MOST of us have "our" song. It's that three-minute slice of romantic slush that makes us smile at each other and brings the memories flooding back of that first meeting, that first dance, that first kiss, perhaps even more.

Meet Jonathan Cain, one of the men responsible for two songs that defined an era for Americans soaking up the AOR overload of an '80s soft-rock revolution.

Journey head for the BIC this Saturday a remarkable 34 years and 75 million album sales after former Santana keyboard player Gregg Rolie and Neal Schon started the West Coast rockers with bass player Ross Valory.

When Rolie left, former Babys ivory-tickler Cain joined and his songwriting skills were a catalyst for a series of hit albums - including Escape and Infinity - and three top-10 US singles, including Open Arms.

But it's the other power ballad he penned - Faithfully - that is cited as the song that accompanied thousands of prom-night kisses, wedding vows and late-night fumblings over the pond.

"I wrote it on a napkin in Saratoga Springs in New York after falling off a bus. I had no idea that the song would go on to be what it is today," he said.

"Lots of people come up to me and say they got married to that song and it just makes you feel honoured and proud," he said. "Although sometimes there's just a little too much information about exactly what they did!"

The two songs were also aided by the soaring vocals of former frontman Steve Perry, whose health problems forced him to leave the band in the mid-'90s and with his replacement Steve Augeri now sidelined, Journey have taken on Jeff Scott Soto, who has already garnered critical acclaim since his December debut.

"We obviously did something right with the tunes which keep the fans coming back," said Cain.

"When Neal and I put the band back together in 1998, we both said it was bigger than any individual. Journey is about this music and never just one guy. It's a gumbo of Americana. This is a very soulful performing band and Jeff is quite a soul singer. He's doing a great job and the shows have been fantastic."

Journey never quite replicated the success they achieved in the States over here - Perry's resistence to visiting because of anti-American sentiments is one reason put forward - but there a solid, diehard fanbase here that will be lapping up every note on Saturday.