KJLS-FM 103.3 10am Sundays
December 28, 2025
“Resolutions for 2026”
Part 1
Hello, Central Kansas and around the world, happy New Year to all of you, almost anyway, in a couple days, and I hope the close of the year of 2025 is a good one for you. And, obviously, I hope your year of 2026 will be a good one. Right now, welcome to “Message at the Top”, your top 10 show on Mix 103. You spend time with us every Sunday morning, and you not only know what popular songs make up the top 10, but you also learn their messages, and many times those messages can actually give us some good thoughts to make our lives a little better. In fact, our motto during this coming year will be the same motto that our show has used throughout the years that we have been on the air since 1980, namely, to enjoy the music, and at the same time, to listen to the message, because that message can actually help our lives.
I’m Fr. Mike; it’s great to have you with us today. Get ready for the top 20 songs of all the songs that we have played here on Mix 103 during the year of 2025. I will count them down from number 20 to number 1. We’ll use as our guide our resource tool of Mediabase 24-7 and our own airplay on Mix 103. And, we continue to give the meanings of the songs we play. Even the negative ones suggest positive things that can help us. As we begin a new year in a couple of days, perhaps the meanings can suggest to us resolutions that we should accept to make ourselves and others better this year. So, let’s call our top 20 show of the songs of meaning of 2025 “Some Resolutions for 2026”.
As promised we will begin with number 20 and then countdown to number 1. Since we have 22 songs on our format, we have two songs from the past to begin with and I usually begin with the previous two number 1’s, but since they are in our countdown a little later, along with the number 2 song last year, let me begin with the number 3 song last year. It is a song that tells us that we really have to work at a relationship, and if we don’t, it will lead to some tough times. “Fever dream high in the quiet of the night,” she begins the song, “You know that I caught it. Bad boy, killing me slow, out the window, I’m always waiting for you to be waiting below. Devils roll the dice; angels roll their eyes. What doesn’t kill me makes me want you more. I’m drunk in the back of the car, and I cried like a baby coming home from the bar; said, ‘I’m fine,’ but it wasn’t true; I don’t wanna keep secrets just to keep you. Oh, it’s a cruel summer. He looks up grinning like the devil.” That relationship is just beginning, and one of the characteristics of early love should be complete honesty but often is not, and a resolution for next year, our theme today, is to always be honest. At least, try to be. The song is from the very popular Ms. Taylor Swift from her album “Lovers”, the name of the song, “Cruel Summer”, number 3 in 2024 on MATT.
(double) 24/3 CRUEL SUMMER / Taylor Swift
23/2 ANTI-HERO / Taylor Swift
Part 2
Double Taylor Swift there since that last one was number 2 of all the songs of 2023. It was from her album “Midnights,” and the song “Anti-Hero”, from 2022 and 2023 and the latest song of my top 6 songs since 1980 with the most meaning. It is a great teaching song because it talks about the negatives of a person’s life, and the desire to get rid of them. The video acts it out very well. There’s no better explanation than in Taylor Swift’s own words: “This song is a real guided tour throughout all of the things I tend to hate about myself. We all hate things about ourselves. It's all of those aspects of the things we dislike and like about ourselves that we have to come to terms with if we're going to be this person. So, I like "Anti-Hero" a lot because I think it’s really honest.” In the words of the song: “I have this thing where I get older, but just never wiser. Midnights become my afternoons when my depression works the graveyard shift. All of the people I’ve ghosted stand there in the room. I should not be left to my own devices; they come with prices and vices, I end up in crisis, I wake up screaming from dreaming. One day I’ll watch as you’re leaving ‘cause you got tired of my scheming. It’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me.” And some great words in the song with the story of a life gone bad because of “the monster on the hill” as she calls her bad self, the self who is causing the problems. Without actually saying it, although it is clear from the song: she teaches us that we are the ones who are making bad choices, but we can reform if we want. And, in terms of our theme, one of the resolutions for next year is to carefully study the problems that we have caused, and try to do something about them.
Let’s begin our countdown of the top songs of 2025, and it begins with a man who has three songs in the top 20 of this year. It is a song concerning something which is very much a part of something to save us in our worlds—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 a good resolution for his future lfe, our theme today, but he must watch being over-confident. Over-confidence can easily lead to arrogance, and we have to stay away from that. This is Benson Boone for the first time, here at number 20, from his album “American Heart” and “Mystical Magical” on MATT.
(triple) 20MYSTICAL MAGICAL / Benson Boone
19 TASTE / Sabrina Carpenter
18 CALM DOWN / Rema & Selena Gomez
Part 3
Nigerian singer Rema and Selena Gomez from Rema’s album “Rave and Roses” and the song “Calm Down”, number 18 of all the songs of 2025 on MATT, and also a part of 2024’s countdown, a song of being led to find l0ve at one time in the singer’s life. It started at a party, he says, where he saw a girl who stood out from other girls, but her friends didn’t approve, but afterwards they did get together. He begins the song “Baby, calm down, girl this your body is put in my heart for lockdown. You sweet like Fanta. If I tell you, say, ‘I love you’, you know they tell me ‘no.’ Finally, I find a way to talk to the girl but her friends gum her like chewing gum.” And she says, “Yeah, I know I look shy but for you I get down.” I put some words into English there because with the song, my knowledge of this type of music is pretty limited, to say the least. Be that as it may, it seems to be a story of the ability that everyone of us have to choose how to have fun and fall in love, or in terms of our theme, make a resolution to have fun and fall in love well in the upcoming year.
Before them, we heard Sabrina Carpenter for the first time in our countdown. Here, we heard her song “Taste” at number 19 of all the top songs of this year. It was from her album “Short ‘n Sweet”. It has quite a video which I would not recommend for the faint-hearted. It is the story of an ex girlfriend and the present girlfriend, and it is one of strong jealousy. “Now I'm gone, but you're still layin' next to me, one degree of separation. I heard you're back together and if that's true, You'll just have to taste me when he's kissin' you. If you want forever, and I bet you do, Just know you'll taste me too. He's funny now, all his jokes hit different. Guess who he learned that from?” In her explanation of the song, she speaks of the unfortunate events of relationships, and there is no doubt that hanging on to past relationships and then having a difficult time with the person that takes one’s place in the relationship is quite a challenge. A resolution for next year, our theme today, is to always learn to break up well because more often than not, there will be break ups as we develop love situations. Tough song.
We’re counting down the top 20 songs of meaning from 2025 as we prepare for the new year on MATT and we are up to number 17. Before we get there, let’s take a little break and let me give you a resolution for next year that comes from a friend of mine Dr. Earl Reum, may God rest his soul, as he was writing about the type of attitude we should have in life. “If you don’t love life, it may be the way you’re living: / perhaps a little less talking and a bit more giving, a little less hating and a little more loving, a little more helping and not so much shoving, a little more smiling and not so much strife, and soon you will be in love with life.” Good stuff from a great man. I’m Fr. Mike for MATT inviting you to stay tuned as we will continue shortly with the top 20 songs of 2025 on Mix 103.
Welcome back to MATT everyone, and the top 20 songs of 2025. Thank you for joining us today, and I hope that your new year which begins in a couple days will be one of real happiness. My name is Fr. Mike, and I’m your host during the show that usually plays the top 10 of today and yesterday. Right now, we are counting down the top songs of the year 2025 and we have reached number 17. As usual, we are urging you to enjoy the music, and to listen to the message—because the message just might change your lives! The messages of our songs this morning are revolving around the main message of many people at the beginning of a new year—resolutions to help our behavior.
In our countdown of the top 20 songs of 2025, as we just said we are up to number 17. Number 17 was also number 1 two years ago. It is a song of how to get over a love relationship after the breakup. “We were good, we were gold,” she sings, “we were right till we weren’t, built a home and watched it burn. I didn’t wanna leave you, I didn’t wanna lie, started to cry but then remembered I can buy myself flowers, write my name in the sand, talk to myself for hours, say things you don’t understand. I can take myself dancing and I can hold my own hand. Yeah, I can love me better than you can.” I have said that one can look at what the lyrics say as a selfish attitude, but I prefer to talk about it as a song encouraging self-worth, and one of the resolutions for the new year, our theme, might be that we learn we need to have a decent love of self to begin with. Number 5 of all the songs of 2024 and the number 1 song of all the songs of 2023, number 17 in 2025, from Miley Cyrus and her album “Endless Summer Vacation”, and her song “Flowers” on MATT.
