Jason Julian is one of those special people who understands the every day power of music to help shape us into, ultimately, who we are meant to be, if we let it. As the guest author for Blastissimo for this month, Jason shares how his own memories with music have helped shape him into the amazing man, leader, husband, father and friend he is today.
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Like most, I have a profound love of music. Always a tune in my head or hummed about
during my day. I even work better when music is playing in the background! Music has a way of attaching to us and us to it and many memories are often recalled because of a particular song, so let me take you down my own “memory lane” because music has been such an important piece of my life.
At a young age (5 years old) in the 1970’s, my parents had a long stereo unit with speakers on either side. My twin brother and I, before school, would be on our knees in front of one speaker and we would rock ourselves back and forth as Mom would play her favorite albums. They were normally John Denver, The Beatles, The Bee Gees,
Abba and Herb Alpert to name just a few.
I found that music took me to many places in my head and I felt a sense of freedom but also I was keen at a young age to recognize that music had power to impact emotions. My music journey continued when my cousin Nancy would babysit my brother and I. She would bring over her albums and she introduced us to Elton John, Billy Joel and the Bay City Rollers and Paul McCartney and Wings. At school I could vividly remember when Pink Floyd’s Another Brick in the Wall hit the radio waves… all the kids would shout “we don’t need no education” on the school yard and I understood that music really can unite people for good or bad. I kept it a secret that I loved the Bee Gees as it would for sure bring with it lots of ridicule or even a beating!
I remember when I asked Emilia (now my wife) to be my girlfriend back in high school… she said Yes (whew!!!) and the song that was #1 on the charts back in 1984 was Owner of a Lonely Heart. Ironically, the band was called “Yes” and I was over the moon when she said yes to being my girlfriend. The song title was fitting as she was my first ever girlfriend that rescued a lonely heart. I was asked in class once what I wanted to be when I grew up. Without hesitation I answered “I want to be a songwriter”. That never left me. I still keep to this day an old notebook where I write down poems and potential chorus lines and thoughts. I held onto this dream for a long time and then arranged some of the thoughts in my notebook to write an original song for my wife Emilia for our 25 th wedding anniversary many years ago. I used a service that provided a singer and instrument arrangement. It was called “Forever Be” and the owner of the production company said to me “welcome to the world of songwriters". Upon hearing that I cried with joy as that dream was fulfilled.
Music is in the family. I would do my best to sing in the house as the kids grew up. Now it was not a very good singing job and most times I was doing impressions such as Louis Armstrong or cartoon songs from Barney or Disney but they knew I loved music. In the car rides to school I would crank up a song to get them all pumped up for school… no easy task! Ha! But I see how it started with Emilia and I and it rubbed off on our oldest son Mike. I
believe your children watch you closely and perhaps my goofy impersonations and song lip-syncing had some affect.
Emilia was lead singer of her band growing up and also played some piano and organ. Our oldest son Mike followed as he is lead singer of his band RivalTown. They recently were on a Canadian tour opening for one of his favorite bands when he was younger called “Bowling for Soup”. To think of those days when he was a kid singing loud in the shower to being on stages all over is truly fulfilling and a joy to see. Mike also plays bass, acoustic and electric guitar along with drums and keyboard. We built a music studio in the basement for him to learn how to produce and mix music. He has mixed music for people all over the world. So the home is always filled with music!! When he plays drums I never knew what might fall off the bookshelves!
These days I create Playlists to fit a mood such as “Pump Up” songs for working out, “Drive” playlists, “Happy” playlists, “Christian Favs” and then genres with my favorite being the 70’s followed closely by the 80’s. So my journey has been a long joyful one with many old songs still fresh in my head. I enjoy a wide range of music. I grew up in the 70’s listening to the Bee Gees, Chicago, Elton John, Dan Fogelberg, Little River Band, The Doobie Brothers and ELO to name a few. Then the 80’s hit and it was wide open since it was such a defining genre of music. I pretty much enjoyed it all with Tears for Fears, Christopher Cross and The Pretenders being among my favs. Emilia was a HUGE Michael Jackson fan so that was a regular on the stereo!
But more often recently I find myself listening to soothing hymns by the Tabernacle Choir, Zach Williams, Mercy Me, David Tolk and Paul Cardall, Mercy Me’s hit “I can only Imagine” is one that has me in tears many times over
because it transports me in front of my Savior. Casting Crowns “Only Jesus” keeps me humble and reminds me to focus on Jesus and not worry to chase the things of this world.
I would teach youth and adults alike the power that music possesses and to be vigilant and careful with it as it has its ways into our subconscious. Like anything in life it can be good or evil. I do not pass judgement on a person’s musical interests as its personal but I do teach people to look beyond the beat of a song and read the lyrics. Are there any vulgar words, the taking of the name of God in vain, sexual references and innuendos etc. I take that advice to heart even with my son Mike’s music as some songs have vulgarity in them and I make that decision to keep those songs off my iTunes. I always review the lyrics and make decisions accordingly.
From Paul Pulsipher’s new album Glory, I really love “We already know who wins”. The words are uplifting and at the same time it’s a quiet pump-up song. Well arranged and musically sound. Paul has always poured his heart and soul into music and the end result is to each listener who will appreciate and feel uplifted.
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You can hear “We Already Know Who Wins” below. Thanks Jason for a trip down memory lane and for always striving for integrity! The music world could always use more people like that! You can find more about Jason's professional work here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonfjulian/