This song has a special place in my heart. I seem to have a desire to hear it when times are rough. Instead of looking at my feet and the ground where things might be messy and muddy I am reminded to look up. Raising my eyes to view the wonderful universe God has created, telling Him how amazing and wonderful He is fills my heart with gratitude. Then I remember how powerful He is, above all the small inconveniences of life that might bring me down.

John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

Here’s my solo from my recording of Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd. I tried my best to copy David Gilmour’s solo as close as possible. Then at about 1:50 I start my own solo. Thank you for taking time to watch. If you’d like to hear about why I decided to record this song click here http://julimorgan.com/comfortably-numb/

Please check out the new episode of the Gear Addicts. It was such an honor playing at the Hard Rock Cafe in Seattle. I got to play my original songs ‘Go’ and ‘Just A Memory’ and there’s a beautiful interview with Scott Rockenfield from Queensryche.

I got on the plane from Seatac to LAX at 10:35 on the morning of November 7. The flight was uneventful, relaxing.  I was picked up at the curb of terminal 6.  I hopped into the front seat of the van and behind me were four talented guitar players. All chatting away about guitars of course.  I was a little shy and intimidated at first. I had seen their mind numbing videos and at one point we were fierce competitors.  But on this day we were all winners, elated, excited at what was to come in the next few hours.

We arrived at  the hotel.  The Standard, 8300 Sunset Blvd, Hollywood. We were sadly informed we wouldn’t be able to check into our rooms until 4:00 p.m. because The American Heart Association had rented out the entire hotel for a conference and everyone had left their rooms that afternoon.  No worries, let’s just hang out by the pool!!

What an experience getting to know everyone! We are all so different, all from different states, cultures, backgrounds, musical styles.  So much we have in common-guitar and Joe Satriani.  We all know his music inside and out.  We all had stories of how his music has touched our lives in so many ways. We laughed, played ping pong, enjoyed the sun and took photos.

Someone checked our itinerary and realized they were going to pick us up from the hotel at 4:00.  We hadn’t even checked into our rooms yet! I started to panic! I left my house at 5:30 am that morning! I had agonized for weeks wondering what to wear and how I would fix my hair (I am a girl right?) I couldn’t meet Joe looking like a slob. I called Jake, remember him? The awesome man from Guitar Center who so graciously called me to tell me I’d won the contest, took care of my travel arrangements, fight, hotel and car.  He saved the day! He said he would tell the driver to pick us up at 4:30.  Then at 3:30 I was able to check into my room.  I know, silly things girls worry about.

We all met at the elevator and on the way to the car we started singing Why? It’s from Joe’s album the Extremist.  Funny thing about guitar players, we can sing our guitar parts.  Don’t laugh you know we can and we get all the notes in too! and the harmonies on that song are tight.

We pulled up to Guitar Center and I got a little nervous! They were still setting up for the master class when we arrived so we got to browse around.  I can’t think of a better place for guitar players to wait around than at a fully stocked Guitar Center.

We all grabbed guitars off the wall and plugged in.  At first everyone was playing all at once but then my motherly instincts kicked in and I organized a nice little jam.  It was awesome!! The clerk came over and called us the congress of shred!

Then it was time! We all walked into the vintage guitar room.  There were guitars in there ranging from $15,000 up to $50,000! They handed us our brand new JS20s guitars and then Joe came out.  He is such a gentle spirited man for a monster guitar hero.  He started by congratulating us and saying he already knows we can play guitar so there’s no reason to go over the basics.  He decided to tell us all about what he does and the things that work for him.  Even his warm up was musical.  He played to backing tracks.  Each song had a special story about playing it live or crazy things that happened while recording.  Many songs had unbeleiveable-how did it even come together-type circumstances in the studio. I loved that Joe wasn’t putting on a show for us.  It was more like he was sharing his music with us in the most special, intimate way.  So beautiful.  And of course he played Always With Me Always With You.  I literally had to hold back the tears when he played it.  To think it was because I had enough courage to record myself playing this song that I was there in that room holding my brand new guitar. It just blows my mind.

I never have said why I chose that song. It really holds a special place in my heart. I bought Surfing With the Alien on cassette tape.  I was a teenager, hormonal, stress and trouble happening within my family. I had a long bus ride to and from school.  It was 30 minutes to the bus terminal, 20 minutes waiting for the next bus, then 30 minutes to school.  The same on the way home unless I missed the bus from the terminal then I had to wait an extra 20 minutes.  So I had my walkman (remember those?) and my Satriani cassette.  Sometimes I would listen all the way through side one and all the way through side two.  Some days a song would hit me and I would rewind and listen over and over.  Not so good for the batteries.  Always With Me would hit me many times.  I don’t know what it is about that song.  Maybe it’s the title.  I’ve discovered that rarely things of this world are ALWAYS there. ALWAYS constant. Maybe as a teen I knew that song would ALWAYS be with me.  Now I’ve made it mine and it will ALWAYS be mine.  That is comfort isn’t it?

