..In my walk..
By John Juster

As for some, I know they miss me so, since
Moving around, and flowing in grooves
Is like...

Slipping away, too far too soon, like I was
Cruel and selfish, hurtful and rude.
But untrue...

For true to me I'll always be, therefore
True to you, in all I do,
And true is me I'll always be, therefore
True to you, in all I do.

When all my heart says nothing of the sort, yet
A strong layered protection covers it, saves it, heals it
From the insane...

Who seem to think I stop loving when in my walk,
My veins are pulsing a constant message of love I love
To love...

For true to me I'll always be, therefore
True to you, in all I do.

That every step I choose makes my world come true
For my love is for all, as all is in me, walking with you
In all that I do...

For true to me I'll always be, therefore
True to you, in all I do,
And true is me I'll always be, therefore
True to you, in all I do.

Watch for these four adorable bedfellows.
The play between them is subtle, coy & cunning.

Of. In. For. To.
Four little bites of sound holding different meaning
One from another, not to be left alone unattended
Or worst, devalued, dismissed or even forgotten!

Of. In. For. To.
What true meanings lie in each, that when in use
Easily reveal direction, values & mindset
As much as disguise, deceive or disorient!

Of. In. For. To.
What knowledge do each hold true, that
Before objectionable debate, rejections that speculate,
Defenses in high gear, like animal instincts in fear,
there's first to bridge two universal words, each powerful and personal,
Each more to cherish, as they are the words Purpose and Life.

Therefore simply asked and deeply intended,
Which of these four do you relate with most:
Purpose of life,
Purpose in life,
Purpose for life or
Purpose to life?

----

Of. In. For. To. (The answer)
By John Juster

Purpose For Life
>Everyone deserves life.
- Animal & environment activism
- No death-penalty activism
- Pro-life activism

Purpose To Life
>Everything happens for a reason.
- It was meant to happen
- Action/Reaction
- Destiny/Horoscope/mystic
- Life = Master Plan

Purpose In Life
>What is needed of me?
- Missionary work
- Charity work
- Self-sacrificing/Selflessness

Purpose Of Life
>Who are we, and what is it all for?
- Psychology/analysis/research
- Theology and sciences - Mathematics, Probability, Physics.
- Pessimism - >Itâs about luck, the perfect pill or the right time/right place perspective.
- Individualism - It's bigger than me.

TALK ABOUT MUSIC - A series about the significance of music and music artists. - John Juster, music artist, entrepreneur & thought provoker; john@johnjuster.net


FOR THE LOVE OF MUSIC, UNITE!

"Work and play, thats okay! We can do it every day!" That could be a daily cheer for people in music.

Here are three questions constantly faced by ALL who are in music. What do you do, what do you play, and what kind of music. I dont know about you, but I'm having difficulty knowing what to answer anymore, and I believe I'm not alone. I'm faced to sculpt an answer best fitting the person asking, or so I think. For instance, if you are a composer who also spins records, plays bass in different styles, and sings in a local retro punk band, your answer to a spunky cute fan asking could vary from I'm lead, I play bass, I deejay, I'm in such'n such band, or the elusive yet most accurate answer thus far, I do music. We've all found ourselves in this predicament, haven't we? Who you are has become what you are, and we're put in a disadvantage when answering partially. All these answers are inaccurate in what you are as a whole, not just in part. (Let alone who you are, but that's for another article.)

How do you know the spunky cute fan isn't a go-getter scouting for new music for a PodCasting Underground Indie label, and while using one of eighteen possible answers, you instantly became to her just "a bass player", for example. No discredit to sole bass players, but to this individual, the answer is not only true in part, it's false overall. Labels as such both help and stunt artists in music. Identification labels we use help to guide our music skills and involvement, as well as help to limit our music skills and involvement. And that's not just in the titles we believe ourselves to be, but the shelved categories our music presently best fits into, for strategic marketing purposes, of course. If you think I'm opening Pandora's Box, look again. It's a dusty old box of old ideas and principles. (Get the Hoover. Were cleaning house.)

So, in needing a label to satisfy the masses inside and out, having an all-encompassing name for all of us in and of music, being "music artist" covers it all. Here's where Im coming from: How does a vocalist/ bass player/ songwriter and performer of various styles of music best answer those three questions, except to say, in the clearest most accurate way, that he is a music artist. (You'd still have the spunky cute ones attention.) From there can you describe what different fields of music you delve into, play from, perform to, as well as saying what instruments you express yourself with, but that's after you've declared yourself properly first. See? Works best for you, for me, for all society!

Two wide worlds are covered in two accurate words combined. The world of music found inside each of us, demonstrating that music comes from within, and the world of music found outside of us, meaning the collective of music artists worldwide. Being one of a score of music artists makes for a powerful force and influence to realize, respect and admire, as we begin to understand the significance of what this means in everything we are, and in everything we do. (The next paragraph solidifies this point.)

"I'm a doctor" and "I'm a lawyer" make for great examples in how their overall titles instantly raise their status, value and worth in society. In comparison, saying "I'm a musician" only gets you to a certain level, and sadly thats inside our circles as well as out.

