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https://youtu.be/xqF1P8Khnmw?si=qZju6rWPg9gwu6hs. - Howard Jones - "Like To Get To Know You Well."There are conversations... and then there are conversations that change the way you see people forever.In this episode of My Life Through Music, a Howard Jones song takes me back to a night in Germany when my friend "Sam" introduced me to a young woman named "Marianna."At first, it seemed like just another night out.But looking back, it became one of the greatest lessons I ever learned about meeting people, dating, listening, and building genuine human connection.We live in a world filled with texts, dating apps, social media, and endless small talk...but what if the real goal isn't simply getting someone's attention?What if it's truly getting to know them?Join me as I revisit that unforgettable night, reflect on the wisdom of great friends and mentors, and explore why Howard Jones' I'd Like To Get To Know You Well became the perfect soundtrack for one of the most meaningful conversations of my life.If you've ever wondered what it really means to connect with another human being...I hope this episode makes you think.Thanks for watching, and as always...Welcome to My Life Through Music.

There are certain people who walk into your life quietly… and somehow end up changing it completely. When we got stationed in Germany, our room was supposed to be temporary. Just three guys trying to figure things out far away from home. New country. New routines. New reality.Then one day, THIS guy shows up... Our fourth roommate. Now at first, he was just another soldier carrying a duffel bag through the door. But before getting him squared away, helping him unpack his gear… I asked him a simple question, “Did you bring any music from the States?”And I’ll never forget what happened next. He pours his duffel bag onto a bunk, and it was like somebody dumped out my entire personality out on it. Albums I loved. Bands I thought nobody else knew or liked. Songs that had already become part of my life. At that moment, something clicked.After we got all his uniforms, boots, and gear handled, we went out for a drink… and ended up talking the entire night. Music. Life. Home... Everything. And from that night forward, we were pretty much inseparable. What ever we ended up doing, good or bad... It was, "Never Enough!"Some friendships take years to build. Others happen in a single moment.And somehow… this song became part of My Life Through Music!This is "Never Enough." https://youtu.be/_aG8hk0c7i0?si=GnZuNPNQYn30T_7r - "Never Enough" - The Cure

This was the first weekend that we had where, as a Battery, we didn't have much going on... And, we were getting ready to go out to the field for about three weeks! So, we did what we felt was the only thing to do, and that was to PARTY!!!! And party we did. That weekend I met some more very cool people and was initiated into a cool ritual that included MUSIC!But after partying with a group of really cool guys, there was something missing, a true brother. Someone who I could experience this new country, its culture, and its people with. Someone who would get just as much out of this experience and opportunity as I would. As they say, "The Lord works in mysterious ways..." I didn't realize it yet, but that brother was already on his way there!https://youtu.be/8igvj3lrTz4?si=G09CMsI9jCdlaHNZ - "Empire" - QueensrÿcheReferenced Songs:https://youtu.be/FYX74wd6ff0?si=BvJpGHZYX2SJXqtl - "Queen of the Riech" Queensrÿchehttps://youtu.be/0DgRHUJKxVs?si=YskVcFwDs4UlCcTj - "Take Hold of the Flame" - QueensrÿcheOne Cool thing that my new friend from Prescott did was at the end of the night when it was his turn to choose a song, he said, this next one is for my new "Homeboy!" Then he played Anthrax's "Room for One More." Which I was honored by the compliment!https://youtu.be/hF5U_JKIBQQ?si=xz3jHE1yujSCS-Ss - Room For One More" AnthraxI do remember one of my other selections that night was "Rising Force" by Yngwie Malmsteen. 🤯https://youtu.be/uCVY4Zu_kqk?si=UizSjhjGntkpnczQ - "Rising Force" - Yngwie Malmsteen