After Joe shared his music with us we were able to ask questions.  I was so amazed he literally knew our videos inside and out.  I didn’t know this but he said there were over 2000 entries and the contest people narrowed it down to 400.  Joe watched 400 videos and picked 10 of us as winners!!  He told us many people had the notes, many people played really well but we had that extra something special.  We took some group photos and we all got to chat with him one on one.  When I got my chance to chat with him he told me he thought my version of Always With Me Always With You was beautiful and that I was the only one who danced while playing.  He said that’s how it should be.  I’m beaming can you tell? What an honor! I gave him one of my CDs and he said ‘Hey! It’s called I Believe!!’ I remembered he has a song called I Believe from the Flying in a Blue Dream album. What a cool connection.

We lingered for a few moments more at the Guitar Center then got into the van.  We were somewhat quiet on the way back to the hotel, still chatting but most of us still in awe of what had happened to us for those few hours.  Some went back to their hotel rooms. I chose to head out and enjoy the city. A few of us walked around Sunset Blvd, taking in the sights.

The next morning I got up early and went for a run.  I enjoyed it so much even though it was pouring down rain.  Go figure? As I was running and thinking about how great all the players were and how I’d better go home and practice and learn more really fast licks so I can get better and faster and…I looked up and a woman was walking down the street towards me.  She was looking straight ahead holding a sign.  It said ‘You Are Perfect’ in beautiful bold letters.  WOW! Right place, right time.  Thank you perfect lady with your perfect timing.  A nice gentle reminder.

Congratulations to Matt King, Sammy Boller, Preston Black, Ronny Gutierrez, Brian Bard, Colin Gailey, Eric Potapenko, Sami Rae, and David Garza my new guitar friends! You can watch all of the videos here! We did it! All glory be to God!

Merry Christmas from my heart to yours!

click on the audio player to hear the song

If you’d like to hear the complete song please click here http://www.playcrossroads.com/u/julimorganmusic

Why did I record Comfortably Numb? Well, it’s like this, I want to live my life anything BUT comfortably numb! Does that even make sense?

Here’s the story. I heard an absolutely amazing version of this song. It was acoustic based and dreamy sounding with a woman singing lead. I was really into it, then it ended just like that…what??? I felt like I’d been robbed. No guitar solo?? The guitar solo in Comfortably Numb is probably one of the most legendary, passionate guitar solos in the history of guitar solos. Try to prove me wrong! I have many guitar solos that I love but this one always comes up ranking in at least the top 10 on all the radio shows and in all the guitar magazines.

So anyway, I starting thinking, what is it about that guitar solo? Then it dawned on me what a contrast it is to the entire point of the song- Things are painful right now so I can remedy that by taking some drugs and checking out for a while. I know it doesn’t say that exactly but sort of? But the solo…the SOLO. It comes bursting forth out of the drug-induced stupor and stirs up all sorts of emotions right? You know what I’m saying I can tell. So how can anyone play this song without playing the guitar solo? I mean that’s like reading only half the book or watching the movie and turning it off before you get to the happy ending.

I felt like I HAD to record this song. It was a challenge in many ways but it was such a triumph for me. Not only recording something with so many tracks, or learning David Gilmour’s amazing solos note for note (not exactly because I’m me not him), but realizing I don’t need to find comfort for my pain in the things of this world. There are so many things we turn to. Sex, drugs, alcohol, food, shopping…you name it we can find something that has a way of numbing us to the pain. I’ve learned it only works for a while before the pain has to let loose in an explosive way just like all that passion and power in the guitar solo.

Have we gotten so used to it? Have we numbed ourselves to our own pain as well as those suffering around us?

I learned I needed to let myself feel the pain. It hurts…a broken heart hurts like nothing I’ve ever experienced. It’s a real injury and it takes time to heal. It’s ok to cry, take time to be angry (don’t hurt yourself or someone else), feel the pain of rejection, loss, loneliness. All of it, feel it.

From the depths of my soul I cried and when I felt the loneliest of lonelies I realized I wasn’t alone at all. And when I hurt more than I’d ever hurt before I realized the one who was there for me has hurt more than I will ever have to for eternity.

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28 ESV)

He gave me the strength to feel the pain and keep living. He gave me the power and courage to feel my hurt but also look for the joy in this incredible, beautiful life. When we are numb our pain eases but how can we ever experience pure joy in that state?

To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable-C.S. Lewis

This song is not available for download at this time but it is on my new CD (www.julimorgan.com/shop) and I usually play it live. Thanks for taking time to listen. I hope you enjoy it.

New Hope Community Church
9308 Meadow Road SW
Lakewood, WA 98499

Yes it’s true!! I won the Master Satriani Whooznxt Guitar Center Competition. I’ll be heading to Los Angeles,CA on November 7th to attend a master class with Joe and 9 other winners. I will also be receiving the Ibanez js20s guitar and an accessories package!!! I’m so delighted and honored Joe hand picked my video out of over 400 entries. Thank you for all of your help in following me on twitter, Facebook and YouTube!!