(double) 17 FLOWERS / Miley Cyrus
16 BAD DREAMS / Teddy Swims
Part 5
From his second album, “I’ve tried everything but Therapy, part 2,” Teddy Swims whose real name is Jaten Collin Dimsdale and his song “Bad Dreams” on MATT, coming in at number 16 of the songs of meaning of 2025. In the song, he wants the peace and quiet of living because his friend is causing problems. “Sun is going down,” he begins his song, “time is running out; no one else around but me, steady losing light, steady losing my mind, moving shadows and grinding teeth. Without you, there ain’t no place for me to hide; without you, there’s no way I can sleep tonight, what I’d do for a little bit of peace and quiet; without you I keep slippin’ into bad dreams where there’s no you and I.” So, he wants the peace and quiet and instead, he is worrying about his relationship. By way of a resolution for this coming year, perhaps the decision to bring about true peace and quiet in one’s life makes sense.
Right now let’s go to another triple play of some songs of meaning from 2025 beginning with the song at number 15. “I had some help,” they sing, “It ain’t like I can make this kind of mess all by myself. Don’t act like you ain’t help[ing] me pull that bottle off the shelf. Been deep in every weekend if you couldn’t tell. They say teamwork makes the dream work. You think that you’re so innocent. After all the stuff you did, I ain’t an angel; you ain’t heaven-sent, can’t wash our hands off this. It takes two to break a heart in two, you blame me, and I blame you.” Of course, as I have said, that is what it is from his point of view. The lady in the relationship probably has her own version. Whatever the case, if they don’t stop blaming each other, their anxiety will be overwhelming, and the way to control the stress is to stop blaming each other. In terms of our theme, that’s a pretty good resolution for next year—don’t blame people. Study the situation before you do any blaming. A couple very popular artists here, Austin Richard Post, that is Post Malone from his album “F-1 Trillion”, along with Morgan Wallen and their song “I Had Some Help”, number 15 of the songs of 2025 on MATT.
(triple) 15 I HAD SOME HELP / Post Malone
14 MESSY / Lola Young
13 THAT’S SO TRUE / Gracie Abrams
Part 6
From that young lady’s first album “The Secret of Us,” number 13 of all the songs of 2025, from newcomer American singer/songwriter Gracie Madigan Abrams or simply Gracie Abrams and her song “That’s So True” on MATT. It is a song of intense jealousy. “I could go and read your mind,” she addresses her words to her ex-boyfriend, “Think about your dumb face all the time. Living in your glass house, I’m outside, Looking into big blue eyes. Did you do it just to hurt me, make me cry, Smiling through it all? Yeah, that's my life. You're an idiot, Now I'm sure. Now I'm positive. I should go and warn her. Bet you're thinking, ‘She's so cool,’ Kicking back on your couch, making eyes from across the room. Wait, I think I've been there too.” Every romantic relationship is a risk. You really don’t know how it will turn out. Sometimes it’s good, sometimes, it’s a bitter disappointment and only an immature attempt at love as in that song. The songs of revenge are so difficult to talk about. The resolution for next year come easily be phrased—”Don’t be revengeful,” but it is so easy to say and so tough to carry through on.
Before her, from her album “This Wasn’t Meant For You Anyway,” the song “Messy” at number 14 of all the songs of 2025 from British artist Lola Young. She said of the song: "Messy" is an ADHD anthem, it really showcases everything I felt during my last relationship, but also it is deeper than that, as it talks about how I feel about myself in general—being too messy one day and too clean another, struggling to find that balance in myself.” Here are some of the words: “You know I'm impatient, So why would you leave me waiting outside the station When it was like minus four degrees, and I get what you're sayin'; I just really don't wanna hear it right now. Can you shut up for like once in your life; Listen to me, I took your nice words of advice about how you think I'm gonna die lucky if I turn thirty-three. Ok, so yeah, I smoke like a chimney, I'm not skinny, But cut me some slack, who do you want me to be. 'Cause I'm too messy, and then I'm too clean. A thousand people I could be for you, and you hate the lot.” I left out a word in the lyrics. In terms of our theme today, one of the resolutions she should have for next year is to really make an effort to make her life less messy.
Before we get to numbers 12 through number 1, let’s take a little break, and let me remind you that you are listening to the top 20 songs of 2025 that have aired on this magnificent radio station, today’s best music, Mix 103. Let me take you to break with another resolution for next year. It comes from Anne Frank and might be labeled “keep your ideals strong.” This is how she put it a couple months before she was killed during the Second World War. “It’s really a wonder that I haven’t dropped all my ideals, because they seem so absurd and impossible to carry out. Yet I keep them because in spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.” What an amazingly positive statement, especially considering what that young lady went through and what would happen to her. Great stuff. This is MATT. Don’t even think of touching that dial. We’ll be right back.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
Part 7
Your dial is set to today’s best music Mix 103, the number 1 popular music station of Central Kansas, 100,000 watts of sheer power. My name is Fr. Mike, and the show you have on that station right now is MATT, a show that usually takes the top 10 of today and yesterday, and not only plays the songs, but studies their meanings in the hopes that we can all be just a little bit better than we are right now. Our motto and guiding thought during this show is to enjoy the music, and to listen to the message. This morning during this special show as we begin a new year in a couple days, we are taking all of the top songs of this year 2025, and counting them down according to the mind of Mediabase 24-7 and your requests to Mix 103.
Our second hour of music and message begins right now, and a triple play of songs that are among the most played on radio stations like ours. At number 12 is the second song for Benson Boone in the top 20 of 2025. It is a song as I have said whose story is told for all practical purposes by its title. The name of it is “Sorry I’m here for Someone Else.” And that’s the story. He’s waiting for his current fiancee, meets an old flame, realizes that the old flame is the one that he currently likes, and breaks up with the one he is waiting for. He is not completely in love with either of them, it seems. And it is perfectly okay to be searching for the right one, but he should do it in a little less hurtful way, I think. In terms of our theme for this special show, a resolution for next year might be the idea of that thought of striving to be certain if we are in love. This is from his album “American Heart,” again, Benson Boone, “Sorry I’m Here for Someone Else”, on MATT.
(triple) 12 SORRY I’M HERE FOR SOMEONE ELSE / Benson Boone
11 APT / Rose and Bruno Mars
10 LOSE CONTROL / Teddy Swims
Part 8
Last year’s number 1 song is this year’s number 10 song. Teddy Swims there, the number 1 song of popularity and a song of loneliness. It comes from his album “I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy, part 1”, his song “Lose Control” on MATT. 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. A person who is lonely in today’s world has a serious problem, and in general, a simple resolution to get over it will not work, our theme today. We usually have to spend some time of therapy or the like to talk it out and decide what to do. One thing for sure: before we find anything to lead us well, we have to address the feeling of loneliness.
Before him, we heard a song that comes in English and Korean. The name of the song is “APT” meaning the Korean word APATEU or in English “Apartment” at number 11 on the songs of 2025. It comes from New Zealand born and South Korean singer Rose whose real name is Roseanne Park, along with the help of Peter Gene Hernandez, that is Bruno Mars again. The song itself is described as a drinking game song, and a song and video of pure energy as the lady in the relationship tells us to enjoy our friends in the APATEU, that is, the apartment of the encounter. “Kissy face, kissy face sent to your phone,” they sing, “but I’m tryna kiss your lips for real; red hearts, red hearts, that’s what I’m on. Come give me somethin' I can feel. Don’t you want me like I want you; don’t you need me like I need you now? Sleep tomorrow, but tonight go crazy. All you gotta do is just meet me at the APATEU.” In terms of our theme if they are speaking of a couple going to the APATEU, their resolution should be to be totally honest with each other.
Yet
another triple play of 2025 songs is up for us next beginning with
number 9 right now. It
is a song
about a place, as was Rose’s song, this time in LA, and her mother
is not happy about it.
“I know you wanted me to stay, “she sings, “But I can't ignore
the crazy visions of me in LA. I heard that there's a special place.
I'm having wicked dreams of leaving Tennessee. Oh, Santa Monica, I
swear it's calling me. Won't make my mama proud. It's gonna cause a
scene. She sees her baby girl, I know she's gonna scream what have
you done. You're a pink pony girl and you dance at the club. Oh
mama, I'm just having fun on the stage in my heels. It's where I
belong down at the Pink Pony Club.” In terms of our theme, she
must decide on a future with a
resolution, whether she wants to stay
there or follow the wishes of her mother. This is the latest from
Kayleigh Rose Amstutz better know as Chappell Roan, the best new
artist of the year according to the Grammys, and her song which was
part of the Grammys this year and quite a dance routine, “Pink Pony
Club”, number 9 of all the songs of
2025 on MATT.