B-Battery 3/35 FA... Werthiem, Germany. Late 1990- Early to mid 1992...When the doors of Bravo Battery closed behind me, a sound that I would get to know all too well and never forget, I KNEW that my life was about to change... once again!!!! I'm 54 years old, I've been in many different types of units in two different MOS's. I have served with, and have observed men who used many different leadership styles. Looking back, and I mean this with the fullest sincerity that I can humanly muster... My First Sergeant (I'll give him the nickname "Grim Reaper" which fits him exactly) in B-Battery 3/35 FA was the very embodiment of brutality wrapped in authority. He was mean, loud, and unrelenting. His very demeanor, along with his words cut deeper than the bark of his orders. His presence alone was enough to drain the air from a room. Compassion was a language he did not speak!! He seemed to delight in our pain, while physically and emotionally breaking us down as he thrived on pushing us past misery into exhaustion! It was as if our suffering was the fuel for his satisfaction. To this day, he stands as the meanest, most ruthless individual I have ever encountered on this planet.And yet… therein lay the paradox! I LOVED to HATE him! Why? Because hating him was easy. But at the same time, I HATED to RESPECT him! The reason that I respected him was because buried in that cruelty was an undeniable truth! As much as I hate to admit, he made me better! His torment forged my resilience, his harshness hammered weakness out of me, and his mercilessness carved strength where I didn’t know it existed. He was the monster I despised, BUT, also the fire that tempered me and played one of many HUGE roles in making me the person I am today. And I have to thank him for that...https://youtu.be/nBM1-DwjA8I?si=psRe8SGXBDzIjTU1 - "For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)" - AC/DC

There’s a moment in basic training I’ll never forget! Not because of what ALMOST happened, but because of WHO stopped it from happening. I was fired up! My heart was pounding and my blood was hot. One of the other guys had pushed me way too far! The disrespect, the words, the attitude... everything! The whole thing was about to explode. I wasn’t even thinking, and at the moment, I didn’t care about consequences. I was ready to throw hands, and in basic, that could’ve meant getting recycled, losing rank (or which I had none), or worse. But just before I could swing, I felt two strong arms grab me from behind. It was one of my battle buddies! My friend from Nebraska who physically yanked me back. He didn’t just stop a fight, he saved me from making a huge mistake. One that could’ve changed everything. That’s what it means when someone has your back. It’s not just about stepping in when things go bad, it’s about stepping up when you’re about to go bad. It’s about knowing you’ve got someone who sees the bigger picture, who cares enough to keep you from doing something stupid! Having someone’s back means accountability, loyalty, and love in the form of tough truth. And in that moment, my friend had mine. https://youtu.be/zzoTITn7zC0?si=hQnYtzAIi0ZkjRY0 - Where I Come From - Montgomery Gentry

What is home to you? Do you remember when you left home for the first time? What was it like? Why did you leave? Were you off to college? Did you just want to get out into the world and see what was out there? Did you go into military service like I did? This is the story of when I left home along with some of the thoughts, feelings, and emotions that I experienced during that time, and the realization that Arizona, my home was, and will forever be, ingrained in my soul! https://youtu.be/fu_fjQXAra4?si=0sNuBj9k5EH4JQfW - "Long As I Can See The Light" - Creedence Clearwater Revival ***AdditionalSong(s)https://youtu.be/bPfFvM0AFG0?si=YLMtAWT5Te8xVmzB - "Arizona" - Scorpions

I want to be as good as a friend to those who are friends to me! I've been so blessed with having so many incredible friends in every phase of my life! https://youtu.be/MiYXj8j2Mus?si=6UygVVdi4CMqQhKc. Entre Nous - Rush How many friends do you have in your life? Not acquaintances, but real friends? Friendship is extremely important to me because it has been a constant source of strength and joy throughout my life. So many wonderful friends have stood by me in times of need, providing comfort and support when I felt most fearful and vulnerable. They've also given me "tough love" when it was warranted, helping me grow and make better choices. They've shared in shared the happiest moments, celebrating my successes with genuine excitement, and have mourned with me during times of sorrow, showing compassion and understanding. From the smallest things to the great acts of love, my friends, all of them, have made my life richer and more meaningful; expessing the art of true humanity and the beauty of human connection. This is a story, of many, of one such individual...

