KJLS-FM 103.3 10am Sundays
November 16, 2025
The Permanent Committment
Part 1
Good morning, Central Kansas and around the world and happy continued Fall which we are feeling these days. Welcome to MATT on today’s best music Mix 103. It’s great to have you with us today as we look at the top 10 songs of yesterday and today. I’m Fr. Mike, your host for MATT and it’s my pleasure to give us some great songs and some great messages. We take the most popular songs of the past 45 years and talk about their messages and exactly what that should mean for us. The guiding thought of our show is to enjoy the music, and listen to the message!
Shane Michael Boose or better known as Sombr has an interesting song out right now that is at number 9 on our playlist. It is from his album “I Barely Know Her” and is a statement of a developing commitment which I believe is very good. As we get to know one another in a developing love mode with some type of a permanent commitment as an end result, we will show that love in a gradual manner. That means that there is a time when there is a possibility of too much too soon, and his song reflects that. He sings, “How can we go back to being friends when we just shared a bed? How can you look at me and pretend I’m someone you’ve never met?” He implies that there is some type of contradiction here. If you have expressed the love in a solemn way, how is it possible that you can forget that love, and simply make it a casual thing or maybe nothing at all. It is a very important thought for people who are developing love.
Expressing that idea in a general way might be something like this: if you say that something is true, and express it in some way, you must mean it all of the time. Or you must mean what you say in action, and that’s a pretty good theme as we work with the songs of our show today.
It means that if the couple say some things or express some things in a solemn way like physically, then getting out of the relationship may mean a contradiction. It means that we have to be very careful about what we say or express in a solemn way.
To start us off this morning, this is double Sombr here, both from his debut album “I Barely Know Her”, our lead song first, “Back to Friends” at number 9 on our playlist this morning on MATT.
(double) 9 BACK TO FRIENDS / Sombr
UNDRESSED / Sombr
Part 2
Closing off a double play from our lead singer, also from his album “I Barely Know Her,” Sombr, and his song week “Undressed.” It is a song of pain because of a breakup that the man in the song did not realize was happening, it seems. “You had a
dream,” he begins his song, “you wanted better. I’m lookin’ at you, you’re lookin’ at me, but the glimmer in your eyes is saying that you wanna leave. You say that you don’t mean what you’re sayin’ to me, but the glimmer in your eyes is telling me other things. I took the train to see my mother, I look across the tracks to see you with another. There’s nothing worse than seeing your lover movin’ on while you still suffer. I don’t wanna get undressed with a new person all over again.” In terms of our theme which he gave us today, he may have thought that she meant what she said, but she oBviously didn’t, and it is a very painful thing for any young person, any person really who has that situation.
This next triple play—and most of our songs on our show come in triple plays—talks about two people who are in love like animals are in love. They realize that they should not be together because it really isn’t the love that they want, but their emotions, especially their sexual emotions seem to control how the man in the relationship feels. The song is a little too graphic for me, but it shows a weakness of human nature. We want physical pleasure, but often we know that it will only harm us. “I'm preying on you tonight,” they sing, “Hunt you down, eat you alive, just like animals. Maybe you think that you can hide. So what you trying to do to me. It's like we can't stop. We're enemies, but we get along when I'm with you. You're like a drug that's killing me. I cut you out entirely. But I get so high when I'm with you.” I used some different words there because of the graphic content. They are describing a feeling, an emotion that seems to control them. And if the couple is determined to have a good basis for their love, they will have to control their emotions, because generally speaking, emotions want too much and as we said before, too much too soon can destroy a relationship. This is from the year 2014 from Maroon 5, and their song “Animals” from their album “V” on MATT.
(triple) ANIMALS / Maroon 5
LOVE ME HARDER / Ariana Grande f/ The Weeknd
4 MYSTCAL MAGICAL / Benson Boone
Part 3
Benson Boone there at number 4, from his album “American Heart” and “Mystical Magical” on MATT. It is a song concerning a necessary virtue to develop, namely, self-confidence. It is the story in song of someone quite sure that things will work out with the romantic love part of their lives. “There’s nothing colder,” he begins his song, “than your shoulder when you’re dragging me along like you do. And then you switch up with no warning and you kiss me like you want it; how rude. But I kinda like it anyways. I don’t mind if this is going to take a million days. I know you’ll come around to me eventually. If you sit back, relax, join my company. Once you know what my love’s gonna feel like, nothing else will feel right ‘cause it feels so mystical, magical.” His confidence is something to be imitated, to be sure, but as I have mentioned with the song, being over-confident could be the end result and in the end, cause a breakup, which obviously could destroy the permanent commitment.
Before him, we heard from Ariana Grande and The Weeknd and their song “Love Me Harder” from Ariana Grande’s album “My Everything” from the year 2014. The song is about what will happen if the love the man in the relationship desires is not what it should be. “Tell me something I need to know,” the lady in the relationship sings, “’Cause if you want to keep me, you gotta love me harder, and if you really need me, you gotta love me harder.” She continues: “So what would I do if I can’t figure it out? You got to try again. So what would I do if I can’t figure it out? I’m gonna leave.” Rather straightforward answer. If you want to keep a relationship, you have to try to keep it. Or as we are saying with our theme today: we must mean what we say and really try to make the relationship real.
Our top 10 show MATT is on your radio right now, coming from the studios of Mix 103 in Hays, KS and my studio which is actually my cozy room in Lawrence KS. During the show, we are concentrating on the top 10 songs right now. Up next for you we have music from birthday person Carly Rae Jepsen, Lady Gaga, Nicke Youre, and Ed Sheeran. Before we go to break, here is a Thanksgiving thought as we anticipate that season, a thought about thankfulness coming from an old proverb: “Who does not thank for little / will not thank for much.” Good thought—therefore be thankful even for little things. Stay with us, this is today’s best music Mix 103 and MATT.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
Part 4
You, my friends, are in tune with “Message at the Top,” your top 10 show on the best mix of music in this area, Mix 103. Welcome back to the songs which have been the most popular in this area as we celebrate Thanksgiving in a couple weeks. We take the top 10 of today and yesterday and study their messages, and then, call our show MATT. Our thought is that we can enjoy the music, and at the same time, we should listen to the message. I’m your host, Fr. Mike. It’s great to have you here. We have taken our theme from the thought of Sombr and his song “Back to Friends.”
Let’s celebrate a birthday together. Carly Rae Jepsen was born in Mission, British Columbia, Canada on November 21, 1985, and therefore will be 40 years old this coming Friday. She made it in the music world because of this song. It is a typical “infatuation” song, in that the lady in the song wants a young man to notice her, which is the topic of the clever and cute video as well. “I threw a wish in the well,” she sings, “I looked to you as it fell, and now you’re in my way. Hey, I just met you, and this is crazy, but here’s my number, so call me, maybe? It’s hard to look right at you, but here’s my number, so call me, maybe?” Beginning a love relationship is always difficult, and we have to work at it if we want it to begin well. In terms of our theme today, she is very hopeful that the relationship will blossom, and any relationship has to be hopeful in order to begin well. And the topic we add today—if we make a commitment, we ought to keep it. This is Canadian singer/songwriter Ms. Carly Rae Jepsen from her album “Curiosity” and her song “Call Me Maybe”, former number 1 and really popular from 2012 on MATT.
(double) CALL ME MAYBE / Carly Rae Jepsen
GOOD TIME / Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen
Part 5
Carly Rae Jepsen again from her album “Kiss” and also from Owl City and his album “The Midsummer Station” and their song “Good Time” on MATT from 2012. Owl City itself is the creation of singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Adam Young. We’re celebrating Carly Rae Jepsen’s birthday this week. The song speaks directly of feeling good and having a good time. “Woke up on the right side of the bed,” they sing there, “What’s up with this Prince song inside my head? Hands up if you’re down to get down tonight ‘cause it’s always a good time. Slept in all my clothes like I didn’t care, hopped into a cab, take me anywhere. I’m in if you’re down to get down tonight ‘cause it’s always a good time. Good morning and good night. I’ll wake up at twilight. It’s gonna be alright. We don’t even have to try: it’s always a good time. Doesn’t matter when: it’s always a good time.” So, a song that says that no matter what, it’s always a good time. To me, that is a great attitude and sets up a way of living, I believe. It is a necessary prerequisite if we intend on following through with a sincere commitment if we decide to make it.
Yet another triple play is in store for us now as we close off the first hour of our show. The triple begins with the first of two songs from Lady Gaga in today’s top 10, The song has been in the top 10 for a whole year plus. It is a song about a true commitment to another: “I just woke up from a dream,” they sing, “Where you and I had to say goodbye; and I don't know what it all means, but since I survived, I realized wherever you go, that's where I'll follow. Nobody's promised tomorrow, so I'ma love you every night like it's the last night. If the world was ending, I'd wanna be next to you. If the party was over and our time on earth was through, I'd wanna hold you just for a while and die with a smile.” So, as I say, words of strong commitment, but there had been struggles, it seems. They sing, “Lost in the words that we scream, I don't even wanna do this anymore 'cause you already know what you mean to me. And our love's the only war worth fighting for.” It seems that the couple was close to a breakup before, but they did some serious thinking and some strong communication, probably, and they remained together, and no doubt they were able to overcome every problem in their commitment to one another, and celebrating then and there a great moment together. In terms of our theme this week, they suffered through a breakup, but they stayed together, and now celebrate their permanent commitment. This is the song of the year for a duo from the Grammys this year “Die With a Smile” sung together with Bruno Mars at number 6 this week on MATT.