(triple) 9
PINK PONY CLUB / Chappell Roan
8 TOO SWEET / Hozier
7 BEAUTIFUL THINGS/ Benson Boone
Part 9
Number 2 on last year’s countdown of songs and number 7 on this year’s-- “Beautiful Things” from his album “Fireworks and Rollerblades,” Benson Boone again for the third time in these songs. This one is a song about a man in a relationship who has discovered a person that he really likes and he wants to keep it that way. “For a while there, it was rough,” he sings, “but lately I’ve been doing better than the last four Decembers I recall. And I see my family every month and I found a girl my parents love. She’ll come and stay the night, and I think I might have it all, and I thank God every day for the girl He sent my way. But I know the things He gives me, He can take away, and I hold you every night and that’s a feeling I wanna get used to. But there’s no man as terrified as the man who stands to lose you. I hope I don’t lose you. Please stay. I want you, I need you. God, don’t take these beautiful things that I’ve got.” I’ve mentioned before that it is evident that the person is tuned into God, and from my point of view anyway, that is a resolution that should be kept all year.
Before him, we heard from Irish singer/songwriter Andrew John Hozier-Byrne, better known simply as Hozier, and his song “Too Sweet” at number 8 of all the songs of 2025. It is a song about a man in a relationship talking of the lifestyle of each of the partners. His own is a late-night one along with a little too much relaxation / and the partner is an early bird with a cautious lifestyle. “It can’t be said I’m an early bird, it’s ten o’clock before I say a word. I can never tell how you sleep so well. You keep telling me to live right, to go to bed before the daylight, but then you wake up for the sunrise. But while in this world, I think I’ll take my whiskey neat, my coffee black and my bed at three. You’re too sweet for me.” We have mentioned before that opposites sometimes attract when people are discovering love, but not often, and what should be done in this instance as we think of a rsolution for next year? Well, the two had better do some compromising and if they don’t, they should move on in life.
And we have our final six yet to listen to today. Will the number 1 song according to Mediabase 24 belong to—and these are in alphabetical order—, Sabrina Carpenter, Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Shaboozey, Myles Smith or Alex Warren. I invite you to hang in there with me, and we’ll find out which was number 1 according to Mediabase 24-7 and your requests, all of them excellent songs to study. Before the break, let me give another resolution for 2025. It concerns leadership, and you have to think about this one. I’ve used it before, but it’s a great statement that leads one to think. The author is Daniel DeFoe: “It is better to have a lion at the head of an army of sheep, than a sheep at the head of an army of lions.” Now, think about that! You don’t want to be eaten up. Don’t go way; we’ll be right back on Mix 103.
Part 10
It’s great to have you back with us as we count down the top 20 songs of 2025. Hi, everyone. Happy New Year in a couple of days! I’m Fr. Mike, and this is the show that we call MATT, a show that gives you the music and the message of all the songs that we play—and we play only the top 10 popular music of today and yesterday according to Mediabase 24-7 and your requests. Right now, we are in the process of counting down the top songs of the year 2025 as we celebrate the new year of 2026 on Thursday and we have made it to the top 6. Get ready to listen to some resolutions for 2026—our theme today. Great stuff in front of you, I believe.
And let’s go to number 6 of all the songs of 2025. It spent 19 weeks at number 1 during the year, a record and is from 25 year old Alexander Warren Hughes better known as Alex Warren from Carlsbad California, another song of sincere commitment, at least from the man’s point of view. “They say, ‘The holy water’s watered down and this town’s lost its faith. Our colors will fade eventually’. So, if our time is runnin’ out day after day, we’ll make the mundane our masterpiece. I take one look at you. You’re takin’ me out of the ordinary. I want you layin’ me down ‘til we’re dead and buried. You got me kissin’ the ground of your sanctuary. At your altar, I will pray. You’re the sculptor, I’m the clay. You take me out of the ordinary.” As I say, he is pretty taken with is friend, and it could very well be real love, but one would have to know how she feels. In terms of our theme, a resolution for next year might revolve around the idea of tring to make the mundane a masterpience in everything that we do. From his album “You’ll Be Alright, Kid ”, his song “Ordinary”, number 6 of all the songs of 2025 on MATT.
(tri ple) 6 ORDINARY / Alex Warren
5 A BAR SONG / Shaboozey
4 BIRDS OF A FEATHER / Billie Eilish
Part 11
Billie Eilish from her album “Hit Me Hard and Soft”, and her song “Birds of a Feather” on MATT, number 4 of the songs of meaning of 2025 and number 11 of the songs of 2024. It is a song about falling in love with a person that she wants to "stick together" with. The love to her significant other brings her to tears and begs the lover to never end their relationship. “I want you to stay 'til I'm in the grave”, she begins, “'til I rot away, dead and buried, ‘til I'm in the casket you carry. If you go, I'm goin' too / 'cause it was always you and if I'm turnin' blue, please don't save me. Nothin' left to lose without my baby. Birds of a feather we should stick together. And I don't know what I'm cryin' for; I don't think I could love you more. It might not be long, but I'll love you 'til the day that I die, ‘til the light leaves my eyes, ‘til the day that I die.” The lady in the relationship is truly committed to the other and if it is a mature love, presuming that the other in the relationship feels the same way, that commitment will stay there, and they will be able to overcome any negative feelings which may arise, quite a good resolution for them for next year.
Before her, we heard a song at number 5 that caused quite a stir with its rather straightforward statements: it was a former number 1 and top 5 quite a long time. The song: “A Bar Song” from his album “Where I’ve Been Isn’t Where I’m Going”. The artist known as Shaboozey or his real name is Collins Obinna Chibueze. He begins his song by telling us that he works hard and has problems that he won’t have when he’s gone. And then presumably, he wants to relax from his work and problems by drinking alcohol. “Someone, pour me up a double shot of whiskey. They know me and Jack Daniel's got a history. There's a party downtown, near 5th Street. Everybody at the bar gettin' tipsy. I've been boozey since I left, I ain't changin' for a check. Woke up drunk at 10 am, we gon[na] do this stuff again. Tell your girl to bring a friend.” I changed a word in the song. Thinking with our theme about this song, perhaps the good news connected with the song is that he can change for the better if he wants to, snd that is a good resolution for next year especially if there may be a problem with alcohol.
Now we go to our top 3 songs of this year of 2025. She said of this song did the singer Sabrina Carpenter: “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. One of the resolutions for next year, our theme today, is simply to be aware that too much self-confidence can destroy a relationship. At number 3 this year and number 8 last year is Ms. Sabrina Carpenter from her album “Short n’ Sweet,” and her song “Espresso” on MATT.
(double) 3 ESPRESSO / Sabina Carpenter
2 STARGAZING / Myles Smith
Part 12
At the number 2 position for this year of all the songs of 2025, British singer Myles Smith and his song “Stargazing” on MATT. It is a song of discovered love. “Time stood still,” he begins his song, “just like a photograph; you made me feel like this would last forever. Lookin' in your eyes, I see my whole life. They say you know it when you know it and I know. Promise that you'll hold me close, don't let me go. Take my heart, don't break it; love me to my bones. All this time I've wasted; you were right there all along, you and I stargazin', intertwinin' souls. We were never strangers; I lose my mind when I'm around you; how I come alive. When I'm without you I can't help but feel so lost. I wanna give you all I've got.” He says that when you know that you are in love, then you know, and / he knows. That is, he is thinking that his love is a mature love. And such a feeling is a great feeling for a young person, our theme today, but it has to be real. And a resolution for next year, our theme today, might be to make sure that the love each day will become more real.
And our number 1 song for the year 2025 should come as no surprise because it was on every top 10 chart of the whole year from the extremely talented duo--Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, better known as Lady Gaga and Peter Gene Hernandez, better known as Bruno Mars and their song “Die with a Smile”. It is another song of strong commitment to each other. “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.” Fitting into our theme, as we have said with so many of these songs this year, this couple’s resolution for next year is keep and strengthen the commitment.