https://youtu.be/Btbf76dHYnI?si=-aOaxNArG-TXzO64 - Soul Asylum - The Cult Give me Ian Astbutry... with his hair the longest, and blackest. His voice the purest... and his soul the freest!! Have you ever had to say goodbye to someone you love, and you didn’t even want to? The pit in your stomach won’t go away. Words get caught in your throat. I didn’t want to, and we put it off for about as long as we possibly could… until we couldn’t… and we just had to finally say goodbye. Even in the midst of a painful goodbye, there are some beautiful memories, moments, and even some spiritual gifts that you can receive and hopefully… some gifts you can give to the other person as well. https://youtu.be/6BdfidzU9Gw?si=cEInC6u_kqqcWjva - A Lifetime - Better Than Ezra I know this song is about something different, but the vibe, tone, and feel of it reminds of her and that time. I don’t know exactly what it is…Perhaps it’s lines such as, "Graduation Day," Or, “We were standing on the hood of my car, singing out loud ‘till the sun came up.” Or, “And I know it wasn’t right, but it felt so good…” Maybe it’s the reference to her mother, who's influence was impactful back then and made a lasting impression ... Maybe it's the line, “I could drown in you,” or even, “...Till you pulled me through? Or "No one is allowed to be so proud" I don’t know, but the time we had together, “Felt like a lifetime…” Oh yeah, there even was an REM song... even though it's not the one sung about or referenced in this song. https://youtu.be/j7oQEPfe-O8?si=O38z2BEFd7J0unVa - The One I Love - R.E.M. https://youtu.be/r8OipmKFDeM?si=uLpkww0TXTeSgL8w - Don't Look Back In Anger - Oasis I have never regretted any of the relationships I’ve had in my life. Any of them! I was with each person because I wanted to be with them. Everyone I was ever involved with was different, unique, and beautiful in their own special way, and I never look back in anger, especially now. https://youtu.be/HKOuN50Ir-g?si=UFmf0kPju--mZYQ2 - 4am - Our Lady Peace I’ve never spoken about this particular event, and I won’t go into the details… I can’t… it hurts too much. What I will say is, during this period of time, while I was with “Attendance Girl,” I was supposed to be somewhere... and I wasn’t sure if I could make it. Hence, "And if I don't make it..." I won't go into any more than that...But there was a phone call, and... I never did make it... In this song they say, “And I hope to God I figure out what’s wrong.” Did I ever figure out what’s wrong? Yes, I did… What was wrong? Nothing, I’m human… and it’s alright now. https://youtu.be/ycM4y5-TfAs?si=NJLKbaSeiirTJl7N Sweet Child 'O Mine - Guns And Roses That next Spring, after our "goodbye," I heard this song. I heard in the right place, at the right time and I thought of her… The following Spring, a year later, I played it again on a day just like the year before. I kept playing that song year after year and… I just kept on doing it. And you know what? I still do to this day. Every Spring, on a gorgeous, bright, sunny day, I take a few minutes, play this song, and I think of her… with fondness and gratitude.