(triple) 6 DIE WITH A SMILE / Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars
SUNROOF / Nicki Youre
8 CAMERA / Ed Sheeran
Part 6
Mr. Ed Sheeran, from his album “Play,” his song “Camera” at number 8 this morning on MATT. It is a song about the feelings of a love that the man in the relationship had at the moment of the song, “You should see the way the stars illuminate your silhouette,” he begins his song, “I had to count to ten and take a breath. You think that you don’t have beauty in abundance, but you do. That’s the truth. You’re frozen in moment, a perfect picture in a frame. Some visions don’t ever fade. I don’t need a camera to capture this moment. I’ll remember how you look tonight for all my life. When everything is black and white, your color’s exploding. There’s something in the way you shine. I don’t need a camera when you’re in my eyes.” So, some nice poetry about the way his friend looks, and in terms of our theme this morning, the lady in the relationship is not convinced about her relationship yet because of her inferiority complex, and it may cause a breakup. But you get the feeling from the song that they will work it out and be able to celebrate their permanent commitment.
Before him, we heard the song which is featured on my website tomorrow, Monday, November 17. The website is www.frmikescully.com and the song is Nicky Youre’s “ Sunroof.” The song was from 2022, along with producer dazy. It is a song about feeling good about relationships. He said that he wanted to make a song that captured the feeling of excitement you get when you meet someone that you can’t stop thinking about. Well, he certainly did it. The theme for the song on my website is: “There are some things in life that make us feel good all the time”. It is a catchy “happily in love” song that makes one feel good. “I got my head out the sunroof,” he sings, “I’m blastin’ our favorite tunes, I only got one thing on my mind, you got me stuck on the thought of you, you’re making me feel brand new, you’re more than a sunshine in my eyes. We driving down the freeway at night, I’m feeling like this might be the time to shine with you.” He is feeling good about life, having fun with his friend. And that’s fine, but the time will come when he has to be serious about the developing relationship, our theme today revolving around the fact that a serious commitment demands some serious thought and the desire to carry it out.
We are talking about the top songs of our land from the present and the past according to Mediabase 24-7 on MATT. We are into our Thanksgiving shows this week and next. Here is a thanksgiving thought: “If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is ‘thank you’, it will be enough.” Those are the words of Meister Eckart, a great spiritual theologian of the 1300’s. Words to live by, indeed. Great stuff. Don’t go way; MATT will be right back.
Part 7
We are back for “Message at the Top” and we welcome you to the continuation of the top 10 songs of our area of today and yesterday as determined by our research and your requests. We call our show MATT because we take those top 10 songs and analyze their meanings in the light of how we can live better in this complicated world. In particular today, we are looking at the songs of our show and what they have to say about following through with the words of commitments that we make. Our thought always is to enjoy the music, and to listen to the message. I am Fr. Mike, your host for MATT.
Our second hour of MATT begins with yet another triple and that triple begins with the song at number 5 on our playlist. The song talks of an “ordinary” love relationship and says that what he has for a friend of his is not part of “the ordinary.” It comes from his album “You’ll Be Alright, Kid (Chapter 1)”. He begins with the thought that everything is pretty much ordinary: “They say ‘The holy water’s watered down and this town’s lost its faith. Our colors will fade eventually.” But he has a solution; he continues: “So, if our time is runnin’ out day after day, we’ll make the mundane our masterpiece.” Right there is a great line which we have quoted with the song. In terms of our theme, it the couple really work at making the mundane a masterpiece, the result will be a permanent commitment for them. Good song. Finally falling from the number 1 position, which he held for a record breaking 19 weeks, this is Alex Warren at number 5 this week and his song “Ordinary” on MATT.
(triple) 5 ORDINARY / Alex Warren
NO RAIN / Blind Melon
7 LOVE ME NOT / Ravyn Lenae
Part 8
Chicago-born Ravyn Lenae and her song from her album “Bird’s Eye”, and the name of it, “Love Me Not” at number 7 on MATT. It is a song of permanent commitment again, but also the art of remaining independent. “See, right now,” she begins her song, “I need you, I'll meet you somewhere now; slow down, be cool, I miss you, come here now. I need you right now, once I leave you I'm strung out; if I get you, I'm slowly breaking down. Oh, it's hard to see you, but I wish you were right here. Oh, it's hard to leave you when I get you everywhere. All this time I'm thinking we could never be a pair; Oh no, I don't need you, but I miss you, come here. He love me not, he loves me. He holds me tight, then lets me go. Don’t loosen your grip, get a hold on me. Now, forever, let’s get back together.” Generally speaking, we like our independence, but at the same time, we like the fact of choosing a commitment that will bind loved ones together. In terms of our theme this week, because of our human natures, when some couples try this, it leads to a breakup, but if they are truly committed to one another, they will withstand that, and celebrate a true commitment.
Before her, a great song to study, a song that described a bored individual who led a life that was “pretty plain”, as they sing, the group Blind Melon from 1993’s top 10, and “No Rain”. The title is a little too realistic for this area of the country, to be sure. Actually, the description of life being “pretty plain” for the man in the song is an understatement. Not only is it “plain,” / it is so boring that he “watches the puddles gather rain” and when it does not rain, he occupies his time by sleeping and complaining that there is no rain to gather into puddles. No one pays any attention to him, they call him insane; he would do anything to escape the boredom. “It rips my life away,” the group sings. This person needs some help, and part of that help would involve some direct communication about what is happening in his life, and certainly necessary if he wants to start a permanent commitment, our theme today.
We’ll stay with the triple plays during this segment, and give us first of all the number 10 song on our playlist to beging this triple play. It is Lady Gaga’s latest song and is about a breakup, and one that she has come out of quite well. In fact, she describes it as having fun with friends after having gone through a breakup. “Like the words of a song,” she begins, “I hear you call; like a thief in my head, you criminal. You stole my thoughts before I dreamed them, and you killed my queen with just one pawn. This goodbye is no surprise; this goodbye won’t make me cry. Yeah, I’ll keep on dancin’ until I’m dead. ‘Cause when you killed me inside, that’s when I came alive. Yeah, the music’s gonna bring me back from death. You’ve created a creature of the night—now I’m haunting your air, your soul, your eyes.” The breakup actually helped her and eventually led to a situation in which she could make a permanent commitment, you would believe. This is the latest from Stephanie Joanne Angelina Germanotta, that is, Lady Gaga, part of the soundtrack to the second season of the Netflix show “Wednesday” in which Lady Gaga appears, with quite an interesting video, at number 10 this morning, “The Dead Dance” on MATT.
(triple) 10 THE DEAD DANCE / Lady Gaga
ESPRESSO / Sabrina Carpenter
CHANGE THE WORLD/ Eric Clapton
Part 9
From the soundtrack of the excellent movie “Phenomenon,” and his song from 1996, “Change the World”, Mr. Eric Clapton on MATT. It is a love song during which the person in the song says he wants to change his world and have her in it. “I can change the world;” he sings, “I would be the sunlight in your universe. You would think my love was really something good if I could change the world.” What world must he change? It could be the world outside of himself; it could be society’s way of doing things; it could be the way the partner feels. But chances are relatively strong that the world in the song’s words is really his world. Tying it into our theme today, something we should not miss in our life is the fact that many times we have to change to make things better, especially when it comes to making some permanent commitments, our theme today.
Before him, we went back to a very popular young artist on our show this morning, Ms. Sabrina Carpenter from her album “Short n’ Sweet,” and her song “Espresso”. She said of the song: “The song is kind of about seeing femininity as your superpower, and embracing the confidence of being that lady.” I changed a word in that statement, and her song goes: “Now, he’s thinking ‘bout me every night, is it that sweet? I guess so. Say you can’t sleep; I know that’s me, espresso. I can’t relate to desperation. My ‘give a cares’ are on vacation, and I got this one boy and he won’t stop calling. When they act this way, I know I got ‘em. Too bad your ex don’t do it for ya. Walked in and dream came trued it for ya. Soft skin and I perfumed it for ya. I know I Mountain Dew it for ya. That morning coffee brewed it for ya. One touch and I brand newed it for ya. That’s me, espresso.” I changed some of the words. I’ve said before that it is an interesting use of the English language—making verbs out of nouns. I think it means that the lady in the relationship is the “Espresso” and she is totally in
charge, and in terms of our theme, part of the good feelings of being young is self-confidence. Of course, there can be too much of it, and too much is just plain selfishness, which will destroy any permanent commitment the couple tries, our theme today.
Which takes us to a break before our final segment today, that segment including songs from people like the band Coldplay and Justin Bieber. Leading to that segment, here is another thought which anticipates Thanksgiving in a couple of weeks from one of our greatest presidents, Mr. Abraham Lincoln: . “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” I hope you stay right where you are. In fact, don’t even think about touching that dial.
Part 10
Good day to all of you. We are back for our Thanksgiving show, part 1 on MATT. I am Fr. Mike, your host, welcoming you to this our final segment of our show which encourages you to enjoy the music, and listen to the message so that the message can help our lives. Get ready for some music of the band Coldplay and then our top 3 songs rights now.
