Willie Nelson

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John Clinebell artfully combines an intimate low tech approach with superb vocals and flawless accompaniment. This could be called John Clinebell unplugged.

This modest unassuming posture plays well with the sincerity and emotion John Clinebell puts into singing “A Peaceful Solution.” This feeling and presentation peacefully convey a message that none-the-less affects us with its power.

Process does matter and the ends do not seem to always justify the means. The peaceful resolution must arrive from a journey along a peaceful path. John Clinebell demonstrates this principle perfectly.

The message of peace continues to ripple out into the Internet and beyond. Here we are once again celebrating a great performance of “A Peaceful Solution” which possess both uniqueness and unity with every other performance.

John Clinebell’s clever rephrasing and additional lyrics prove his creativity while conveying the message accurately and on target. This combination combines elegance with charm.

Once again I am amazed and pleasently surprised by the quality of talent and diversity of presentation that every musician has brought to “A Peaceful Solution.” Everyone has made “A Peaceful Solution” sound good and everyone sounds good singing “A Peaceful Solution.”

By being exceptional without being an exception John Clinebell lends strength to my theory. It is a beautiful thing he does and we are honored that he shares it with us.

The little bit of direct conversation with his audience brackets his performance parenthetically. This nice touch gives us both a prolog and an epilog that contextualizes John Clinebell’s video as a personal experience.

I find this very appropriate because peace is first and last a personal experience. Unless one lives with peace internally it becomes difficult to think that they will manifest peace externally. John Clinebell projects an internal peace that lends credibility to his performance.

Thank you John Clinebell, and I wish you and yours a peaceful New Year as well.

A Peaceful Solution

There’s a peaceful solution. It’s called a peace revolution.

Now let’s take back America.

There’s a war and we’re in it, but I know we can win it.

So let’s take back America.

It’s a dream, so we best believe it.

I’ve been ready my whole life here to receive it.

Yeah, let’s take back America.

When it’s over and we’ve won it

let’s remember how we done it so we don’t have to fight again.

There’s a peaceful solution. It’s called a peace revolution.

Now let’s take back America.

There’s a war and we’re in it, but I know we can win it.

So let’s take back America.

It’s a dream, so we best believe it.

We’ve been ready our whole lives here to receive it.

Yeah, let’s take back America.

There was a peace resolution

to a peaceful revolution

and that solution, it saved us all…

* * * * * Artist’s Statement * * * * *

While I was growing up, my mom and dad fought hard on a local level for the environment. Farmers in rural Illinois wanted to tear apart Rock Island Trail state park so that they could grow more crops (and in turn make the erosion problem even worse). My dad, who was also a singer/songwriter, performed at local political rallies, and was one of the key members of a group that ended up saving the Rock Island Trail.

I didn’t realize it at the time, but my dad was an outspoken advocate of peaceful protest, and of protecting the environment. Because of his contributions as part of the team who saved that state park, thousands of people can now enjoy a natural escape to what the entire Midwest was once like.

I haven’t been a political advocate over the last several years, but back in college I used to attend rallies supporting candidates who believe in peaceful solutions to world dilemmas. I think that writing a song on behalf of the environment and peace as I did with “We All Make A Difference” (on my Youtube channel: http://youtube.com/johnclinebell), is a reward in and of itself.

Because all it takes is one voice to clearly state that they believe in peaceful solutions over bickering and the terrible things that can become of that to make a difference.

A strong follower of Eckhardt Tolle’s teachings, I believe that most of the problems that we face on this earth are made in our minds. More people have died defending mental positions than from any other cause. If we can all learn that we aren’t our thoughts and feelings, then it will be one giant step in the right direction.

That step will make rational dialogue on our big problems a much higher possibility.

I am a singer/songwriter in Santa Monica, California, and would love to see you out on the famous Third Street Promenade sometime. For more info on where I play, or to hear some of my original music (soon to be released nationally on SP&G Entertainment’s Invert Records label), visit my website: http://clinebellmusic.com or my myspace page: http://myspace.com/johnclinebell.

Peace to everyone, and many cheers to 2008!

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