And there you have it—the top 20 songs of this year according to MATT in consultation with Mediabase 24-7. My thanks to our producers and sponsors for MATT, especially Hays Car and Truck Alignment in Hays, Holy Family Elementary School in Hays, and Thomas More Prep-Marian Junior and Senior High School also in Hays—all of them great people with great products. And thank you for taking the time to be with us today as we are ready to celebrate 2026. We have tried to give you the very best messages of the very best songs of 2025, all of them with great resolutions for our new year that begins in a couple of days. If you would like to comment on any of my comments, feel free to write me at KJLS radio, Hays, KS 67601 or e-mail me at frmikescully@yahoo.com. My website is www.frmikescully.com where you will find meditations on these songs and some pretty good movies and a transcript of today’s show. Remember that you can join us on the web every Sunday at 10am for our show by choosing www.hayspost.com and clicking on Mix 103. A couple final resolutions for 2025: it’s what I say every Sunday at the end of this show—try to hold a good thought no matter what happens to you, that is, always think good things; and try to give peace to everyone you meet. As you listen to the number 1 song of 2025 from Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars and their song “Die With a Smile”—I’ll say it again—hold a good thought. My name is Fr. Mike Scully. Be safe, peace to you and be good!
1 DIE WITH A SMILE / Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars
December 25, 2025
“As We Think of Christmas…”
Part 1
Good morning, everyone, Merry Christmas to all of you; welcome to Mix 103’s unique top 10 show, “Message at the Top”. I am Fr. Mike Scully, your host for the show that usually gives you the top 10 songs of our area as determined by our own research here at Mix 103 which we call Mediabase 24-7. On this special day for Christians, Mix 103 has asked me to produce a show that captures the Christmas spirit, using the songs with the most meaning that we have played here on MATT, and using most of all the Christmas music that rock artists have produced. I have gladly accepted the challenge, and today, get ready for four hours of music and message with a Christmas twist. As usual, we will follow our guide of broadcasting which is to enjoy the music, AND to listen to the message. We hope you enjoy it. We’ll place the music and messages of the songs we play into a theme that will be supplied by one of the great songs of Christmas in my estimation—Bob Seger’s “Little Drummer Boy.” Look for music during the show from Taylor Swift, Poison, Mannheim Steamroller, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Bon Jovi among many many others.
As we work with Bob Seger’s “Little Drummer Boy”, and consider its excellent message for any time of the year, but especially at Christmas—I think of the value of giving, but not only giving gifts although that is part of giving, obviously, but giving of ourselves to others. And when I think of that, I think automatically of one of the saints in the Catholic Church—Mother Teresa, and what she called her “plan for life.” Let me begin with that this Christmas:
People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you. Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone may destroy overnight. Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough. But give the world the best you’ve got anyway.
You see, in final analysis, it is all between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.
That is to say, learn to give to others and our world the very best you have.
One of the most popular recent Christmas songs, and one that I think is a great description of what should be at Christmas is the story of someone giving something to the baby Jesus. As I say, this idea of giving should be a very important part of this season. We give a lot during this time of year, and what it should do for us as we think of Christmas is move us to keep on giving of ourselves to others throughout the whole year. This song will be our theme setter this special Christmas show, as we consider what we should do as we think of Christmas. Here the little drummer boy gave what he had, and that’s a pretty good description of what each of us should be doing as we think of Christmas. This is Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band, “The Little Drummer Boy”, our lead song on our special Christmas MATT.
(double) THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY / Bob Seger
DO THEY KNOW IT’S CHRISTMAS / Band-Aid
Part 2
One of the rapidly becoming classic songs of Christmas time, one released by various artists known as Band-Aid a number of years ago, “Do They Know It’s Christmas” on our special Christmas MATT. They sing some very meaningful lyrics: “It’s Christmas time,” they begin, “no need to be afraid. At Christmastime, we let in light and we banish shade and in our world of plenty we can spread a smile of joy: throw your arms around the world at Christmastime. Say a prayer for the other ones. There’s a world outside your window, and it’s a world of dread and fear where the only water flowing is the bitter sting of tears. Feed the world.” It is a great song that was produced in 1984, and has been re-released three times in order to raise money for famine relief. It fits into our theme this way: what should we do as we think of Christmas—we should be thinking of others who are much less fortunate that we are by giving to them of the only means most of us have, and that is our money. We have to reach out to some charity and give.
Let’s go to a triple play for the first time today, and most of our songs will come to you in triple play. And begin it right here with a person who was born on October 9, 1940 in Liverpool, England, and in one of the great modern tragedies, assassinated on December 8, 1980. This song is known as his peace anthem. “So this is Christmas,” he begins the song, “and what have you done. Another year over. A very merry Christmas and a happy new year. Let’s hope it’s a good one without any fear. The world is so wrong. Let’s stop all the fight. War is over if you want it now.” The one and only John Lennon, and a great song in my opinion because it should make us think. The name of it is “Happy Christmas” and then in parentheses “War Is Over”. With our theme today, one of the things we should do this Christmas is to show everyone a true sense of peace, and if everyone of us would do it, war would be over. Would that that would happen! It was originally a hit for John and Oko Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band at Christmas 1972, and here it is on our Christmas MATT.
(triple) HAPPY CHRISTMAS (WAR IS OVER) / John Lennon
O HOLY NIGHT / Neil Diamond
FIREWORK / Katy Perry
Part 3
One of the songs with the most meaning of the early 2000’s according to us, that was Katherine Elizabeth Hudson or Ms. Katy Perry, from her album “Teenage Dream”, and her song from 2010, “Firework” on MATT. The song is a 10+ category of meaning song for me, the highest I get and one of the 7 songs of the most meaning since 1980 and they will all be on our show today. She is singing about the potential that we all have in life, no matter how bad the circumstances are. It has a great video also that says the same thing. Listen to these great words: “Do you ever feel like a plastic bag drifting through the wind,” she begins her song, “wanting to start again? Do you know that there’s still a chance for you, ‘cause there’s a spark in you. You just gotta ignite the light, let it shine, just own the night like the 4th of July, ‘cause you’re a firework: come on, show ‘em what you’re worth. You’re original, cannot be replaced. It’s always been inside of you, and now it’s time to let it through.” She is singing that we can be so much more than we are now, and we shouldn’t be discouraged with who we are. In fact, she sings, “maybe you’re the reason why all the doors are closed: so, you could open one that leads you to the perfect road.” Her point is: discover your potential, and don’t let the problems keep you away from everything you can be. Or put into our theme, as we consider Christmas, we are thankful for our lives.
Before her, the beautiful hymn, “Oh, Holy Night,” sung by Neil Diamond, one of my favorite artists of all time, and the song is one of the Christmas classic songs that you have probably heard a number of times this season, maybe even in Church. Christmas night some 2000 years ago was the holy night, of course, and good reason to “fall on your knees, and hear the angel voices, oh, night divine, oh night when Christ was born.” As we think of what we should consider at Christmas, our Christmas theme today, the Christian world believes that Jesus gave of himself to all of us in the act of redemption and it began on the holy night that was the subject of the song. We should consider what God has done for us, and say a word of “thanks” as we celebrate this Christmas season.
We’ll quote some New Testament Scripture throughout the show today. Let’s begin the Christmas story according to St. Matthew right here and continue it over the next couple of segments. Matthew begins the story of Christmas this way:
Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her.”
We’ll continue the reading later. During our next segment, we will hear the music of Michael W. Smith, Stevie Wonder and an incredible song, The Dave Matthews Band and an amazing song, Nicholas Jonas and another amazing song, Olivia Newton-John, / and Foreigner with one of our top songs with the most meaning that we have played here. As is my wont, may I lead you to break with a quote, this time from Pastor Roy L. Smith: “He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.” Now, that is great! Our special Christmas “Message at the Top” will continue right after these important messages. I’m Fr. Mike inviting you to keep your radio dial set at Mix 103.
It is great to be back with you once again. Thank you for joining us during this Christmas season, and most of our songs are what we call songs of the season today, Christmas songs. We continue to share our motto with you to enjoy the music, and listen to the message. I am Fr. Mike, your host for the only top 10 show of Mix 103, “Message at the Top.” Get ready for songs during this segment that present Christmas topics that are as varied as you can get, and artists that are as varied as you are ever going to hear, all with different thoughts as we think of what the songs say about what we should be thinking about at Christmas. The theme came from Bob Seger’s great song of the season, “Little Drummer Boy”.
Michael W. Smith is one of the inspiring Christian artists of our day, and his song “Gloria” is up next for you. It is the statement that we hear in many Church services around this time of year: “Gloria in excelsis Deo.” Latin words that mean “glory to God on high,” the words that the angel announced to the shepherds at the birth of Jesus. The believer in God will consider God as she/he looks at our world, the incredible creation that has millions of galaxies like our own Milky Way galaxy which itself has billions of stars that God has created. The believer in God will look at the one little planet called Earth and realize that God has blessed us with life, life that we have often messed up, to be sure, but life nonetheless—life that we can enjoy with all of our conveniences that God has inspired people to create. The believer in God will look at what Jesus has done, the reason why we celebrate this season, namely to be born into our world in order to redeem us from our sinfulness and give us not only life that we can enjoy here, but life that is eternal, a life of eternal happiness. We can indeed with Michael W. Smith here sing “Gloria in excelsis Deo,” glory to God on high. This is Michael W. Smith, “Gloria” on MATT.