We chose to go with three songs from Coldplay on our segment 10 presentation mainly because I really like their music. They are a British rock band formed in London in 1997. They are known for their very energetic live performances, their very different videos and consequently have had a strong impact of popular culture. We’ll give us three songs from them, and begin with a song shared with the group The Chainsmokers. It is a former number 1 from 2017. The lady in the relationship says, “Where d’you wanna go? How much you wanna risk?” And the man in the relationship sings: “I’m not looking for somebody with superhuman gifts, some superhero, some fairytale bliss, just something I can turn to, somebody I can miss. I want something just like this.” What he is searching for is a friend that he can trust, someone that he has a relationship with at the present time, and if he finds that she gives him that trust, he no doubt will turn their time together into a permanent commitment of sorts, our theme today. The Chainsmokers, that is Andrew Taggart and Alex Pall, singing with the group Coldplay; their song “Something Just Like This” on MATT.
(triple) SOMETHIN JUST LIKE THIS / The Chainsmokers f/ Coldplay SPEED OF SOUND/ Coldplay
TALK / Coldplay
Part 11
A song of communication appropriately named “Talk” from Coldplay’s album“X and Y”, at number 6 of all the songs of meaning of 2006. The song is a high category song of meaning because it stresses the one thought that is absolutely necessary for good living—communication. The man in the relationship realizes that his girlfriend is not talking the way she should: “I can’t get through,” they sing, “I’ve been trying hard to reach you, ‘cause I don’t know what to do. I’m so scared about the future and I wanna talk to you.” And they close the song: “So you don’t know where you’re going, and you wanna talk, and you feel like you’re going where you’ve been before. You tell anyone who’ll listen but you feel ignored. Nothing’s really making any sense at all. Let’s talk.” As we think of what is necessary for a sincere commitment, the number 1 necessity is to be able to talk sincerely with the one we love.
Before them, them again, this time with their number 3 song of meaning of 2005 in MATT’s opinion. The song is from their album “X and Y”. They sing: “Look up, I look up at night, planets are moving at the speed of light. Climb up, up in the trees, every chance that you get is a chance you seize. How long am I gonna stand with my head stuck under the sand? And birds go flying at the speed of sound, to show you how it all began. Birds came flying from the underground; if you could see it then you’d understand. Ideas that you’ll never find, all the inventors could never design.” I interpret it as a proof for something bigger than we are. And realizing that there is a Supreme Being can make us feel better as we strive to live a committed life together.
As usual now, let’s close our show with the top 3 songs on our playlist right now. At number 3 is the theme of a Netflix film that follows a Korean girls group—Huntr/X—who lead double lives facing off against a rival boys band, the Saja boys whose members are secretly demons. The words recall that story. “I was a ghost, I was alone, given the throne; I didn’t know how to behave, I was the queen that I’m meant to be. I lived two lives, tried to play both sides, but I couldn’t find my own place. Called a problem child ‘cause I got too wild. But now that’s how I’m getting paid. We’re going up, it’s our moment. You know together we’re glowin, gonna be golden. I’m done hidin’ now, I’m shinin’ like I’m born to be, oh, our time, no fears, no lies, that’s who we’re born to be.” I left out the Korean words, of course. As I have said with the song, I haven’t viewed the story, and my Korean leaves a lot to be desired, but it sounds like a song of determination to do the right thing, and that is an appropriate thought for us as we celebrate positive thoughts on our show. In terms of our theme, it is true that sometimes a breakup is necessary for the love life, but if the commitment is really there, then there should not be a breakup. This is the song “Golden” from the Korean movie and music of Huntr/X, number 3 on MATT.
(double) 3 GOLDEN / Huntr/X
2 DAISIES / Justin Bieber
Part 12
From his latest album “Swag”, number 2 this morning, and “Daisies”, Canadian singer/songwriter Justin Bieber on MATT. The song speaks of the makeup of a permanent commitment again. “’Throwin' petals like, "Do you love me or not?” he begins his song, “Head is spinnin', and it don't know when to stop. You said ‘Forever’, did you mean it or not? Hold on, And if it ain't right, you know I respect it. But if you need time, just take your time. I get it. Way you got me all in my head, think I'd rather you in my bed. Whatever it is, you know I can take it. I'm countin' the days, how many days 'til I can see you again?” It is an important point that even though the permanent commitment has been made, there are still question marks and there must be days of re-commitment. The thought of re-commitment to the permanent commitment is very much a part of life to people who have made the commitment, and in terms of our theme, this type of re-commitment will always be part of any permanent commitment.
And our number 1 song for two weeks in a row is from Taylor Swift and the first song from her new album and it cleverly involves a study of one of the plays of William Shakespeare, namely his play “Hamlet” and his once-upon-a-time presumed future wife Ophelia. In the story, Mr. Shakespeare has Ophelia drown herself after a rejection from Prince Hamlet and after her father’s death at the hands of Hamlet. So a little tragic, but the song writes a different ending. The song is a powerful anthem about being rescued from the brink of emotional and psychological collapse by an all-consuming lover who is a literal resurrection and according to the people who should know about such things, as I have said, resembles the likes of her current boyfriend. “Late one night,” she sings, “you dug me out of my grave and saved my heart from the fate of Ophelia.” In terms of our theme this week, if we find a love that rescues us, we will be ready for the commitment that is desired.
Our theme this pre-Thanksgiving weekend has been that idea of making a sincere commitment and trying to keep it. We will continue the thought of thanksgiving next week. My thanks to our producers and our sponsors at Hays Car and Truck Alignment, Thomas More Prep-Marian Junior and Senior High School in Hays, and Holy Family Elementary School in Hays. My e-mail address if you want to contact me is frmikescully@yahoo.com and my website is www.frmikescully.com where you can find a transcript of the show and meditations on the Gospel and popular songs and some great movies. If you want to contact me by mail, I hope you do so at KJLS radio, Hays, KS, 67601. You can join us on the web also as Mix 103 live streams their station and therefore me on Sunday mornings at 10am. Let me close with a great thought about thanksgiving from Willie Nelson: "When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around." As we close with the number 1 song of our land, “The Fate of Ophelia” from Taylor Swift, may I remind you that you are listening to today’s best music, Mix 103, and our advice to you, among the positive things that we have said to you during the show is to hold a good thought. From beautiful downtown Lawrence KS, my name is Fr. Mike Scully. Be safe, peace to you, and be good.
1 THE FATE OF OPHELIA / Taylor Swift
November 9, 2025
“Breakups”
Part 1
Hello Central Kansas and around the world! Thank you for joining us this second Sunday of the beautiful Fall month of November, 2025. Welcome to MATT. Get set for the top 10 songs of our area right now as determined by the research from your requests, as well as the research of Mediabase 24-7 for the reporting date of this Sunday, and get ready for some top 10 songs of the past as well. I am Fr. Mike, and you have your dial set to Mix 103, the number one popular music station in Central Kansas. Get ready now for a show dedicated to the thought of understanding the popular music of our day and helping our lives by means of it. Today we will talk a little about perhaps the most common topic of these songs—a breakup.
Given the fact that most people do not celebrate a permanent commitment to someone after their first romantic meeting, there will be breakups. Breakups are very difficult, and we must be careful about what we do and say after we suffer through them. A romantic breakup disturbs a person's whole being and demeanor. People who suffer them feel terrible, at least for a while. But, the important thought with breakups is what we do after we suffer them. The feelings of a breakup will pass, but what we do as a result may not pass so quickly.
Lady Gaga’s latest song is about a breakup, and one that she has come out of quite well. In fact, she describes it as having fun with friends after having gone through a breakup. “Like the words of a song,” she begins, “I hear you call; like a thief in my head, you criminal. You stole my thoughts before I dreamed them, and you killed my queen with just one pawn. This goodbye is no surprise; this goodbye won’t make me cry. Yeah, I’ll keep on dancin’ until I’m dead. ‘Cause when you killed me inside, that’s when I came alive. Yeah, the music’s gonna bring me back from death. You’ve created a creature of the night—now I’m haunting your air, your soul, your eyes.” So, a breakup that wakes up the person going through it, and that is a very good ending for a tough situation. Let’s talk about breakups again—we do it often on this show because the topic is so common—and see how each song of our show addresses that topic.
Before the beginning of our show today, may I make a correction. I always try to be correct with these songs and their singers. One of you graciously pointed out that the pronunciation of the artist SZA is “Sizza” and so I will make that correction. Thank you.
To start us off today, the latest from Stephani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, that is, Lady Gaga, part of the soundtrack to the second season of the Netflix show “Wednesday” in which Lady Gaga appears, with quite an interesting video, at number 9 this morning, “The Dead Dance” on MATT.
(double) 9 THE DEAD DANCE / Lady Gaga
6 DIE WITH A SMILE / Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars
Part 2
The second song from Lady Gaga in today’s top 10, the song of the year for a duo from the Grammys this year “Die With a Smile” at number 6 this week on MATT, sung together with Bruno Mars. The song has been in the top 10 for a whole year plus. It is a song about a true commitment to another: “I just woke up from a dream,” they sing, “Where you and I had to say goodbye; and I don't know what it all means, but since I survived, I realized wherever you go, that's where I'll follow. Nobody's promised tomorrow, so I'ma love you every night like it's the last night. If the world was ending, I'd wanna be next to you. If the party was over and our time on earth was through, I'd wanna hold you just for a while and die with a smile.” So, as I say, words of strong commitment, but there had been struggles, it seems. They sing, “Lost in the words that we scream, I don't even wanna do this anymore 'cause you already know what you mean to me. And our love's the only war worth fighting for.” It seems that the couple was close to a breakup before, but they did some serious thinking and some strong communication, probably, and they remained together, and no doubt they were able to overcome every problem in their commitment to one another, and celebrating then and there a great moment together. In terms of our theme this week, they suffered through a breakup, but they stayed together, and now celebrate their commitment.
