THE INNER LIGHT

"It's that every now and again - not often, but occasionally - you get to be a part of justice being done. That really is quite a thrill when that happens." Hello all! I've been working on some different projects lately, one a comedy bit and one a horror show. While I'm finishing those up I thought it would be a good time to revisit THE INNER LIGHT. This Mix was made back in 2011. When I first started this channel around four years ago I quietly put it up but have never really discussed it in any detail. It's definitely on the slower side, maybe bordering on depressing at times, but it all comes together in the end. You'll see. The Journey is the Reward. Alright, let's get started. THE INNER LIGHT: Track One Song: Streets of Philadelphia Artist: Bruce Springsteen Album: Philadelphia OST Quote: Andrew Beckett (Tom Hanks)/Philadelphia

"Look at me… feel the warmth of my hand, the rhythm of my pulse. I'm not a supreme being. I'm flesh and blood, like you." "Not like me." "Like you. Different in appearance, yes, but we are both living beings. We are born, we grow, we live… and we die. In all the ways that matter, we are alike." The Inner Light: Track Two Song: We Are Flesh and Blood Artist: Ron Jones Album: Star Trek TNG Season Three OST Quote: Picard and Nuria/Who Watches the Watchers I don't usually do any commentary on individual tracks for any of the mixes. I prefer to let the music speak for itself. But I must acknowledge the incredible work of Ron Jones in creating not only this piece of beautiful music but for all of his amazing work on many of the early episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation. It was he who did the music for the Episode Where No One Has Gone Before, that title song being the first track on the previous Mix I put up, THE MASTER SWORD. It was he as well who composed Tasha's Farewell, perhaps the most beloved of all the musical tracks in the series, which plays at the end of the episode Skin of Evil at Tasha Yar's memorial. Truly one of the musical greats of our time, we thank you Ron Jones for your incredible and moving compositions which spread peace and joy to all who hear them.

"One of us had to accept the agony. He was always the stronger." The Inner Light: Track Three Song: Inama Nushif Artist: Brian Tyler Album: Children of Dune Soundtrack Quote: Ghanima/Children of Dune I've always felt that Children of Dune was the hardest to understand of all of Frank Herbert's Dune books. It's all because of Leto II. The child destined to become the God Emperor is without a doubt the most complicated character I'VE ever come across. He's much easier to understand once he's a sandworm. But anyways, Brian Tyler's score for the Children of Dune Miniseries that came out 20 years ago is a masterpiece, and this is the Crown Jewel. If you haven't seen it you should. At the time it was referred to as the SCI-FI CHANNEL EVENT OF THE SUMMER. But the praise is real and warranted. Anyways, I'm out of town next week to ride Maverick and Millennium force 5 times each. Hell, it's gonna be so hot I might even go on Sewage Canyon. It's ok, just do NOT open your mouth. We'll pick this up in a week. Later!

"Well, it's not far back to sanity At least it's not for me And if the wind is right you can sail away And find serenity Oh, the canvas can do miracles Just you wait and see, really, believe me" THE INNER LIGHT: Track Four Song: Sailing Artist: Christopher Cross Album: Christopher Cross Quote: Christopher Cross/Sailing (lyrics) Well I made it back from Cedar Point with (hopefully) no permanent injuries. Steel Vengeance is an EVIL piece of work that's for sure...I screamed so loud I lost my voice. But anyways, moving on. There's something about Christopher Cross's voice that I've always found to be incredibly soothing, and nowhere is that more apparent than with this song. I also somehow went through my entire life thinking he was African American. Imagine my surprise after 40 years to find out he's about as white as they come! But black or white it makes no difference, this song is as calming and beautiful as it was the day it was released on June 15th, 1980. I sure hope it's not far back to sanity for all of our sakes.

"Do not be afraid. I am U-Mos, Sentinel of the Luminoth. Please listen, and hear of our world’s peril. Long ago, a cosmic object fell to our planet, Aether, exploding with great force. A rift was torn in time and space, and a strange power flowed over the world. Where once there was one Aether, there were now two. One of light…and one of shadow, each existing in its own dimension. It was the end of peace on Aether, for a new race was born that day on the dark world…one filled with hate and terrible power. They are the Ing. The Ing are creatures of shadow and darkness, knowing nothing of peace or mercy. For decades, we stood against them…yet we now lie on the verge of defeat." THE INNER LIGHT: Track Five Song: The Luminoth Artist: Kenji Yamamoto Album: Metroid Prime 2: Echos OST Quote: U-Mos/Metroid Prime 2: Echos I've always found the story behind Metroid Prime 2: Echos to be fascinating. And timely. Just replace the word "Ing" with something like "Demons" and there you have Planet Earth in 2023. The War is Universal but our battle is here. It exists first in our hearts and in our minds. We must make our Stand against this evil. This channel and everything on it is dedicated to the preservation of beauty and the upholding of Truth. May it serve to help fight the shadow. And may the Lord bless us and watch over us during our Trials.