(triple) GLORIA / Michael W. Smith
THE FIRST NOEL / Olivia Newton-John
SOMEDAY AT CHRISTMAS / Stevie Wonder
Part 5
An unbelievable song, very high category song of meaning, challenging those who are responsible for leadership among the nations, Stevie Wonder, “Someday At Christmas” on MATT. “Someday at Christmas,” he began his song, “men won’t be boys playing with bombs like kids play with toys. One warm December our hearts will see a world where men are free. When we have learned what Christmas is for, when we have found what life’s really worth, there’ll be peace on earth. Someday all our dreams will come to be, someday in a world where men are free, maybe not in time for you and me, but someday at Christmastime.” A song of challenge, and a song of hope, saying that someday this peace and harmony is actually going to happen. That is indeed something that we should consider at Christmas time, and one would wish that the people who are responsible for peace and freedom would study that song. Great song.
Before him, we heard Olivia Newton-John’s version of “The First Noel.” It is the story of the early people on Christmas night, and how they reacted to the news of Jesus Christ and his birth.
In fact, in that light, St. Matthew’s Gospel concludes his Christmas story this way:
“She will bear a son,” the angel continued speaking to Joseph, “and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,’ which means ‘God is with us.’ When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. He had no relations with her until she bore a son, and he named him Jesus.”
That is the factual statement of Christmas from Matthew’s Gospel.
Let’s begin this triple with another song since 1980 that I say is a song with the most meaning of all the songs that we have played on MATT. I really like the fact that the group there, namely Foreigner employed a college choir group to help them with the refrain to that song since they wanted young people singing “I Want to Know What Love Is” the name of the song. You can see it on the video to the song, and a great one it is. I used to use it all the time on youth retreats. It is from 1984 from their album “Agent Provocateur”. I consider it to be a “should be theme song” for young America, speaking the desire of every one of us to know what love really is, including love of others, love of self and love of God. In terms of our theme, as we consider Christmas, here is a theme song for the day on MATT.
(triple) I WANT TO KNOW WHAT LOVE IS / Foreigner
JOY TO THE WORLD (A CHRISTMAS PRAYER) / Nicholas
Jonas
CHRISTMAS SONG / Dave Matthews Band
Part 6
A live version of one of the most meaningful songs of the season, the Dave Matthews Band, and “Christmas Song” on our special Christmas MATT. It is the story of Jesus beginning with his birth, and ending with his death. It closes with a statement to Jesus’ Father-God: “Why in all this hatred do you fill me up with love, love is all around.” Throughout the song, they are speaking of the love that Jesus gave, and the fact that too few accepted it. As we ask the question with our Christmas theme, what should we think about at Christmas, one of the things that we should think about is that everyone of us should have an understanding of the love that Jesus had for us, and that we should have for others. Incredible song.
Before them, we heard a likewise incredible song from a 12 year old—at that time—Christian music artist Nicholas Jonas called “Joy To The World: A Christmas Prayer.” Every year at Christmas,” he began his song, “all I can see are pictures of the things I want around the tree. But this year’s a little different. I’m not thinking of myself. So my prayer for this Christmas is for somebody else. So I pray for joy to the world, peace for every boy and girl, hope when life is hard, light when everything seems dark.” As we talk about what we should consider today, the thought that we are making our theme this 2025 Christmas, we should all want and pray for this: praying for joy for the world, peace for everyone. You talk about a song of meaning. Great song to study and listen to.
We have more music for your listening pleasure during the next segment as we begin our second hour together. In fact, get ready for music from—in order of appearance—Shawn Colvin, Alessia Cara, the band Poison, the group Simple Plan, and Bruce Springsteen in true Christmas form. May I take you to break with a quote about Christmas, this one from a British journalist in her essay, “The Office Party.” “From a commercial point of view, if Christmas did not exist, it would be necessary to invent it.” Quite true, don’t you think, / and, as I say that, I think there is far too much commercialism at this time of year—my opinion, of course. I’m Fr. Mike for “Message at the Top” on Mix 103. We’ll be right back.
Thank you for joining us this Christmas time. We are back for the second hour of our special Christmas “Message at the Top” which gives you the top rock songs of our area, along with a number of Christmas songs and music as we expand our show today to give you four hours, should you choose to stay with us. I’m your host Fr. Mike on “Message at the Top” on Mix 103, and the motto for our Christmas show as for every show is to enjoy the music, and listen to the message. The theme that we are using during our Christmas show came from Bob Seger’s classic Christmas song “Little Drummer Boy,” and the idea of what we should be considering in our thought at Christmas.
Something we should consider, of course, is love, both in general and in a romantic way, those thoughts coming from this double play right now, enjoying the talents of Shawn Colvin, and one of the sounds of Christmas here on Mix 103. It is a beautiful thought about Christmas, and just what we Christians believe that Jesus did for us. “Love came down at Christmas,” she begins her song, “love, a lovely love divine. Love was born at Christmas, star and angels gave the sign. Love shall be our token, love be yours and love be mine, love to God and both of us, love for plea and gift and sign. Love was born at Christmas.” Some pretty good theology here from Shawn Colvin: “Love Came Down at Christmas” on our special Christmas MATT.
(double) LOVE CAME DOWN AT CHRISTMAS / Shawn Colvin
SCARS TO YOUR BEAUTIFUL / Alessia Cara
Part 8
Another song with the most meaning since 1980 according to MATT, Canadian singer/songwriter Ms. Alessia Carraciolo better known as Alessia Cara. Her song there was from her album “Know-It-All,” and her song “Scars to Your Beautiful” from 2017 on MATT. It is an excellent leadership song. On the video, the song closes with her personal statement about the song which reads: “Oftentimes the world both directly and indirectly tells us that we shouldn’t be happy with ourselves if we don’t fit certain beauty standards. “‘Scars to Your Beautiful’ is a reminder that beauty isn’t only one look, shape, size or color. It isn’t even always tangible. It comes in an endless amount of forms, and we need to recognize that.” Indeed we should. And so she sings her refrain: “But there's a hope that's waiting for you in the dark. You should know you're beautiful just the way you are. And you don't have to change a thing. No scars to your beautiful; we're stars and we're beautiful.” As we consider Christmas, our theme today, the person who understands that he/she is beautiful no matter what / will always know exactly who he/she is.
Continuing Matthew’s Gospel immediately after he proclaims Jesus’ birth, he speaks of the Magi:
We’ll review their answer in just a moment.
Right now, another of the seven songs with the most meaning that we have played here on Mix 103. I’m often asked about the songs with the most meaning that I have worked with over the past 45 years since this show began. I love to talk about them, of course. And this is one of them. It is from the group Poison and released in 1990. The song was a statement of concern on the part of heavy metal, a segment of our society, interestingly enough, who are a real concern themselves for some of that society. The group sings of almost insurmountable problems: church hypocrisy, the Vietnam-caused confusion of living, the death of a close friend, the homeless, the embarrassing chasm between the rich and the poor. And their plea is a prayer in their refrain: “Give me something to believe in; if there’s a Lord above, give me something to believe in. O Lord, arise!” What should we hold on to? That is, the something to believe in? Incredibly, it is the Lord, as the group Poison calls him. As we consider Christmas, our theme today, always keeping the Lord as part of it will assure that we know exactly what Christmas is all about. From their album “Flesh and Blood”, this is “Something To Believe In”, the group Poison on MATT.
(triple) SOMETHING TO BELIEVE IN / Poison
MY CHRISTMAS LIST / Simple Plan
SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN / Bruce Springsteen
Part 9
The very much alive and interactive Bruce Springsteen on our Christmas MATT, and his rendition of “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”. Santa Claus has been a very popular figure this past month, as he is every Christmas. As we pursue the “real” story of Santa Claus, the legend of Santa Claus can be traced back hundreds of years to a monk named St. Nicholas. It is believed that Nicholas was born sometime around 280 A.D. in Patara, near Myra in modern-day Turkey. Much admired for his piety and kindness, St. Nicholas became the subject of many legends. It is said that he gave away all of his inherited wealth and traveled the countryside helping the poor and sick. Good guy was St. Nicholas or Santa Claus. Pursuing the theme of what we should we do as we consider Christmas, we should take the example of St. Nicholas or Santa Claus and be willing to give whatever in order to help other people.