Our first triple play of the day begins with a song that is initiating a break-up and the lady in the song feels good about it. “I should’ve said it before,” she sings, “I can’t pretend anymore. I only wanna die alive, never by the hands of a broken heart. Don’t wanna hear you lie tonight, now that I’ve become who I really am. This is the part when I say I don’t want ya. I’m stronger than I’ve been before. This is the part when I break free ‘cause I can’t resist it no more.” The video is very interesting, but goes another direction. In the song, she is determining the way to go after a bad relationship, and doing that well will actually make the breakup something good. MATT presenting here Ariana Grande-Butera better known as Ariana Grande from her album “My Everything” and her song “Break Free” from the year 2014 on MATT.
(triple) BREAK FREE / Ariana Grande
FORTNIGHT / Taylor Swift & Post Malone
10 BACK TO FRIENDS / Sombr
Part 3
New to our top 10 at number 10 and our theme next week from Shane Michael Boose better known as Sombr and his song “Back to Friends” from his album “I Barely Know Her.” It is a statement of a commitment which I believe is very good. That statement comes from the fact that they have given themselves completely to each other, and now one of them just wants to be friends. It is a contradiction. He sings, “How can we go back to being friends when we just shared a bed? How can you look at me and pretend I’m someone you’ve never met?” In terms of our theme, it seems as though she wants to have a breakup or at least a temporary time apart, but the two have already made it clear that they are committed to each other. It is unfortunately a common enough experience. It is something every young couple ought to carefully consider.
Before him, we heard a song that was nominated for both Record and Song of the Year at the Grammys that year, that year being 2024. It is a presentation of something that could happen in real life. The name of the song is “Fortnight” as sung by Taylor Swift and Post Malome from Taylor Swift’s album “The Tortured Poets Department.” The lady in the relationship becomes a neighbor of an ex-lover who is married to another woman. And she herself is unhappily married. Interesting scenario. “And for a fortnight there, we were forever,” they sing, “Run into you sometimes, ask about the weather. Now you’re in my backyard, turned into good neighbors. Your wife waters flowers. I wanna kill her. All my mornings are Mondays stuck in an endless February, I took the miracle move-on drug, the effects were temporary. And I love you, it’s ruining my life. I touched you for only a fortnight, but I touched you.” As I say, a glimpse of a real-life situation, and it is pretty negative. In terms of our theme, they had the breakup and for the lady anyway, it is still a problem.
Our theme this week is what the songs of our show suggest about a breakup. It came from Lady Gaga’s latest song “The Dead Dance”. Get ready for / in order of appearance: Ravyn Lenae, Sam Smith, the band Kings of Leon, the band Shinedown and Benson Boone. As we go to break, here is a thought for you. It comes from a modern saint, Mother Teresa: “We can do no great things: only small things with great love.” Beautiful thought. I’m Fr. Mike inviting you to stay with us. Your dial is set for Mix 103 and you are listening to “Message at the Top”.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
You are in tune, my friends, with MATT, your top 10 show on Mix 103. Thank you for joining us this morning. We welcome you back to the songs that have been the most popular in this area during this past week that ends today. We take the top 10 of the present and past and study their messages, and then call our show MATT. I’m your host Fr. Mike. It’s great to have you here. We began our show with a theme and title setting song from Lady Gaga and her song “The Dead Dance.” And the theme is the topic of “breakups.”
We begin this portion of our show with the number 7 song on our playlist today and it comes from Ravyn Lenae. It is a song of permanent commitment again, but also the art of remaining independent. “See, right now,” she begins her song, “I need you, I'll meet you somewhere now; slow down, be cool, I miss you, come here now. I need you right now, once I leave you I'm strung out; if I get you, I'm slowly breaking down. Oh, it's hard to see you, but I wish you were right here. Oh, it's hard to leave you when I get you everywhere. All this time I'm thinking we could never be a pair; Oh no, I don't need you, but I miss you, come here. He love me not, he loves me. He holds me tight, then lets me go. Don’t loosen your grip, get a hold on me. Now, forever, let’s get back together.” Generally speaking, we like our independence, but at the same time, we like the fact of choosing a commitment that will bind loved ones together. In terms of our theme this week, because of our human natures, when some couples try this, it leads to a breakup, our theme today. This is Chicago-born Ravyn Lenae and her song from her album “Bird’s Eye”, and the name of it, “Love Me Not” at number 7 on MATT.
(double) 7 LOVE ME NOT / Ravyn Lenae
UNHOLY / Sam Smith & Kim Petras
Part 5
MATT presenting English singer/songwriter Samuel Frederick Smith better known simply as Sam Smith and German singer/songwriter Kim Petras based now in Los Angeles, and their song “Unholy”. It is a song about cheating on a commitment, which is an interesting topic for a song. “Mummy don’t know daddy’s getting hot at the body shop,” they sing, “Doing something unholy. A lucky girl she got married to a boy like you. She’d kick you out if she ever knew. Dirty boy, you know everyone is talkin’ on the scene. I hear them whisperin’ ‘bout the places that you’ve been and how you don’t know how to keep your business clean. He left the kids at home so he can get that.” Now, as I say, an interesting topic. It seems to be describing what some young couples do if their commitment is weak. In terms of the overall effect it has on the young family, it is certainly not good, and no doubt will lead to some type of breakup, and after the commitment is made, that is the wrong time in my humble opinion.
Back to our triple plays again, and this one begins with the band Kings of Leon who spent a number of weeks at number 1 with the song in 2008. As I have studied the song, I believe that their song can be viewed as a song in which the man is hurting for whatever reason, and is asking for help. “I’ve been roaming around,” the group sings, “always looking down at all I see—painted faces fill the places I can’t reach. You know that I could use somebody, someone like you, and all you know and how you speak. I hope it’s gonna make you notice someone like me.” The song is a challenge to a person who might care for another because I look at it as a cry for help. A cry for help usually signifies complicated feelings and emotions, and too often the cry for help goes unheard, and there is a breakup involved, and people get hurt. It comes from their album “Only by the Night,” Kings of Leon, 2008 and their song “Use Somebody” on MATT.
(triple) USE SOMEBODY / Kings of Leon
SECOND CHANCE / Shinedown
5 MYSTICAL MAGICAL / Benson Boone
Part 6
Benson Boone there at number 5, from his album “American Heart” and “Mystical Magical” on MATT. It is a song concerning a necessary virtue to develop, namely, self-confidence. It is the story in song of someone quite sure that things will work out with the romantic love part of their lives. “There’s nothing colder,” he begins his song, “than your shoulder when you’re dragging me along like you do. And then you switch up with no warning and you kiss me like you want it; how rude. But I kinda like it anyways. I don’t mind if this is going to take a million days. I know you’ll come around to me eventually. If you sit back, relax, join my company. Once you know what my love’s gonna feel like, nothing else will feel right ‘cause it feels so mystical, magical.” His confidence is something to be imitated, to be sure, but as I have mentioned with the song, being over-confident could be the end result and in the end, cause a breakup, our theme today.
Before him, we heard from the songs of meaning of 2009, and we will have a couple of songs from that year on our show today, that one from the group Shinedown from their album “The Sound of Madness”, and their song “Second Chance”. The message of their song is one of telling another that the person in the song must strike out on his/her own, away from where they are, and begin again. “Tell my mother, tell my father,” they sing, “I’ve done the best I can to make them realize this is my life. I hope they understand: I’m not angry, I’m just saying: sometimes goodbye is a second chance. Please don’t cry one tear for me. I’m not afraid of what I have to say. This is my one and only voice, so listen close: it’s only for today. This is my chance.” The man is starting again in some way, probably headed to some other place. As we consider our theme this week, namely, breakups, he may very well be leaving because of one, but be that as it may, the man in the song is making a resolve to make his life better, and that’s pretty good.
Good stuff being talked about here this morning, not because I said it, but because they come out of the popular music that we play. These songs make us really think about life and love. Our topic this morning is the thought of breakups. That thought was spoken by Lady Gaga and her latest song “The Dead Dance” at the beginning of our show. We will continue to search with that thought in mind on MATT in just a few moments with artists like Ed Sheeran and David Cook. Let me take you to break with this thought. It is from American Author James Branch Cabell who died in 1958: "The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all possible worlds, and the pessimist fears this is true." Think about that. Stay with us; we’ll be right back. You’ve got MATT on Mix 103.
We are back for “Message at the Top” on Mix 103 and we welcome you back to the top 10 songs of our area as determined by our research and your requests. We call our show MATT because we take those top 10 songs and analyze their meanings and messages in the light of how we can live better in this complicated and complex world. I am Fr. Mike, your host for the top 10 show of today’s best music Mix 103, and we are pursuing a theme from Lady Gaga and her song “The Dead Dance”. The theme that comes from it is the theme of coming out of a breakup in a good way. And we are playing the top 10 songs thinking about breakups.
