We love seeing the next generation of musicians tearing it up, and it’s even better when their parents can join in. That’s why this video of Missioned Souls performing the classic Boston hit “Long Time” warmed our hearts while melting our faces.
Based in the Philippines, Missioned Souls comprises bassist Secan and vocalist Sheena, with their four children: 17-year-old Naces (keyboard), 16-year-old Neisha (lead guitar), 13-year-old Stacey (vocals and rhythm guitar), and 12-year-old ICE (drums).
“We are a family commissioned to propagate the importance of family unity by showing love and respect to each family member and for one another,” the band writes in their YouTube bio. “We put into action our God-given gifts to bring joy and fun into other people’s lives thru music.”
Clearly, talent runs in the family. Watch Missioned Souls play Boston’s “Long Time” complete with the song’s intro, “Foreplay.”
The Story Behind Boston’s “Foreplay/Long Time”
“Foreplay/Long Time” first appeared on Boston’s 1976 self-titled debut album, which band mastermind Tom Scholz famously recorded in his basement. Incredibly, the beginning half of the two-part suite was the first piece Scholz ever wrote.
“I started around 1969. That was when I wrote my first song, which was ‘Foreplay,'” he told Classic Rock‘s Ken Sharp in 2023. “It was an instrumental piece. It’s ironic that the first piece I ever wrote appeared on a best-selling 17-million-plus album.”
How Missioned Souls Handles the “Foreplay” Intro
It’s also incredible that the first piece of music he wrote features such an intricate organ solo. Naces nails the triplet-driven right-hand figures that cascade through “Foreplay” with ease. It begins with a repeated pattern (Db-F-Db-Eb-Ab-C) that expands, eventually adding the left hand to reinforce the harmonic motion in a way that recalls the keyboard-driven accompaniment textures of Baroque music. Once the guitars and drums come in, it feels like a full-on symphony.
After building to a climax, the “Foreplay” transitions into “Long Time” by dropping back down to just the organ, which plays a freer section that shifts the tonal center away from Db and into F major. ICE leads the whole band into the mid-tempo groove of “Long Time” by signaling the time with a four-on-the-floor kick drum followed by a simple snare fill. Neisha brings the intensity of the screaming lead-guitar intro line, with a tone to match. The bass holds down an F pedal underneath the chord progression of F-Cm7-Bbsus-Bb.
Each player brings a lot to the table, but beyond the song’s technical execution, the family locks into the spirit of the original Boston track. It’s clear from their faces that they’re enjoying the connection of the moment. For Secan and Sheena, that’s what it’s all about.
“Through the shared experience of music, we’ve formed friendships and we have connected with a lot of people from all walks of life,” the parents told Cebu Daily News. “Whether at a casual jam session or simply sharing our favorite songs, music has a unique way of bringing us together and making our lives happier and more meaningful.”
Boston’s “Foreplay/Long Time” has been bringing that joy to fans for five decades, and artists like Missioned Souls will take it even further.