Before Bruce Springsteen, we heard the interesting song from the group Simple Plan, “My Christmas List.” “Santa is coming tonight,” they sing, “and I wanna car and I wanna life and I wanna first class trip to Hawaii. I wanna life-time supply of slurpees and Eskimo pies, I wanna DVD and a big screen TV. Just bring me things that I don’t need.” That last phrase is the one that I find very interesting—bring me things that I don’t need. I believe that one of the problems in our wonderful world of America, is that we want too much, and when we are obsessed with too much—the things we don’t need, as the group Simple Plan sings—then we miss the whole meaning of Christmas, indeed the whole meaning of life. We have to learn to discern some things about ourselves and we’ll see as we consider Christmas, our theme today, that we probably want too much and that there are other people who could use our help.
We’ll continue with our special Christmas MATT after this short break. Right now, before we take that break, allow me to tell you that music of Natasha Bedingfield, Taylor Swift, Bon Jovi, Winona Judd and Kenny Rogers, Boyz II Men, and Ray Charles are up for you next as we mix together top 10’s and Christmas on Mix 103—true to our name—Mix 103. May I take you to break with this thought about Christmas. It comes from Robert Lynd who died in 1949, and I’ll bet you will totally agree with this: “There are some people who want to throw their arms around you simply because it is Christmas; / there are other people who want to strangle you simply because it is Christmas.” Yes, indeed. I’m Fr. Mike Scully, and you’re listening to our special Christmas MATT on Mix 103.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
I am Fr. Mike Scully and this show is “Message at the Top” on 100,000 watts of power, Mix 103, our only top 10 show that gives you the top 10 of today and great music of the past as well along with their messages. The title of our special Christmas show this morning is the question: “What Should We Do As We Consider Christmas”. We took the idea from the song “Little Drummer Boy” by Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band, what I consider to be a classic for this season. We are interspersing our top 10 songs with some great Christmas music that we have been playing here at Mix 103 during the past couple of weeks, and we continue with our thought that every song has a message, and that message can usually help us.
Before we get back to that music, let me close St. Matthew’s account of the birth of Jesus. We are up to where the Magi have just asked Herod for information concerning Jesus.
Let’s go to another of my top 7 songs of meaning that we have played on our show throughout the years. “I am unwritten,” she begins her song, “can’t read my mind, I’m undefined. I’m just beginning, the pen’s in my hand, ending unplanned. Staring at the blank page before you. Release your inhibitions; no one else can speak the words on your lips, drench yourself in words unspoken, live your life with arms wide open. Today is where your book begins, the rest is still unwritten.” Super statement. It is a statement of where we are / and that from now on, no matter what has happened in our lives before, from now on, we will be able to live our future with arms wide open. / We can begin again. And what a great resolution—let’s begin our lives again, and begin them with the thought of living life as well as we can, with arms wide open to embrace the life around us. And in terms of our theme, as we consider Christmas, it will insure that we know exactly what Christmas is all about. This is the number 1 song of meaning of 2006 according to MATT from Natasha Bedingfield from her album of the same name, “Unwritten” on MATT. Listen to the words.
(triple) UNWRITTEN / Natasha Bedingfield
ANTI-HERO / Taylor Swift
THE BIRTH OF CHRIST / Boyz II Men
Part 11
The harmony of the group Boyz II Men on our special Christmas MATT singing “The Birth of Christ.” Their words: “They traveled over hills and mountains on a cold December night just like this, for they knew what was going to happen: Mary would give birth to the prince of peace, our Lord. From the manger what they saw in the distance was a misty silhouette of three kings bringing all the most precious jewels to our Savior. On Christmas day, they saw a star in the east and followed it. On Christmas day that marked the birth place of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Exactly what we are celebrating during this season, calling to mind the wise men offered gifts to the Christ Child, our theme today, and something that we should consider as we think of Christmas—offer the gifts of ourselves to that Child.
Before them, we heard the final song of my top songs of meaning since 1980. It is from her album “Midnights,” and the song “Anti-Hero”, from 2022 from Taylor Swift. It is a great teaching song because it talks about the negatives of a person’s life, and the desire to get rid of them. The video acts it out very well. There’s no better explanation than in Taylor Swift’s own words: “This song is a real guided tour throughout all of the things I tend to hate about myself. We all hate things about ourselves. It's all of those aspects of the things we dislike and like about ourselves that we have to come to terms with if we're going to be this person. So, I like "Anti-Hero" a lot because I think it’s really honest.” In the words of the song: “I have this thing where I get older, but just never wiser. Midnights become my afternoons when my depression works the graveyard shift. All of the people I’ve ghosted stand there in the room. I should not be left to my own devices; they come with prices and vices, I end up in crisis, I wake up screaming from dreaming. One day I’ll watch as you’re leaving ‘cause you got tired of my scheming. It’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me.” And some great words in the song with the story of a life gone bad because of “the monster on the hill” as she calls her bad self, the self who is causing the problems. Without actually saying it, although it is clear from the song: she teaches us that we are the ones who are making bad choices, but we can reform if we want. And, in terms of our theme, one of the ways that we can save ourselves is to carefully study the problems that we have caused, and try to do something about them.
Let’s begin this next triple play with a Christmas song of meaning from Bon Jovi, who sings that he wishes that every day could be like Christmas, and “if I could have one wish come true,” he sings, “I wish every day could be full of peace and harmony.” Speaking of the true meaning of Christmas, let me introduce the song with a portion of a piece of prose writing called “Mary’s Dream.” We’ll finish it during our next segment. In the writing, the Virgin Mary is speaking:
I had a dream, Joseph.
I don’t understand it, not really,
but I think it was about a birthday celebration for our Son.
I think that was what it was all about.
The people had been preparing for it for about six weeks.
They had decorated the house and bought new clothes.
They’d gone shopping many times and bought elaborate gifts.
It was peculiar, though,
because the presents weren’t for our Son.
Peculiar indeed, and I will finish it for you later. Right now, a triple play involving familiar Christmas music and beginning the triple, the true meaning of Christmas from Bon Jovi, “I Wish Every Day Could Be Like Christmas” on our special Christmas MATT.
(triple) I WISH EVERY DAY COULD BE LIKE CHRISTMAS / Bon Jovi
WINTER WONDERLAND / Ray Charles
MARY, DID YOU KNOW / Winona Judd & Kenny Rogers
Part 12
Another Christmas song that is rapidly becoming a Christmas classic, written by Mark Lowry, and this time sung by country artists Kenny Rogers and Winona Judd, “Mary, Did You Know” on MATT. Let me quote that last verse: “Mary, did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation? Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day rule the nations? Did you know that your baby boy is heaven’s perfect Lamb? This sleeping child you’re holding is the great ‘I AM’.” The theology that is sung there is that this sleeping child was indeed the Jesus the Son of God who in the Gospel of John uses the words that Moses heard from God when Moses asked God what the name of God was. God replied with the words in Hebrew: “I am who am.” The song calls Jesus the “I AM” and therefore God. The message of Christmas, our theme today, is that the “I AM”, God, has come to us, and it should affect the way that we live now.
Before them, we heard a familiar Christmas song that spoke of sleigh bells ringing, listening, snow glistening on the roads, the beautiful sight of happy people, and the wonderland of Christmas, “Winter Wonderland”. That rendition from Mr. Ray Charles. Pursuing our Christmas theme with that common Christmas song, one of the things that we should consider at Christmas is to give a happy attitude to each and every one of our friends.
Allow me to conclude that prose reading in which the Blessed Virgin Mary is talking about Christmas as celebrated in the twenty-first century. She had just mentioned to Joseph that the presents that everyone bought were not what she thought.
The presents weren’t for our Son, Joseph.
They wrapped them in beautiful paper
and tied them with lovely bows and stacked them under a tree.
Yes, a tree, Joseph, right in their house.
They’d decorate the tree also.
The branches were full of glowing balls
and sparkling ornaments.
There was a figure on top of the tree.
It looked like an angel might look.
Oh, it was beautiful.
Everyone was laughing and happy.
They were all excited about the gifts.
They gave the gifts to each other, Joseph, not to our Son.
I don’t think they even knew Him.
They never mentioned His name.
Doesn’t it seem odd for people to go to all that trouble--
to celebrate someone’s birthday if they don’t know him?
I had the strangest feeling that if our Son had gone to this celebration,
He would have been intruding.