And what does our current number 8 song say about a breakup? Well, it is a song about the feelings of a love that the man in the relationship had at the moment of the song, “You should see the way the stars illuminate your silhouette,” he begins his song, “I had to count to ten and take a breath. You think that you don’t have beauty in abundance, but you do. That’s the truth. You’re frozen in moment, a perfect picture in a frame. Some visions don’t ever fade. I don’t need a camera to capture this moment. I’ll remember how you look tonight for all my life. When everything is black and white, your color’s exploding. There’s something in the way you shine. I don’t need a camera when you’re in my eyes.” So, some nice poetry about the way his friend looks, and in terms of our theme this morning, the lady in the relationship is not convinced about her relationship yet because of her inferiority complex, and it may cause a breakup, our theme today. This is Mr. Ed Sheeran, from his album “Play,” his song “Camera” at number 8 this morning on MATT.
(triple) 8 CAMERA / Ed Sheeran
MY LIFE WOULD SUCK WITHOUT YOU / Kelly Clarkson
HER DIAMONDS / Rob Thomas
Part 8
The close of that triple play went back to the year 2009, Mr. Rob Thomas from his album “Cradlesong”, and his song “Her Diamonds” on MATT. The song is about a lady friend of the person in the song who is having a rough time with life. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do,” he sings, “but if she feels bad, then I do too. So I let her be. And she says, I can’t take no more, her tears like diamonds on the floor, and her diamonds bring me down ‘cause I can’t help her now. She tried her best, and now she can’t win, it’s hard to see them on the ground, her diamonds falling down.” He wants to help, but he doesn’t know what to do. I think that he is actually doing what he should be doing—he is giving her his time, feeling with her pain. One of the ways to keep the couple from breaking up, our theme today, is to give as completely as we can to the other in the relationship.
Before him, we heard from her album “All I Ever Wanted”, American Idol number 1, Kelly Clarkson, “My Life Would Suck Without You”, another one of our 2009 songs this morning. She uses the word “dysfunctional” in her song, and it describes very well the immaturity that is present in the situation of the man and woman in the song. “Guess this means you’re sorry,” the lady of the song begins, “you’re standing at my door. Guess this means you take back all you said before / like how much you wanted anyone but me, said you’d never come back, but here you are again, ‘cause we belong together now, forever united here somehow; you got a piece of me, and honestly, my life would suck without you. I know that I’ve got issues, but you’re pretty messed up too. Being with you is so dysfunctional. I really shouldn’t miss you, but I can’t let you go.” It is the story of a young love relationship that is very immature. As you study the song with the thought of our theme, namely, breakups, the chances are pretty strong that they will experience a breakup unless they take some time to work things out.
This next triple play begins with a song about the person in the song who wants to get a relationship back after it has ceased for some reason. “Try to leave a light on when I’m gone,” he sings in the refrain. “Something I rely on to get home, one I can feel at night, a naked light, a fire to keep me warm. Try to leave a light on when I’m gone. Even in the daylight, shine on, and when it’s late at night you can look inside. You won’t feel so alone.” Apparently, this type of break up has happened before as he sings, “You know we’ve been down that road what seems a thousand times before. Sometimes it feels like we’ve run out of luck when the signal keeps on breaking up.” He wanted to rely on her love, and it didn’t happen. In terms of our theme today, it seems that they have overcome the breakup. MATT presenting David Cook, American Idol number 7 and his song, “Light On” from his album “David Cook” on MATT.
(triple) LIGHT ON / David Cook
SHATTERED / OAR
4 ORDINARY / Alex Warren
Part 9
Finally falling from the number 1 position, which he held for a record breaking 19 weeks, that is Alex Warren at number 4 and his song “Ordinary” on MATT. The song talks of an “ordinary” love relationship and says that what he has for a friend of his is not part of “the ordinary.” It comes from his album “You’ll Be Alright, Kid (Chapter 1)”. He begins with the thought that everything is pretty much ordinary: “They say ‘The holy water’s watered down and this town’s lost its faith. Our colors will fade eventually.” But he has a solution; he continues: “So, if our time is runnin’ out day after day, we’ll make the mundane our masterpiece.” Right there is a great line which we have quoted with the song. In terms of our theme, it the couple really work at making the mundane a masterpiece, there won’t be a breakup at all. Good song.
Before him, we heard another former number 1 song. O.A.R. or “Of A Revolution” and their song “Shattered” from 2009. It is a song about a shattered life and the person in the song trying to get himself back together. “In a way, I need a change,” they begin the song, “from this burnout scene, another time, another town, another everything, but it’s always back to you.” So, a break up has occurred and he’s trying to feel better about it: “I’m good, without you,” they sing. But he really isn’t—he’s only trying to turn the car around in their words: “How many times can I break till I shatter,” they sing, “Over the line can’t define what I’m after, I always turn the car around. Give me a break—let me make my own pattern. All it takes is some time but I’m shattered, I always turn the car around.” The person in the song knows that he must begin again in his life, and he is showing the self-confidence to do it. Being self-confident, turning his car around, is a great resolution to work for, and usually will prevent a breakup, our theme today.
It’s always interesting what these songs of popular music bring into our thought including songs that go back a couple of years. We’re talking about breakups as a theme today. We are asking our music to explore that theme which we will continue to do with our final segment in just one minute. Before that happens, we will have a break, and before that break, let me say this along with the sarcasm of Albert Einstein: “Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.” Now, being a former teacher, I do not totally agree with that, but you get the point. I’m Fr. Mike, this radio station is Mix 103, this show is MATT, and we’ll be right back.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
Hi again, everyone! This is “Message at the Top”, on Mix 103. Thank you for joining us this morning. I am Fr. Mike, and our show gives you the top 10 songs of our area, as well as some top 10’s of the past. And what is amazing about all of our songs is that with a little bit of help, they can actually teach us something about ourselves and about our behavior. The topic of our show today concerns the thought that came from Lady Gaga’s latest song, namely breakups.
We have a birthday of someone of note this week, and it would be good to celebrate a little with two songs. Chad Kroeger, the founding member of the group Nickelback, will be 51 years old this Saturday, and they have two songs in particular that have always interested me. Let’s play them in double play right here, beginning first of all with a song whose setting is a man in the relationship who is sharing real love with his friend, and having that love inspires him to think about the complicated world he is in. The words of the refrain are: “If everyone cared and nobody cried, if everyone loved and nobody lied, if everyone shared and swallowed their pride, then we’d see the day when nobody died. And I’m singing, amen, I’m alive.” And they sing: “As we lie beneath the stars, we realize how small we are. If they could love like you and me, imagine what the world could be.” That is, we will have eternal life when we learn to love each other. That is great theology and it gives rise to great thinking. We are led to say that even if there is a breakup, the two will still care about each other. This is a 10+ song of meaning, the number one song of meaning in 2007 according to MATT, the group Nickelback with birthday person Chad Kroeger as lead singer, from their album “All The Right Reasons,” and the song “If Everyone Cared” on MATT.
(triple) IF EVERYONE CARED / Nickelback
IF TODAY WAS YOUR LAST DAY / Nickelback
BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN/ Colbie Caillat
Part 11
The song on my website today, www.frmikescully,com former number 1 for a long time from Ms. Colbie Caillat, from 2011, from her album “All of You” and her song “Brighter Than the Sun” on MATT. I call it a happy song of love, a song of how love has affected the woman in the relationship. “I swear you hit me like a vision,” she sings the thoughts of the lady, “I wasn’t expecting, but who am I to tell fate where it’s supposed to go with it. Oh, this is how it starts, lightning strikes the heart. It goes off like a gun, brighter than the sun. Oh, we could be the stars, falling from the sky, shining how we want, brighter than the sun.” As one studies the song, there are good feelings of love there. And as long as they are there, there is not much chance of a breakup. On my website, I say the theme of the song is: True love will make us happy, enabling us to be people who care about others.
Before her, we heard the close of the double play of Nickelback, and their excellent song, “If today was your last day” from 2008 and their album “Dark Horse.” “My best friend gave me the best advice;” they begin their song, “he said each day’s a gift and not a given right; leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind, and try to take the path less traveled by. That first step you take is the longest stride. If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late, could you say goodbye to yesterday? Would you live each moment like your last, leave old pictures in the past? Donate every dime you had, if today was your last day?” What a great song—take the time to look up the words on the Internet. His advice: “Do whatever it takes, ‘cause you can’t rewind a moment in this life. Would you call those friends you never see, reminisce old memories? Would you forgive your enemies?” With those thoughts, even with a breakup, our theme today, life would be pretty good.
As usual now, let’s close our show with the top 3 songs on our playlist right now. At number 3 is the theme of a Netflix film that follows a Korean girls group—Huntr/X—who lead double lives facing off against a rival boys band, the Saja boys whose members are secretly demons. The words recall that story. “I was a ghost, I was alone, given the throne; I didn’t know how to behave, I was the queen that I’m meant to be. I lived two lives, tried to play both sides, but I couldn’t find my own place. Called a problem child ‘cause I got too wild. But now that’s how I’m getting paid. We’re going up, it’s our moment. You know together we’re glowin, gonna be golden. I’m done hidin’ now, I’m shinin’ like I’m born to be, oh, our time, no fears, no lies, that’s who we’re born to be.” I left out the Korean words, of course. As I have said with the song, I haven’t viewed the story, and my Korean leaves a lot to be desired, but it sounds like a song of determination to do the right thing, and that is an appropriate thought for us as we celebrate positive thoughts on our show. In terms of our theme, it is true that sometimes a breakup is necessary for the love life, but if the commitment is there, then there should not be a breakup. This is the song “Golden” from the Korean movie and music of Huntr/X, number 3 on MATT.