I was running out of answers... So I blurted out, “Well… I’m not working construction for YOU all my life!!” “That’s perfectly fine, son! As a matter of fact, I DON’T want you working construction for me your whole life… that’s the whole PURPOSE of this conversation! Then his tone got serious and his words slowed down as he said to me, "But… that’s not what I asked you… I asked you, what are you going to do?” I thought I knew what I was going to do, but I needed his help... In this video I tell story of the heated conversation I had with my dad after my first semester of college. I dive into the reasonings behind my thought process, what I based my decision on, and how I arrived at it. I also talk about some of the many "gems of wisdom" found in this incredible song and how they may be applied to our lives. https://youtu.be/752furk6Tk8?si=DLFoI-BkN0xbqLMN - Stick to Your Guns - Bon Jovi In the Gag Reel after the video, I noticed that I misspoke saying that this event happened 24 years ago. After hearing and seeing it, to my horror, I realized that happened actually happened 34 YEARS AGO! Oh my, where did it all go? I've managed to capture some of the time in these previous videos, and I'll continue to try to capture many more as this project continues. Everyone has a story! They're all different, unique, and beautiful! What's yours? As always, thanks for reading, thanks for watching. Background music was provided by Mm Roughneck, downloaded through Pond 5. Thank you. As I obviously cannot play the song I'm talking about, I try to have background music that I feel captures the feeling and spirit of the song and subject matter that I'm talking about, whether I create it or download it.

In a small studio apartment in Northwest Phoenix during the early fall of 1989, I found myself sitting at a quaint café-style table against a kitchen wall, with two neatly stacked cassette covers on top of a thin book to the right of my plate. The top cover belonged to Bauhaus’ “The Sky’s Gone Out…” We had been listening to it the night before while “Attendance Girl” sat at her desk focused on her homework while I quietly reclined on her futon across the room completely immersed in the hypnotizing and haunting sounds of "Swing the Heartache” as it delicately and slowly weaved through her apartment like a curious, hungry snake. The cassette beneath it was turned around and I couldn’t see the sleeve. Out of curiosity, I picked it up to see what was under it, and with a surprised look on my face, thought, “Motley Crue… Theater of Pain?” I yelled towards the opened bathroom door, “I didn’t know you liked Motley Crue?” She came to the opening, one hand on the door frame and an eyeliner pencil in the other and simply said, “Home Sweet Home?!” As if I should've already intuitively known. I was like, “Yeah?” Not getting it. She looked right at me and said, “Well, you know the part where it says, ‘My heart’s like an open book, for the whole world to read?’” Again I said, ”Yeah?” (Thinking to myself, Please!! I’ve heard that song literally 100’s and 100's of times). And then she said, “Well, that line really moves me… It, it means something to me…” Then, she looked away for a brief moment, as if she were looking into nothingness, and disappeared back into the bathroom... Isn't it crazy how a song can bring back such vivid memories?… Sometimes I wonder… do OTHERS who were there remember those same things, too? Mötley Crüe - Home Sweet Home https://youtu.be/MyByixMoCKE?si=oojgBBzmlA_CXYBU Bauhaus - Swing the Heartache https://youtu.be/RZNhjZFP0Y0?si=28_Ty9N6y7YInqMx This is an incredible song! Listen to all the SOUNDS in this, and Peter Murphy's voice is PERFECT for this genre of music! When he sings, "And she wants to be a better singer..." Man, for some reason that is that just so haunting mesmerizing, and ominous sounding to me... **All background music was created in Garage Band. I played the piano sections using my M32 Komplete Kontrol MIDI keyboard. As I've mentioned before, my goal is to try to make music and sounds to add an extra layer of emotion or atmosphere to the video. While it's not great, and I'm not a musician, I thoroughly enjoy the process behind it and I think it's better than having just my voice there.