Everything was so beautiful, Joseph,
and everyone so full of cheer,
but it made me want to cry.
How sad for Jesus,
not wanted at His own birthday celebration.
I’m glad it was only a dream.
How terrible, Joseph, if it had been real.
And, of course, the unwritten conclusion—it is only too real. Quite a reading, don’t you think.
We will progress to our third hour together next and begin it with one of the most beautiful Christmas productions that I have heard from people who call themselves the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. A thought about Christmas to lead you into this break from an American clergyman: “I want Christmas to be like I had at home—chaotic but happy.” You bet. You’ve got the special Christmas MATT on your radio dial today, and we’ll be right back on Mix 103.
Part 13
It’s great to have you with us today as we celebrate the Christmas season together on our special MATT on Mix 103. I’m Fr. Mike Scully, and we are giving you the message of Christmas together with the messages of the top 10 as well. I believe that we are living up to our motto to enjoy the music, and to listen to the message—of course, I am a bit biased. Thank you for joining us today.
Let’s begin our third hour together with a song from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. A little history of them before the song. They were formed in 1996 and are based in New York City, and tour many nations. The production features 22 musicians/singers, including a full rock band and eight-piece string section. This song simply called “Christmas Canon” features a children’s choir, and there was no way to take it on tour. So the group performed it live in 2003 and decided to record it for their album as well, because it went over so well with the audience. Indeed it should have. You’ll probably recognize the music of Pachebel, and hear the words from the young people: “Merry Christmas, The hope that he brings, this night we pray our lives will show, This dream he had each child still knows, We are waiting, we have not forgotten, On this night, this very Christmas night.” For me, there is something special about children during this time of year especially, and to have the young people sing this way is thrilling. Their video for the song is likewise quite good. As we think of our theme of what we should do as we consider Christmas, I would say right away—we should share our wonderful lives with children, not only material gifts, but spiritual as well. A current top 10 will follow them, but this is a beautiful production from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, “Christmas Canon” on our special Christmas MATT.
(double) CHRISTMAS CANON / Trans-Siberian Orchestra
ORDINARY/ Alex Warren
Part 14
Sneaking into our current popular music and quite a good song of meaning. From his album “You’ll Be Alright, Kid”, Alex Warren and his song “Ordinary”. It talks of an “ordinary” love relationship and says that what he has for a friend of his is not part of “the ordinary.” 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 this week, as we consider Christmas, one of the things that we should learn is that God has maintained our masterpiece—God’s world—even though some of us only see the mundane.
Yet another triple play right now giving you two songs of the season first, followed by a top 10 song right now. First to a song of the season and the rock sound of the group Green Day. It’s a love song, really, using Christmas as sort of a backdrop, but a good message when you take it out of the romantic love theme. “She waits and prays,” they begin, “because it’s almost Christmas day. A little faith could always go such a long way. There’s something about the way you spend your Christmas, there’s something about the way you care. A little goes a long way on your Christmas day.” Now, I like a couple of ideas here. One is the fact that a little faith could always go such a long way. Indeed if we have the faith that a Christian should have, it could last into eternal life—that’s a long way. And also the idea that there should be something about the way we spend our Christmas day—with love and care for others. It is exactly our theme today, namely, what we should do as we consider Christmas, and this is Green Day, “Christmas Day”, the first of three, on our special Christmas MATT.
(triple) CHRISTMAS DAY / Green Day
JINGLE BELLS /Barenaked Ladies
DIE WITH A SMILE / Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars
Part 15
The song that spent a whole year in our top 10 songs of meaning every week—quite a record, and quite a song, that was “Die With a Smile”, Lady Gaga, sung together with Bruno Mars from Lady Gaga’s album “Mayhem.”
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 and as we consider the theme of Christmas, the two should spend some time in appreciation to our God for what God did for them.
Before them, we heard another song of the season, and a very different way of singing “Jingle Bells” from Barenaked Ladies. Of course, what would you expect from them?
Before we take you to break, let me begin St. Luke’s Gospel account of the Christmas story.
We’ll continue that inspiring story from Luke’s Gospel a little later. Right now, a Christmas thought leading you to a break from an author by the name of Bill McKibben: “There is no ideal Christmas; only the one Christmas you decide to make as a reflection of your values, desires, affections, and traditions.” That’s pretty good. My name is Fr. Mike Scully, this show is a special MATT, this radio station is Mix 103, and we’ll be right back.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
Part 16
Welcome back to our special Christmas show on MATT on Mix 103. We are taking some of the songs of Christmas and some of the current top 10, mixing them all together, and coming up with an answer to the question of “What Should We Consider at Christmas,” which we took from Bob Seger’s Christmas classic, “Little Drummer Boy.” We are discovering some thoughts from our songs revolving around that idea. I’m Fr. Mike Scully, and it’s great to have you with us on this special edition of MATT.
Our next triple play is a triple play of Christmas songs, beginning with Pat Benatar, continuing with Jimmy Durante of all people, and closing with one of the songs of highest meaning from this year from Lewis Capaldi. We begin it with Pat Benatar who sings: “It’s Christmas in America; there’s carols in the air, the snow falling on the ground, there’s holly everywhere, the people they’re all different too, their troubles put aside, they smile a little brighter, it seems, at Christmas time. It’s Christmas in America.” She closes her song with a great verse: “So keep your babies close tonight, hug your husband, kiss your wife, be thankful for this way of life, we’re fortunate to share and not forget the ones we’ve lost. Their memory lives on in our hearts. They’ll be forever in our thoughts and always in our prayers.” What should we consider at Christmas, our theme today? Well, there it is—that last verse: love the ones you live with, be thankful for what you have. Great words from Pat Benatar here, “Christmas in America” on our special Christmas MATT.
(triple) CHRISTMAS IN AMERICA / Pat Benatar
FROSTY THE SNOWMAN / Jimmy Durante
WISH YOU THE BEST / Lewis Capaldi
Part 17
Lewis Capaldi there and his song “Wish You the Best” from his album “Broken by Desire to be Heavenly Sent” from 2023: “I miss knowing what you’re thinking,” the boyfriend says in the song,” and hearing how your day has been. Do you think you can tell me everything? But leave out every part about him. Right now, you’re probably by the ocean while I’m still out here in the rain. Maybe it’s supposed to be this way. But oh, my love, I wanna say, ‘I miss the green in your eyes’ and when I said we could be friends, guess I lied. I wanna say ‘I wish you never left,’ But instead, I only wish you the best. I wanna say, ‘Without you, everything’s wrong’ and you were everything I need all along. I wanna say ‘I wish that you never left’, but instead, I only wish you the best.” To me it is an unbelievable attitude—he has broken up with her, and it was difficult, of course, but he has accepted it and moved on with very good thinking. It is something that the thought of Christmas would inspire us to do, our theme this Christmas day 2025.
Before him, one of those blasts from the past, as they say, really past—Jimmy Durante and his version of Frosty the Snowman, one of the more common Christmas songs that you hear around this time of year, and from Jimmy Durante, one of the great people who have inhabited our world.
Let’s go to a song that was written with the thought of love of people—all people—in mind. If asked what would Christmas inspire us to do, one of the answers would come from Jackie Miskanic and her story is here. The lady who sings the song gave the reason why she wrote the song. She was watching a young girl for a family and she took her to the store Victoria’s Secret. This is her quote: “Yesterday, I picked her up from the mall, because she was going to her first boy-girl pool party. Her and her friends went bikini shopping at Victoria's Secret. She literally got in the car, hysterically crying to me, because this one little brat said something to her that made me cringe. So, I wrote a song for her, because when I was her age, I had a lot of eating problems, and I wish someone would have said these things to me.” Those things, she sings: “All bodies aren’t the same, photoshop itty-bitty models on magazine covers, told me I was overweight. I stopped eating, what a bummer, can’t have carbs and a hot girl summer. I’d say: I know Victoria’s secret and girl, you wouldn’t believe she’s an old man who lives in Ohio making money off of girls like me, cashing in on body issues, selling skin and bones. She was made up by a dude, Victoria was made up by a dude.” Actually Victoria’s Secret was founded by a man from Connecticut, but that’s not important—she is speaking to girls especially the important message that they don’t have to follow some advertising technique to be loveable in this world. That is a great truth that Jackie Miskanic was sharing with all the young girls who needed to hear it. She is speaking the fact that just because she is alive she can be loved and that is something to be thankful for, our theme today and part of a Christmas thought as well. It is rapidly becoming one of my favorite songs because of its excellent message, a great teaching song from 2022 that was to go on to become number 1 for a number of weeks. It was from Jackie Miskanic better known as Jax of American Idol fame and her song “Victoria’s Secret” from her album “Dear Joe” on MATT.