(double) 3 GOLDEN / Huntr/X
2 DAISIES / Justin Bieber
Part 12
From his latest album “Swag”, number 2 this morning, and “Daisies”, Canadian singer/songwriter Justin Bieber on MATT. The song speaks of the makeup of a permanent commitment again. “’Throwin' petals like, "Do you love me or not?” he begins his song, “Head is spinnin', and it don't know when to stop. You said ‘Forever,’ babe, did you mean it or not? Hold on, And if it ain't right, babe, you know I respect it. But if you need time, just take your time. Honey, I get it. Way you got me all in my head, think I'd rather you in my bed. Whatever it is, you know I can take it. I'm countin' the days, how many days 'til I can see you again?” It is an important point that even though the permanent commitment has been made, there are still question marks and there must be days of re-commitment. The thought of re-commitment to the permanent commitment is very much a part of life to people who have made the commitment, and in terms of our theme, with this type of a commitment, there will not be a breakup.
And our new number 1 song is one might have guessed with the popularity of this young lady. It is from Taylor Swift and the first song from her new album and it cleverly involves a study of one of the plays of William Shakespeare, namely his play “Hamlet” and his once-upon-a-time presumed future wife Ophelia. In the story, Mr. Shakespeare has Ophelia drown herself after a rejection from Prince Hamlet and after her father’s death at the hands of Hamlet. So a little tragic, but the song writes a different ending. The song is a powerful anthem about being rescued from the brink of emotional and psychological collapse by an all-consuming lover who is a literal resurrection and according to the people who should know about such things, as I have said, resembles the likes of number 87 of the Kansas City Chiefs. “Late one night,” she sings, “you dug me out of my grave and saved my heart from the fate of Ophelia.” In terms of our theme this week, if we find a love that rescues us, we will not experience a breakup.
Today we have considered some thoughts about that theme—what do the songs of our show say about breakups. We took the theme from Lady Gaga and her song “The Dead Dance.” My prayer for you and me is that like the song, if we have something as negative as a breakup, we will be able to learn from it and move on. My thanks to our producers and to our sponsors, some of whom include Holy Family Elementary School in Hays, TMP-Marian Junior and Senior High School in Hays, and Hays Car and Truck Alignment. If you would like to comment on any of my comments, feel free to write me at KJLS-FM, Hays, America 67601 or e-mail me at frmikescully@yahoo.com. My website is www.frmikescully.com where you will find a transcript of the show and some meditations on the Gospels, these songs and some great movies as well. Our meditation today is on Colbie Caillat’s song “Brighter Than the Sun” which we played earlier. You can join us on the web also every Sunday morning at 10am by clicking on www.hayspost.com and choosing Mix 103. One final thought before we go from my quotebook and marked “anonymous”: “Don’t wait for great opportunities. Seize common, everyday ones and make them great.” As you listen to the number 1 song in our land, Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia”, may I remind you that you are listening to today’s best music Mix 103 and MATT’s final advice to you, among all of the thoughts today, is to hold a good thought. My name is Fr. Mike Scully. Peace to you, and be good.
1 THE FATE OF OPHELIA / Taylor Swift
November 2, 2025
“Do the Right Thing”
Part 1
Good morning, Central Kansas and around the world! Thank you for joining us this first Sunday of the beautiful Fall month of November 2025. I hope you had the time right this morning. Happy normal time, everyone. Welcome to MATT. Get set for the top 10 songs of our area as determined by the research from your requests, as well as the research of Mediabase 24-7 for the reporting date of today and get ready for some top 10 songs of the past as well. I am Fr. Mike, and you have your dial set to Mix 103, the number one popular music station in Central Kansas. Get ready now for a show dedicated to the thought of understanding the popular music of our day and helping our lives by means of it. Today we will talk a little about the right thing to do.
And the reason for that is our lead song this morning. It is the theme of a Netflix film that follows a Korean girls group—Huntrix—who lead double lives facing off against a rival boys band, the Saja boys whose members are secretly demons. The words recall that story. “I was a ghost, I was alone, given the throne; I didn’t know how to behave, I was the queen that I’m meant to be. I lived two lives, tried to play both sides, but I couldn’t find my own place. Called a problem child ‘cause I got too wild. But now that’s how I’m getting paid. We’re going up, it’s our moment. You know together we’re glowin, gonna be golden. I’m done hidin’ now, I’m shinin’ like I’m born to be, oh, our time, no fears, no lies, that’s who we’re born to be.” I left out the Korean words, of course. As I have said with the song, I haven’t viewed the story, and my Korean leaves a lot to be desired, but it sounds like a song of determination to do the right thing, and that is an appropriate thought for us as we celebrate positive thoughts on our show.
We tend to do things the same way day after day. We don’t like to disturb those routines, and if we have put into those routines something negative, something wrong, we tend to keep doing the same thing, and therefore make the same mistake. I feel that that happens a lot, and what we have to do is face the fact that we could be doing things wrong, and correct them—as we say here—and be determined to do the right thing. That will be a good thought for us throughout our songs today. Let’s listen to our songs in light of doing the right thing. To start us off, this is the fictional K-Pop girl group Huntrix from the 2025 animated musical fantasy Netflix film “KPop Demon Hunters” a film inspired by Korean heroines and their song “Golden”, number 7 today on MATT.
(double) 7 GOLDEN / Huntr/X
DELICATE / Taylor Swift
Part 2
That was Ms. Taylor Swift, and we’ll hear from her a couple more times in our show this morning, that one from her album “Reputation,” her song from 2018, “Delicate” on MATT. It is an interesting song about a relationship that seems to be good at the moment, but the lady in the relationship realizes that their time together is for the wrong reasons. She sings, “I like you; this ain’t for the best. My reputation’s never been worse, so you must like me for me. Yeah, I want you. We can’t make any promises now, but you can make me a drink. I know that it’s delicate, isn’t it?” The lady in the relationship wants the feeling of the man’s presence, but she wants it to be for the right reason—"you must like me for me.” That’s a great thought, and our theme today: doing the right thing.
Our first triple play begins with a song that lets the partner know exactly how she, the other in the relationship, really feels. “Did a full one eighty,” the lady in the relationship sings. “Crazy, thinking about the way I was. Did the heartbreak change me? Maybe, but look at where I ended up. I'm all good already, so moved on. It's scary: I'm not where you left me at all. So if you don't wanna see me dancing with somebody, if you wanna believe that anything could stop me, don't show up, don't come out, don't start caring about me now.” Her intention in the song is to get across to her ex-boyfriend that she is doing perfectly well without him. In terms of our theme, perhaps one of the problems of the relationship was that the man was feeling that he controlled the lady, and she let him know how that felt because it was the right thing to do no matter how difficult it was. This is Ms. Dua Lipa from her album “Future Nostalgia”, and her song “Don’t Start Now” from 2019 on MATT.
(triple) DON’T START NOW/ Dua Lipa
CREEPIN’ / Metro Boomin
10 THE DEAD DANCE / Lady Gaga
Part 3
New to our top 10 and our theme next week, the very popular Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta or Lady Gaga and her song “The Dead Dance,” a song which fits into this season of Halloween quite well. Actually, it is a part of the soundtrack to the second season of the Netflix show “Wednesday” in which Lady Gaga appears. According to Lady Gaga, the inspiration for the song was a breakup, and it is all about the way that we feel when it’s over—how a relationship ending can kill our ability to feel hopeful about love. But a happy song in that you’re having fun with friends after you’ve been through something tough. “Like the words of a song,” she begins, “I hear you call; like a thief in my head, you criminal. You stole my thoughts before I dreamed them, and you killed my queen with just one pawn. This goodbye is no surprise; this goodbye won’t make me cry. Yeah, I’ll keep on dancin’ until I’m dead. ‘Cause when you killed me inside, that’s when I came alive. Yeah, the music’s gonna bring me back from death. You’ve created a creature of the night—now I’m haunting your air, your soul, your eyes.” An interesting video also. In terms of our theme, it is the right thing to get over a breakup, and she’s doing that by dancing even though she is “dead.”
Before her, we heard from producer Tyler Wayne better known as Metro Boomin’ from his album, “Heroes and Villains,” and singing are Abel Makkonen Testfaye, that is The Weeknd & 21 Savage whose real name is Sheyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph and their song, “Creepin’”. Its story is this: the man in the relationship is not looking for the truth because he knows that the truth is not going to help his situation, and so he is hiding from the truth—which is not a good situation. It is a song of a break up in a sense since the man in the relationship knows that it is happening, but he doesn’t want to admit it. “Somebody said they saw you. The person you were kissing wasn’t me; and I would never ask you. I just kept it to myself. I don’t wanna know if you’re playin’ me, keep it on the low ‘cause my heart can’t take it anymore, and if you’re creepin, please don’t let it show. Just go on and do your thing and don’t come back to me.” The man is in pain, and he must face his feelings, realize that the relationship is over, and move on in his life. In terms of our theme today, it is difficult, but it is the right thing to do.
