A MESSAGE FROM RAY PARKER, JR.

The beauty of Napster lies in the eye of the beholder.

Holier than thou rock stars, among whom I was one, adopt the attitude that they're better than you. Therefore, they wish to seek and destroy all methods that allow the consumer even a temporary escape from high music prices. Sad but true, the struggle within these millionaires' souls will continue until they are bleeding me and you dry. To these chart-toppers, nothing else matters except the almighty dollar.

On the other hand, many music fans choose to fight fire with fire. Their blackened eyes sore from $17.98 punches, PC-literates opt to acquire favorite titles through the never-ending frontiers of cyberspace. Per questionable legalities, such a hi-tech Robin Hood becomes the hero of the day to someone who wants the full Big Gulp, not just the shortest straw.

Growing up, my mama said to me repeatedly, "Always look at things from both sides." As the author of a mega-successful hit, I know first hand how today's rock stars can quickly become yesterday's disposable heroes. When you're on top, fame and fortune provide ample opportunity to go where the wild things are. To live is to die, however, and playtime seems immensely short when it becomes necessary to hit the lights on your career. Does it make a musician a bad seed for wanting to reap the most from their crop? Or does he or she surrender the fruits of their labor as a harvester of sorrow?

Flipping the coin, when a small block of wood will suffice, why purchase an entire 2X4? Downloading services are an effective cure when all you want is the "hit single" ("Ghostbusters," for example). Through an extensive battery of tests, many are pledging allegiance to operations like Napster. "Liberty and justice for all music lovers," they proclaim. Because of the unforgiven tactics toward consumers (courtesy of the RIAA), these people will keep drawing fuel from Napster's pumps as long as it's available to them.

Wherever I may roam, I'll probably always ask myself, "What if there could've been just one more 'Ghostbusters?'" But the memory remains. Until it sleeps, would you please download one of my three songs from Napster? Because the longer I can delay my fade to black, the better I'll be.