From CNN:
The songwriters of Journey's power ballad "Don't Stop Believin"' were "jumping up and down" when they learned a few weeks ago it had been licensed for use in the final episode of "The Sopranos." But even they couldn't believe how it would prove so integral to one of the most memorable final scenes in television history.
"It was better than anything I would have ever hoped for," said Jonathan Cain, Journey keyboard player, who watched at home with his wife and family.
Cain said the songwriters are careful about how they license the song, and have resisted several advertising campaigns. They debated its use in the film "Monster" with Charlize Theron but, in the end, "she's too cute to say no to," he said.
Careful? Really? Well, maybe Family Guy, and its many, many cutaways were just too cute to say no to as well.
Granted, I don't know how many people are asking to license "Don't Stop Believin'" for their TV show, but the songwriters don't seem all that selective. In recent years, the song has been used as a preamble to pseudo-reality TV hot-tubbing on Laguna Beach (watch it here), and as a way to convey the sentiment that you shouldn't ever stop believing in the possibility that a reality home makeover show will ride in with their white trucks and remodel your home, in commercials for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
But if Journey was "jumping up and down" when they heard their song on The Sopranos, something that was almost certainly the best use of "Don't Stop Believin'" in a TV show, then what was their reaction to what has to be one of the worst uses of "Don't Stop Believin'" in a TV show: Zach Braff screeching out the lyrics to the song, then talking over it in his signature, sentimental voiceover on Scrubs?