We are asking the songs of our show about that thought of what is the right thing to do. Let me take you to break with a thought from George Carlin: “No matter what you do, no matter how hard you try, you’re screwed because it’s all fixed and rigged. There is a club and you ain’t in it.” Now, that describes how we feel sometimes to say the least. But, if we are choosing the right thing to do, we will withstand that feeling and say that I WILL join the club, and we will be stronger. Coming up for us in order of appearance are: Lady Gaga again, the band Simple Minds, the band No Doubt, Taylor Swift again and Justin Bieber. I’m Fr. Mike inviting you to stay with us. Your dial is set for Mix 103 and you are listening to “Message at the Top”.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
You are in tune, my friends, with MATT, your top 10 show on Mix 103. Thank you for joining us this morning. We welcome you back to the songs that have been the most popular in this area during this past week that ends today. We take the top 10 of the present and past and study their messages, and then call our show MATT. I’m your host Fr. Mike. It’s great to have you here. We began our show with the animated characters Huntrix and their song “Golden.” Our theme is revolving around the thought of doing the right thing.
And as promised, let’s listen to another song in the top 10 from Lady Gaga, and this one has been in the top 10 for a whole year plus. It is a song about a true commitment to another, and singing with her is Peter Gene Hernandez that is Bruno Mars. “I just woke up from a dream,” they sing, “Where you and I had to say goodbye; and I don't know what it all means, but since I survived, I realized wherever you go, that's where I'll follow. Nobody's promised tomorrow, so I'ma love you every night like it's the last night. If the world was ending, I'd wanna be next to you. If the party was over and our time on earth was through, I'd wanna hold you just for a while and die with a smile.” So, as I say, words of strong commitment, but there had been struggles, it seems. They sing, “Lost in the words that we scream, I don't even wanna do this anymore 'cause you already know what you mean to me. And our love's the only war worth fighting for.” It seems that the couple was close to a breakup before, but they did some serious thinking and some strong communication, probably, and they remained together, and no doubt they were able to overcome every problem in their commitment to one another, and celebrating then and there a great moment together. In terms of our theme this week, as we think of doing the right thing, living out a commitment that we have promised, is certainly the right thing to do. This is their song of the year for a duo from the Grammys this year “Die With a Smile” at number 6 this week on MATT.
(double) 6 DIE WITH A SMILE / Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars
DON’T YOU (FORGET ABOUT ME) / Simple Minds
Part 5
Going back to the 80’s, the theme of one great movie called “The Breakfast Club”, the band Simple Minds, from 1985, “Don’t You (Forget About Me).” They are still on the music scene. It is a song asking to be recognized. I have used it over the years to be the statement of what we call “invisible kids” in our schools, young people who just attend school, and really don’t get involved in anything else, who are too shy to do the things that “visible kids” would do. They are calling out to the members of the school who can do the leadership and do the activities, and they basically are saying the words of the song: “Don’t you forget about me, will you stand above me? [Will you] look my way, never love me. Will you recognize me, call my name. As you walk on by, will you call my name?” It is a love song, actually, with the words directed toward one particular person, but I think it can be extended to include everyone. I believe that everyone of us has a Christian obligation to pay attention to others, especially those who are most forgotten. It fits into our theme this way: if we are people interested in others, we are doing the right thing. Good song.
Immediately we go to another triple play as we close out our first hour together. It begins with these words: “The waves keep on crashing on me for some reason,” they sing the thoughts of the woman in the relationship, “but your love keeps on coming like a thunderbolt. Come here a little closer ‘cause I want to see you real close up over here. You got me feeling hella good, so let’s just keep on dancing. You hold me like you should, so I’m gonna keep on dancing.” “Hella good”is a way of saying that she is feeling pretty good about life and especially her life with her boyfriend. Dancing and having fun is what should make us feel pretty good about life, and that is the right thing to feel as we grow, doing the right thing our theme today. This is from the band No Doubt from their album “Rock Steady,” and their song “Hella Good” from 2002 on MATT.
(triple) HELLA GOOD / No Doubt
WILDEST DREAMS / Taylor Swift
4 DAISIES / Justin Bieber
Part 6
From his latest album “Swag”, number 4 this morning, and “Daisies”, Canadian singer/songwriter Justin Bieber on MATT. The song speaks of the makeup of a permanent commitment again. “’Throwin' petals like, "Do you love me or not?” he begins his song, “Head is spinnin', and it don't know when to stop. You said ‘Forever,’ babe, did you mean it or not? Hold on, And if it ain't right, babe, you know I respect it. But if you need time, just take your time. Honey, I get it. Way you got me all in my head, think I'd rather you in my bed. Whatever it is, you know I can take it. I'm countin' the days, how many days 'til I can see you again?” It is an important point that even though the permanent commitment has been made, there are still question marks and there must be days of re-commitment. The thought of re-commitment to the permanent commitment is very much a part of life to people who have made the commitment, and in terms of our theme, it is certainly the right thing to do.
Before him, we heard once again from Ms. Taylor Alison Swift, this time from her award winning album “1989”, and her song “Wildest Dreams” from 2014. The lady in the relationship has broken up with the man, and she talks about how he is going to feel about her. “He said, ‘Let's get out of this town,’” she sings, “’drive out of the city, away from the crowds.’ I thought heaven can't help me now. Nothing lasts forever, but this is gonna take me down. He's so tall and handsome. I can see the end as it begins. My one condition is: say you'll remember me standing in a nice dress, staring at the sunset, red lips and rosy cheeks. Say you'll see me again, even if it's just in your wildest dreams.” The breakup has occurred, and she is feeling the pain. In terms of our theme, she is doing the right thing as she communicates with her once-upon-a-time boyfriend.
Good stuff being talked about here this morning, even if we have to offer some rather strong opinions. These songs make us really think about life and love. Our topic this morning is the thought of what is the right thing to do. We will continue to search with that thought in mind on MATT in just a few moments with artists like Duncan Laurence and Ed Sheeran. Let me take you to break with this thought. It is a challenge from author Charles Allen: “Remember that you are truly needed. There is at least one important work to be done that will not be done unless YOU do it.” And my comment: take the time to figure out what we can do today that only we can do. Stay with us; we’ll be right back. You’ve got MATT on Mix 103.
We are back for “Message at the Top” on Mix 103, and we welcome you back to the top 10 songs of our area as determined by our research and your requests. We call our show MATT because we take those top 10 songs and analyze their meanings and messages in the light of how we can live better in this complicated and complex world. I am Fr. Mike, your host for the top 10 show of today’s best music, and we are pursuing a theme from the Korean group “Huntrix” and their song “Golden.”
Another triple begins this second hour of regular time today, and it begins as we play our number 9 song right now. It is the story of what happens when a person is lonely. He sings “Something’s got a hold of me lately. No, I don’t know myself anymore, feels like the walls are all closing in and the devil’s knocking at my door. Outta my mind, how many times did I tell you I’m no good at being alone? It’s taking a toll on me, trying my best to keep from tearing the skin off my bones. Don’t you know I lose control when you’re not next to me. I’m falling apart right in front of you. You’re breaking my heart. You make a mess of me.” So it is loneliness, but it is loneliness because one special person is no longer there for him. Considering our theme today, the right thing to do when it comes to loneliness is to really work at it to get over it, and it usually is quite difficult to do. Teddy Swims here, the number 1 song of popularity for the whole year of 2024 and at number 9 this week on our playlist. It comes from his album “I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy, part 1”, his song “Lose Control” on MATT.
(triple) 9 LOSE CONTROL / Teddy Swims
ARCADE / Duncan Laurence f/ fletcher
5 MYSTICAL MAGICAL / Benson Boone
Part 8
Benson Boone there at number 5, from his album “American Heart” and “Mystical Magical” on MATT. It is a song concerning a necessary virtue to develop, namely, self-confidence. It is the story in song of someone quite sure that things will work out with the romantic love part of their lives. “There’s nothing colder,” he begins his song, “than your shoulder when you’re dragging me along like you do. And then you switch up with no warning and you kiss me like you want it; how rude. But I kinda like it anyways. I don’t mind if this is going to take a million days. I know you’ll come around to me eventually. If you sit back, relax, join my company. Once you know what my love’s gonna feel like, nothing else will feel right ‘cause it feels so mystical, magical.” His confidence is something to be imitated, to be sure, and therefore the right thing to do as he practices it, but he must watch being over-confident. Over-confidence can easily lead to arrogance, and we have to stay away from that.
Before him, we heard from Dutch singer Duncan de Moor better known as Duncan Laurence and featuring Cari Elise Fletcher better known simply as fletcher, and their song from 2021 from Duncan Laurence’s album “Small Town Boy”, and the song “Arcade”. It is a song about fixing problems in life and love. He sings: “A broken heart is all that’s left; I’m still fixing all the cracks. Lost a couple of pieces when I carried it home. I’m afraid of all I am, my mind feels like a foreign land. I’ve spent all of the love I saved; we were always a losing game—small town boy in a big arcade. I got addicted to a losing game.” Being addicted to a losing game is pretty descriptive of something that has ended in a lot of pain. In the process of describing the breakup, he says, that he is still fixing the cracks, and in terms of our theme this week, it is definitely the right thing to work at fixing any relationship we may have messed up for some reason.