People had always told me that I could try harder and do better... In this story I talk about two major events. One, which happened the afternoon after my dad unexpectedly woke me up at 4:00 in the morning and told me we had to talk about something later that afternoon! It placed me at a turning point, a crossroads that would define the trajectory of my life in ways I couldn't yet comprehend. It was a time of profound choices, of unexpected revelations, and ultimately, of taking a leap of faith into the unknown. https://youtu.be/a9qIPAdLhfI?si=6V3xo9sOCBSfxE8u - "Get a Haircut" - George Thorogood and the Destroyers ******Additional Songs****** https://youtu.be/IyhJ69mD7xI?si=OOpa8nz-uJo4i-9Y - "Bad to the Bone" - George Thorogood and the Destroyers When I was 12 years old I saw this video on MTV and I thought it was SO cool, and I still do to this day! https://youtu.be/gmrC_Pij5gc?si=5454poMORKlelrMp - "Graduate" - Third Eye Blind "Can I get my punk ass off the street?" My dad basically was telling me that I had "goofed off" the whole time I was in high school and that I never "applied myself." Now he was giving me a "Deal of a Lifetime." Would I take it? https://youtu.be/Bx51eegLTY8?si=UGyUW3jbBFBG8t2p "Take My Breath Away" - Berlin What a great movie!! I loved it then... I still love it now! This song! The synthesizer, the melody, and that unforgettable voice will make an impression on your heart forever about the person you were with when you heard it for the first time... https://youtu.be/Ip9L8IvIsdQ?si=RmKI4LMrh-au6xR0 "Ah! Leah!" - Donnie Iris This song perfectly describes the feeling I had when I first opened my front door and saw her standing there! "Leah It's been a long, long time You're such a sight You're looking better than a body has a right to Don't you know we're playing with the fire But we can't stop this burning desire, Leah..." "...Here we go again, ah! Leah!" https://youtu.be/bXNsrC333FA?si=-e4U_ajUOeMxiVsZ "Sorry" - Buckcherry This is a beautiful song, in my opinion! I've been blessed to have many opportunities to "clear the air" and "make it right" with many people over the course of my life, and I do plan on talking about some of those opportunities in this project. I think I did here... When these opportunities arise, it's important to approach them with sincerity, humility, and a genuine desire to reconcile. It takes courage to address conflicts or issues that may have strained a relationship, but the potential rewards of healing and strengthening that connection are immeasurable. https://youtu.be/uiDYkhIXUzA?si=hWkVrUVbpueBRUrv "Cold" - Crossfade There's a beautiful set of lyrics at the end of the song that say: "I never really wanted you to see The screwed up side of me that I keep Locked inside of me so deep It always seems to get to me I never really wanted you to go So many things you should have known I guess for me there's just no hope I never meant to be so cold..." When someone opens up, AND SOMEONE ALLOWS US to share the hidden parts of ourselves, it can be an incredibly powerful and bonding experience. It's an act of trust, a declaration that says, "I trust you enough to show you the real me, flaws and all." This vulnerability can foster a deeper connection and understanding between individuals. Background music created by Bishop Freesh using Garage Band, EXCEPT the last track, "Dirty Rock Trailer V.1" which was downloaded from Pond5, submitted by ROCKWAVE. THANK YOU!

Think about the rush and excitement of going to see a band that you love in concert! Do you still get that rush and that excitement waiting for them to come to your town... and then going and seeing them? Have you ever thought, however about all the time that they spend on the road and despite not having the comforts of home and their families with them, they still maintain a high level of excellence! What about all the work that's involved from show to show. When we buy that ticket, unless there are extenuating circumstances... that band is on stage on that night pouring their hearts and souls out on that stage night after night... for us! So the next time you wear a concert shirt or see one on somebody, take a second to look on the back and see all the cities and dates...That band was there that night, ROCKIN'! https://youtu.be/SRvCvsRp5ho?si=ITQQoRkxkEaRo51I - Wanted Dead or Alive - Bon Jovi https://youtu.be/Mqyrt7RCgsg?si=7T41h9U9JrWJzAEf - Wanted Dead or Alive (Live in Moscow) ***********ADDITIONAL SONGS*********** https://youtu.be/GONmFCkCGCc?si=_-YlIYmoiZinj_SS - Turn the Page - Bob Seger - Another song that paints the vivd picture of what it's like to be on the road! https://youtu.be/6bhFmtwio8Y?si=1o8wGSDtPtKdp6FI - Rock & roll Band - Boston - A fun song that also depicts the life of being in a band and playing for their fans! **********SPECIAL THANKS AND SHOUTOUT********** I need to sincerely thank "Not Right Rabbit" for adding instrumentation to the midi file for the track that is the background music. 🙏🙏🙏 I like to have something besides my voice in these videos, so recently I've tried to put SOME KIND of background music in an effort to TRY and get close to the song, or maybe add some type of emotion or spirit to it. I probably don't hit the mark all the time, and I don't spend TOO much time on it... but I I do enjoy it!