The penetrating point being, collectively known as music artists, do we consist of worldwide musicians of all types of instruments and of all types of styles, including vocalists, songwriters, composers, arrangers, deejays, conductors, music producers, etc, from there to hear, or better yet from musical thought to vibrating eardrum to fulfilled soul. Take this moment now, your mind clear of counter-arguments you are already trying to conjure up, and simply be in the spectrum we instantly possess, that we have all we need within reach, to lead music's influence and presence in the world, for the world loves music and so the world loves music artists.

- John Justers writings can be found at demostreams.com, respectmusic.net and johnjuster.net

Part 2 (02.09.06)
Article entitled: Play politics, perform music.

Lets get the point made, where as far as we can all see, politics is a game of communication in persuasion and promises on issues to convince, control and conquer. Fine. We all got that. Music on the other hand, purely communicates, seduces, inspires and releases. (Music without lyrics; the art of arranging sounds in time so as to produce a continuous, unified, and evocative composition, as through melody, harmony, rhythm, and timbre.)

Both worlds entertain us daily, but come on. Where music attracts, politics repels. Where music reaches across all ages and all kinds, politics separates and categorizes us all into all kinds. Music reaches souls and expands dreams, politics empties wallets and worst, controls minds. Earth to music artists: Politics does not measure to the influence of music in the lives of all humankind, and there is clear reasoning behind this claim.

Follow me for a second, for we agree as both realms affect all human beings on earth, one affects and controls our human existence and relevance, whereas the other influences and liberates our existence and significance as beings. (Remember, were human beings, not only human.) This observation and for some a realization, goes to the core of what is essential in knowing motive and intent in all of existence, thereby setting priorities in life, for when all humankind grasp how we are beings on earth, not just humans, the rest lies in how we undertake acting as such. Music helps us act as such. Politics does not.

Throughout the ages, we know that the arts, namely music has played a major role in introducing and establishing diplomatic ties worldwide. Musical performances best representing a country and a people would in effect help support their political counterparts in negotiations and diplomacy. West met East with exotic foods, musical seduction, crude oil and opium. East met West with fast food, top40, MTV, Broadway shows and coke. (Perhaps these are the real reasons why the East is having difficulty with the Wests culture, if well call it that.) Couldnt we also say that music was used for political takeovers, equal to seducing before poisoning?

The following are basic points to readdress regarding music and politics. For instance, 1. Does politics really protect music? 2. What is music and what is its influence on all our lives? 3. As political means fill needs to help survive humankind existence and welfare, (we all understand that), then isnt it fair to say that music fills the need to help survive humankind significance and meaning? 4. Does mixing politics and music help anything? 5. Do lyrics count as music? (The last ones the toughest since lyrics and words carry melodic, rhythmic and timbre components, only, their uses and meaning hold more.)

These and more points we will cover together, as we begin to see, above all, that music powerfully communicates to the world equally, profoundly, eternally.

- John Justers writings can also be found at respectmusic.net and johnjuster.net

TALK ABOUT MUSIC - A series about the significance of music and music artists. - John Juster, music artist, entrepreneur & thought provoker; john@johnjuster.net

Part 1 (01.24.06) Article entitled: Labor of Music

It was through my friend and mentor, John King that I learned that musicians were responsible for the first labor strike ever recorded. During the times of the Roman Empire, a group of musicians refused to play at some state orgy unless they were fed in advance. Although faced with death by lions, they stood their ground and got their food instead, then went on to play the gig. This act of defiance led to the principle of 'no pay, no play', the root basis of todays labor movement. (I wonder if the Romans tossed bad musicians anyway.) But I digress.

Labor owes a debt of gratitude to those hungry musicians. Heres a reality check, though: Todays music career choices provided by todays empire, I mean industry, still offer pretty much the same as the old days: either face hungry beasts in a pit of games, sign your future away, or settle for drink tickets and maybe some gas money.

Musicians set a precedent then. We are now to set another again. Music artists collective creative destiny is, want it or not, ready or not, feel it or not, gearing to new heights in creative possibilities, now more than ever before. I believe this wholeheartedly. Only, we must reevaluate everything music-related, what it has become in our own lives and in all others, from influencing society, educationally, commercially and economically.

For instance, we all have stories about how the starving musician status still applies today. (So much for labor.) But really, when thought through simply, music artists have the upper hand on how music is treated, performed and produced. We create it and we perform it. Music artists manifest music. This alone must be grasped with all our might and ran with. (Where to? Dont ask. Just run!)

We are about to lead a powerful undercurrent of musical influence the world does not yet see coming, but is long overdue. In the weeks and months ahead, I hope to make Talk About Music a platform to help guide us all (music artists) in the powerful direction music has to offer us all (our world).

We are human beings, right? We are not just human. We know this yet we act as though we don't. Our all-encompassing common "identity" is best said combining two perfect words: 'human' and 'being'. So, which of these fine words are we first? Take the following for what it's worth, but faced with identifying ourselves daily by what trend suits us best, shade we promote or belief we hold, we are all in the end (just as much as in the beginning) a 'being' first and a 'human' second. Being with that for a moment (pardon the pun) opens up the realization that we are more significant than the identities we adopt, cling to or embrace. Try instead to unidentify yourself, be first the being that you are, see others that way, and watch what comes of it. Let me know. PS: Recognizing ones inner-presence, being, spirit or core is NOT a religious perspective. We are bigger than religion, just as much as we are bigger than school education. Do you believe me, and therefore do you believe you?

Women Hold they own And some. Men also Hold their own But miss some.