Yet another triple play as we continue our second hour together, this time with a song about the feelings of a love that the man in the relationship had at the moment of the song, “You should see the way the stars illuminate your silhouette,” he begins his song, “I had to count to ten and take a breath. You think that you don’t have beauty in abundance, but you do. That’s the truth. You’re frozen in moment, a perfect picture in a frame. Some visions don’t ever fade. I don’t need a camera to capture this moment. I’ll remember how you look tonight for all my life. When everything is black and white, your color’s exploding. There’s something in the way you shine. I don’t need a camera when you’re in my eyes.” So, some nice poetry about the way his friend looks, and in terms of our theme this morning, it is definitely the right thing to do to tell her how he feels about her. This is Mr. Ed Sheeran, from his album “Play,” his song “Camera” at number 8 this morning on MATT.
(triple) 8 CAMERA / Ed Sheeran
SAVAGE LOVE / Jason Derulo f/ Jawsh 685
STAY / The Kid Laroi f/ Justin Bieber
Part 9
The song featured on my website www.frmikescully.com for today, the number 1 song of 2022. It came from The Kid Laroi or Charlton Kenneth Jeffrey Howard along with Justin Bieber, and their song “Stay” on MATT. The song is about the man in a relationship who no longer has the lady in the relationship around, it seems, and it is probably his fault, and therefore he will have to face the truth sometime. “I do the same thing that I told you that I never would,” they sing, “I told you I’d change, even when I knew I never could. I know that I can’t find nobody else as good as you; I need you to stay. I get drunk, wake up, I’m wasted still. I realize the time that I wasted here. I feel like you can’t feel the way I feel. I’ll be messed up if you can’t be right here.” I cleaned up the language a bit. The man in the relationship has to work on getting his life back in order and if he wants the relationship, it is the right thing to do, our theme today.
Before them, we heard from Jason Joel Desruleaux from the year 2020 with the song produced by Jawsh 685, and his song “Savage Love”. I like to look at the song in as positive a way as possible, even though the lady in the relationship is being negative toward the man. From his point of view, he wants the love between her and him to be honest and good, savage in the sense of very strong. “If I woke up without you, I don’t know what I would do,” he sings, “Thought I could be single forever ‘til I met you. I just found out, the only reason that you lovin’ me was to get back at your ex-lover, but before you leave—usually I would never even care. Every night and every day I try to make you stay, but your savage love, I still want that.” In my humble opinion, the right thing to do, our theme today, is to move on in his love life, that is, he should breakup right then, but it doesn’t seem like he will.
Ah, isn’t it interesting what these songs of popular music bring into our thought. “What is the right thing to do” is our thought this morning. We are asking our music to explore that idea which we will continue to do with our final segment in just one minute. Before that happens, we will have a break, and before that break, let me say this along with St. Sir Thomas More, the patron saint of one of our sponsors: “What you cannot turn to good, you must at least / make as little bad as you can.” What a great statement and it is a way to do the right thing. I’m Fr. Mike, this radio station is Mix 103, this show is MATT, and we’ll be right back.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
Hi again, everyone! This is “Message at the Top” on Mix 103. Thank you for joining us this morning. I am Fr. Mike, and our show gives you the top 10 songs of our area, as well as some top 10’s of the past. And what is amazing about all of our songs is that with a little bit of help, they can actually teach us something about ourselves and about our behavior. The topic of our show today concerns the thought of doing what is right and we are asking the songs of our show to fit into that thought.
Let’s go to the year 2017, and the first song of this triple is the song of a birthday person on Saturday. Rap singer Solana Imani Rowe, better known as SZA, will be 36 years old then. The song says what lovers have to do is to make up their minds about each other. “Tell me if you love me or not. I bet the house on you. Am I lucky or not? Been wishin’ for you. Are we too grown for games? Are we too grown to play around, young enough to chase, but old enough to know better? I can’t wait forever. Both of us should know better.” What lovers must do is study their relationship and determine whether it will last or not, and if they think it will, it is the right thing, our theme today, to go for it, and keep working at it. She sings with Maroon 5 here and their song from Maroon 5’s album, “Red Pill Blues”, the song “What Lovers Do” from 2017. SZA and Maroon 5 here on MATT.
(triple) WHAT LOVERS DO / Maroon 5 f/ SZA
BELIEVER / Imagine Dragons
IT AIN’T ME / Selena Gomea f
Part 11
MATT presenting from 33 year old Selena Marie Gomez along with 34 year old Norwegian Kyrre Gorvel-Dahll better known as Kygo, and their song “It Ain’t Me” from 2017. It is a song of someone who has had it with the person in the relationship and is saying that it is no longer a relationship. “We stopped seeing eye to eye. You were staying out all night and I had enough. No I don’t wanna know where you been or where you’re going, but I know I won’t be home, and you’ll be on your own. Who’s gonna walk you through the dark side of the morning? It ain’t me.” Pretty straightforward, there. That relationship is over. In terms of our theme, hopefully they have spent some time thinking about it before they decided on the fact that it was the right thing to do.
Before them, we heard from the group Imagine Dragons and their album “Evolve”. The name of their song is “Believer” again from the year 2017. It is a statement that the pains of life have determined some things in their lives. “I was broken from a young age,” they sing, “Taking my sulking to the masses, writing my poems for the few. They looked at me, took to me, shook to me, feeling me singing from heartache from the pain, take my message from the veins, speaking my lesson from the brain, seeing the beauty through the pain. You made me a believer; pain, you break me down, you build me up. Let the bullets fly, oh let them rain. My life, my love, my drive, it came from pain.” Interesting thought—our lives come from pain. Tying it into our theme today, working with the pain and through the pain is the right thing to do.
That was 2017. What about the top 3 songs of November 2 in the year 2025—today! Well, at number 3 is a song of permanent commitment again, but also the art of remaining independent. “See, right now,” she begins her song, “I need you, I'll meet you somewhere now; slow down, be cool, I miss you, come here now. I need you right now, once I leave you I'm strung out; if I get you, I'm slowly breaking down. Oh, it's hard to see you, but I wish you were right here. Oh, it's hard to leave you when I get you everywhere. All this time I'm thinking we could never be a pair; Oh, no, I don't need you, but I miss you, come here. He love me not, he loves me. He holds me tight, then lets me go. Don’t loosen your grip, get a hold on me. Now, forever, let’s get back together.” Generally speaking, we like our independence, but at the same time, we like the fact of choosing a commitment that will bind loved ones together. In terms of our theme this week, as we have been saying with these songs about a permanent commitment, if we have made the statement that includes “forever” with a person, it is the right thing to pursue it while remaining the type of person we want to be. This is Chicago-born Ravyn Lenae and her song from her album “Bird’s Eye”, and the name of it, “Love Me Not” at number 3 on MATT.
(double) 3 LOVE ME NOT / Ravyn Lenae
2 THE FATE OF OPHELIA / Taylor Swift
Part 12
Our theme last week when we spoke about what will save us. From her latest album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” the first release from it, that was “The Fate of Ophelia”, Ms. Taylor Swift at number 2 on MATT. It is an altered story of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. In the story, Mr. Shakespeare has Ophelia drown herself after a rejection from Prince Hamlet and after her father’s death at the hands of Hamlet. So a little tragic, but the song writes a different ending. The song is a powerful anthem about being rescued from the brink of emotional and psychological collapse by an all-consuming lover who is a literal resurrection and according to the people who should know about such things, resembles the likes of number 87 of the Kansas City Chiefs. “Late one night,” she sings, “you dug me out of my grave and saved my heart from the fate of Ophelia.” The fate of Ophelia, of course, was death, but the song is positive in the sense that someone has saved her from suicide. It is certainly the right thing, our theme today, to pursue something like that.
And continuing at number 1, making it the longest recipient of being number 1 at 19 weeks since we began the show in 1980, the song “Ordinary,” from Alex Warren. The song talks of an “ordinary” love relationship and says that what he has for a friend of his is not part of “the ordinary.” It comes from his album “You’ll Be Alright, Kid (Chapter 1)”. He begins with the thought that everything is pretty much ordinary: “They say ‘The holy water’s watered down and this town’s lost its faith. Our colors will fade eventually.” But he has a solution; he continues: “So, if our time is runnin’ out day after day, we’ll make the mundane our masterpiece.” Right there is a great description of how to save ourselves in this world, and therefore the right thing to do, our theme today—work on making the ordinary mundane things true masterpieces. Good song.
Today we have considered some thoughts about that theme of finding out the right thing to do in different situations. We took the theme from the Korean movie group Huntrix, or Korean names that I would not pronounce correctly. My prayer for you and me is that we will always choose things in life that we know are the right things and pursue them in our lives. My thanks to our producers and to our sponsors, some of whom include Holy Family Elementary School in Hays, TMP-Marian Junior and Senior High School in Hays, and Hays Car and Truck Alignment. If you would like to comment on any of my comments, feel free to write me at KJLS-FM, Hays, America 67601 or e-mail me at frmikescully@yahoo.com. My website is www.frmikescully.com where you will find a transcript of the show and some meditations on these songs and some great movies as well. As I mentioned the meditation on that web site today is the song “Stay” by The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber. You can join us on the web also every Sunday morning at 10 regular Central Time now by clicking on www.hayspost.com and choosing Mix 103. One final thought before we go from humorist Arnold Glasow who died in 1998: “Success is not a result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire.” That is, it is the right thing to do. As you listen to the number 1 song from Alex Warren and his song “Ordinary” may I remind you that you are listening to today’s best music Mix 103 and MATT’s advice to you, among the things that we have said already, is to hold a good thought. From beautiful downtown Lawrence KS, my name is Fr. Mike Scully. Be safe, peace to you, do the right thing, and be good.
1 ORDINARY / Alex Warren