Then, with this lunatic smirk on his face, the trickster in him comes out and he flicks me on the side of the head and he says, "Don't tell me you didn't see that piano in the front room... He KNOWS and PLAYS music!!!!" "And?" I say back to him. "AND? What do you mean AND, what if we can get him to play something for us?" I shrug my shoulders. Then, leaving me with a choice, "Tom Sawyer," says, "Look, you can stay here by yourself, have your little drink... OR, you can go to the front of the house with me and everyone else and see if he'll play something for us, so what are you going to do? https://youtu.be/QwVjTlTdIDQ - Piano Man - Billy Joel https://youtu.be/QwVjTlTdIDQ - Piano Sonata No. 14 "Moonlight Sonata" Ludwig Van Beethoven https://youtu.be/V_FAqr6rP4w - Great Balls of Fire - Jerry Lee Lewis https://youtu.be/On-X_2FzegI - Great Balls of Fire - Miles Teller https://youtu.be/tfB16rMNNAs - Sowing the Seeds of Love - Tears for Fears https://youtu.be/On-X_2FzegI - Great White - Once Bitten, Twice Shy

Even though I was still way behind the curve, it was WILD! All I had to do was show up, hang on for the ride... and LEARN! These guys were awesome, and it was proof of how important it is to have good people around you! What kind of people do you have around you? Oh yeah, come to find out, "Tom Sawyer" actually DID know the girl I was "checking out." And later on when I told him that it would've been easier for BOTH of us to go over to them, he said to me, "What would be the fun in that, besides, you wouldn't have learned anything!" https://youtu.be/kFEh2TuXmmQ - If You Ain't Here To Party - Luke Bryan ADDITIONAL SONGS https://youtu.be/puiJKDWFars - It'z Just What We Do - Florida Georgia Line https://youtu.be/BKZqGJONH68 - Red Solo Cup - Toby Keith https://youtu.be/__4TvF2LFNI - Bust A Move - Young MC Check out the baseline on this track! https://youtu.be/KoPlkmYaEQs - Warning - Incubus Don't be reckless, don't be foolish... but take a few chances, man! Take a risk or two and get out there and LIVE! Live a life worth living, which will be a life worth remembering!🤟🙏

The POWER of those songs, IN THAT ENVIRONMENT, musically AND lyrically, along with the way they were delivered to everyone there that night, FLUNG me into a controlled chaos as bodies moved, shook, swayed, and convulsed while their music kept filling and filling my soul until, at the end... their beautiful, calming, compassionate sincerity gently set me onto the "shore..." completely unharmed! And in the far reaches of my mind, Perry Farrell's voice... it's still echoing...   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8ul0-_fXdw       Ocean Size - Jane's Addiction (Studio Version)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVIev94s7Mo     Ocean Size - Jane's Addiction (Official Video)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQpJXQYhlTY  Ocean Size - Jane's Addiction (Live in Sydney)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIUwxSFFxo4    Mountain Song - Jane's Addiction (Studio Version)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mm2Z9Mr9Ilw  Mountain Song - Jane's Addiction( Live)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKz5cUfd1is      Pigs In Zen - Jane's Addiction (Studio Version)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfcJ4h7Lczs     Pigs In Zen - Janes Addiction (Live)   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CpRCc4Jre8   Ted, Just Admit It - Jane's Addiction (Studio Version)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCJ943fLMrM  Ted, Just Admit It - Jane's Addiction (Live)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEIlgOnvGEs    Ted, Just Admit It  Jane's Addiction (Live)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEIlgOnvGEs   Pink Floyd  - Echoes   Background music created and arranged By Bishop Freesh using Garage band.