgot to play
We may have missed out on opportunities to make beautiful music in our lives or express ourselves in different ways
So many dreams are swinging out of the blue
There are countless dreams and aspirations that we may have, but due to circumstances or challenges, they may seem out of reach or impossible
We let them come true
However, with hard work, perseverance, and determination, we can make our dreams a reality and fulfill our potential in life
Contributed by Hudson M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Hortelã & Pimenta Arte
Tudo que esse homem canta fica ótimo !!! Melhor que o original 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Ryan Roubert 2
Sotos voice is one of the most singular out there in rock scene
MrRugbyloosehead
This guy can do it all from hard rock to pop rock and everything in-between with style and Panache!
Demeter &Kora
Amazing voice, amazing cover, Amazing man
Heidi Wheeler-Rogers
2 out of 3 ain't bad.... It's not a great cover. Okay, he's made it his 'own' but you just can't top the original. He seems to be just singing it without any feeling.
william sormani
Elisa C.C. Amazon
Lukasz Stefaniak
I love your perfomance of this song the same as love to ride on my bikes. In your voice is incredible power. THANK YOU!
Dr. Feels Good
Powerful vocal
anawrest
this is a great singer1!!!
Pat Cicinelli
What a voice. What an awesome cover of this song. JSS RULES.... Bottom line.