"You have no right to ask me how I feel You have no right to speak to me so kind" THE INNER LIGHT: Track Six Song: Separate Lives Artists: Phil Collins/Marilyn Martin Album: White Nights OST Quote: Lyrics (Separate Lives) I've never even seen White Nights. I think it's about some Russian Ballet dude twirling on his toes or something. I guess it was just one of those movies that never "happened" for me. Oh, but I remember this song from back in the day. It was HUGE. It was the kind of slow song they would play at those dreaded swim meet dances or 8th Grade "Fun Nights". Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin hit it out of the park with this one. It's a good song to sing Karaoke as well, if you can find the right partner. Great stuff.

"You’re our only hope, Samus. Should we fall, the Ing will look to the stars for new planets to ravage and conquer. Your species could be their next victims. Do not relent. Press on! Once you reach the Sky Temple let nothing stay your hand. Let the Light of Aether be your guide. May it serve you well in the darkness!" THE INNER LIGHT: Track Seven Song: Sector Zero Artist: Kuniaki Haishima Album: Metroid: OtherM OST Quote: U-Mos/Metroid Prime 2: Echos There's a lot of different Metroid going on in this one, but at my core I'm always gonna be an Echos man. And trust me, those things in Metroid Dread ARE the Ing, just in robot form. This song was also on the last mix I put up, THE MASTER SWORD, but I think it works better here. It was always Samus' song anyways, not Links. I don't know what my obsession is with this song, to me it just feels so.....desperate. I used to play Other M just to get to this part to listen to it. Oh, and I liked Other M. Kind of.

"The wind blows hard against this mountainside Across the sea into my soul It reaches into where I cannot hide Setting my feet upon the road" THE INNER LIGHT: Track Eight Song: Kyrie Artist: Mr. Mister Album: Welcome to the Real World Quote: Kyrie (Lyrics) Kyrie Eleison. Translated from Greek it means "Lord have mercy". I had to look that up. Despite the song being released 38 years ago and having heard it countless times AND having been raised Roman Catholic I just didn't know what it meant. I obviously knew it was about the Almighty but I thought it meant something like "Praise the Lord". But nope. It means "Lord have mercy" and every human being on this planet is in need of that, myself included. The fact that this song reached into the stratosphere of popularity back in the day (it was number one for two weeks in 1986) is a testament to not only the incredible talent of Mr. Mister but also to the message that it sends. One of the great songs of yesteryear and more relevant than ever in these dark times.

"Right behind you I see the millions, On you I see the glory! From you I get opinions, From you I get the story!" THE INNER LIGHT: Track Nine Song: Listening to You Artist: The Who Album: Tommy (Broadway Recording) Quote: Listening to You (Lyrics) I've never seen Tommy except for like a second of that acid trip movie. But I LOVE the orginal broadway recording with Michael Cerveris. So many incredibly talented people worked together to create something truly AWESOME.

"Damn you, Worf! You'd let me go without saying another word, wouldn't you?" "What needs to be said?" "Nothing. Everything. We're about to go our separate ways again." THE INNER LIGHT: Track Ten Song: Unfinished Business Artist: Ron Jones Album: Star Trek TNG Season Two OST Quote: Worf and K'Ehleyr/Star Trek Season 2/The Emissary You may be wondering why I chose to put the theme song to a Klingon sex scene on the Mix. Well, of course, it's Ron Jones, so there's that. But beyond that I've always found The Emissary to be one of the strongest episodes from Season 2 of Star Trek: The Next Generation, mainly because of the strength of actress Suzie Plakson who plays Worf's love interest, K'Ehleyr. Their chemistry together is, shall we say, explosive, and I think the song Unfinished Business captures that relationship perfectly. The "events" of that night would lead to the birth of Worf's son Alexander, who plays a significant role throughout the rest of the series. Well, I could babble on about Star Trek until the end of Time but let's just leave it there for now.