(triple) VICTORIA’S SECRET / Jax
WHITE CHRISTMAS / Bing Crosby
CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE / Kenny Loggins
Part 18
Kenny Loggins singing his version of a Christmas song of the season called “Christmas Time Is Here” on MATT. “Christmas time is here,” he sings, “happiness and cheer, fun for all, the children call favorite time of year, snowflakes in the air, carols everywhere, olden times and ancient rhymes, love and dreams to share, sleigh bells in the air, beauty everywhere, yuletide by the fireside and joyful memories there.” It is indeed a favorite time of the year, and a joyful one for most of us. I might caution though that people who have lost loved ones earlier this year or who have loved ones very sick right now have an especially tough time with Christmas because of the pain involved. We might remember them in a special way if we know of any people in that category. It is a special way of considering what we should do at Christmas, our theme this Christmas show.
Before him, the universal song of Christmas that everyone recognizes, and everyone recognizes the singer as well, although some of my high school students didn’t, Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas.” The song has a very interesting history. He introduced it to the public on his radio show, the Kraft Music Hall on December 25, 1941. Then he re-recorded it in 1942 with the John Scott Trotter Orchestra for the movie “Holiday Inn.” This recording was used so many times that it had to re-done again in 1947, which is the one that is usually heard. It is a song of peace and yearning for “the ones we used to know,” and was released to a war-torn public during the darkest days of World War II. By the end of the War it had become the biggest-selling single of all time up to that moment. The song remains Bing Crosby’s best selling recording and the best selling Christmas single of all-time. Great piece of music.
Let’s continue Luke’s Christmas story:
Now there were shepherds in that region living in the field and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
And we have come to the end of our third hour together. We have another hour to go during which we will hear more music of the current top 10 along with Christmas songs from Whitney Houston, Jewel, Elton John and Taylor Swift among others. Let me take you to our break with another Christmas thought. This one comes from author Harlan Miller: “Probably the reason we all go so haywire at Christmas time with the endless unrestrained and often silly buying is because we have such a rough time putting our love into words.” Now, that is a quote full of insight. Merry Christmas, everyone, and I hope you stay with us on our special Christmas MATT on Mix 103.
Hi everyone, and welcome back to our special Christmas show of the year 2025. During the past three hours, we have been playing the sounds of the season along with some of the top 10 of today. Our guide during the year, and it continues today, is very simply to enjoy the music, especially this music of Christmas, but to listen to the message. MATT gives you the music and the messages of whatever time we are talking about, and today, of course, we are talking about Christmas. Our theme is “What Should We Consider at Christmas”, that theme having come from one of the classics of Christmas, Bob Seger’s “Little Drummer Boy”, a theme that leads one to say important things at this time of year, like let’s learn to give to everyone we meet the joy of living.
Which leads me to a song that says to seek what you know is right—like happiness at Christmas time. “I used to bite my tongue and hold my breath”, Katy Perry sings here, “scared to rock the boat. So I sat quietly. I stood for nothing, so I fell for everything. Get ready ‘cause I’ve had enough. I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire ‘cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar, louder than a lion. Now I’m floating like a butterfly, stinging like a bee, I earned my stripes, I went from zero to my own hero.” The lady in the song has discovered that she must have a good self-image and it is one of those things she will pursue as she lives her life. This is the number 1 song of meaning of 2013 from Katherine Elizabeth Hudson better known as Katy Perry from her album “Prism”, and her song “Roar” on MATT.
(double) ROAR / Katy Perry
DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR / Whitney Houston
Part 20
One of my top 5 / 10+ category of meaning Christmas songs, that is, songs of the Christmas season with the most meaning, Whitney Houston, “Do You Hear What I Hear?” on MATT. The song is built around three statements: do you hear what I hear, do you know what I know, and listen to what I say, and the refrain is the Christmas story: there is a song high above the trees with a voice as big as the sea that tells of a child who shivers in the cold, deserving to be given silver and gold, and the child sleeping in the night will bring us goodness and light. It is the Christmas story in song again, and as we work with a Christmas theme using the question: what should we consider at Christmas—well, we know that Jesus has given to us—himself as redeemer. Now, we should consider giving back to him—by giving back to him, our lives, our promise to do what he wants us to do. Pretty heavy stuff, but it is the Christmas message.
May I continue with Luke’s Christmas story:
When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.
The story of Christmas. And let’s go into a triple play of Christmas songs right now, beginning with the group N Sync, and a great song about forgiveness. “This is the time of year,” they begin their song, “that we learn to give, and the greatest gift is learning to forgive. We will have the best time that we ever knew if you forgive me and I forgive you. I don’t want to light a fire unless it will warm your heart; I’m playing no holiday songs—I need you to sing your part, and baby if I could have just one wish come true, I don’t wanna spend one more Christmas without you.” A couple things here to think about as you listen. One, he’s asking that both forgive each other—that’s extremely important, and two, it’s a love song, but it contains that concept of forgiveness that is so important for life. One of the things that we should consider at Christmas, our theme today, whether it is Christmas or not, is the forgiveness that we should show others. N Sync here, “I Don’t Wanna Spend One More Christmas Without You”, the first of three Christmas songs, on our special Christmas MATT.
(triple) I DON’T WANNA SPEND ONE MORE CHRISTMAS WITHOUT YOU / N Sync
SNOWFLAKES OF LOVE / Toni Braxton
ANGELS IN THE SNOW / Kenny Loggins
Part 21
“When December comes,” Kenny Loggins began his song there, “then we’ll take the kids to Mama’s. They can make snow angels in the yard like a Christmas card. We’ll decorate the tree, put an angel high above us, like we always do at Christmas.” His song, “Angels in the Snow” on MATT. “On and on it goes,” he continues, “every year new memories to share and for all we know we will all of us be there. I’ll be flying home a thousand times in all my sweetest dreams. I can see the glow in your eyes, as we sit by the fire, like lovers we knew long ago, while we watch our angels in the snow.” It is a warm song of Christmas love, and the point must be made that if this love is going to last, it must be shown throughout the year as well. But, it can especially be considered at Christmas time, our theme today, and exactly what Kenny Loggins sang about.
Before him, Toni Braxton sang “Snowflakes of Love,” another song of Christmas love. “On this day,” she began the song, “snowy day, let me thank you for the joy you’re giving me. I’m so happy. I have snowflakes of love smiling down on me, winter bliss when we kiss, every wish my lips could see.” Christmas love is great to sing about, but I really like that idea of the lady in the song thanking him for the happiness. Wouldn’t that be a great thing if today we would make it a practice to thank the people who have given us the love we experience! In fact, as we think about what we should consider at Christmas time, our theme today, there is no better thing than a sincere and loving “thank you” to the people who have loved you.
And we have played our way to another break this Christmas weekend. It’s a pleasure to be with you during this time; thank you for joining me, and I hope this Christmas time is a wonderful one for you. Our last segment together is directly in front of you, a segment that will play the music of Greg Lake, Jewel, Miley Cyrus, Elton John, Mannheim Steamroller and Stevie Nicks in that order. Taking us to the break is a quote from Ogden Nash. Listen closely to this beautiful statement of / sarcasm: “People can’t concentrate properly on blowing other people to pieces if their minds are poisoned by thoughts suitable to the twenty-fifth of December.” Just a bit cynical, Mr. Nash, but you easily get the point. I’m Fr. Mike Scully, this show is the special Christmas show of MATT, and we’ll be right back.
Part 22
Merry Christmas and happy holidays, everyone, and welcome back to our special Christmas MATT today, as we are in the midst of four hours of music and message principally from the Christmas music of rock artists, but also some Christmas classics, and some current top 10 as well. Our last half-hour together will feature some classic Christmas songs and some pretty good rock artists. I’m Fr. Mike Scully, welcoming you back, and urging you to continue to enjoy the music and listen to the message.
And our final segment together begins with two excellent Christmas songs and then a recent top 10 as we begin this segment with yet another triple play. First to Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake and Palmer fame, and a controversial song because it can easily be interpreted as anti-Christian. “They said there’ll be snow at Christmas,” he begins his song. “They said there’ll be peace on earth, but instead it just kept on raining, a veil of tears for the virgin’s birth. They sold me a dream of Christmas, they sold me a silent night, and they told me a fairy story, ‘till I believed in the Israelite, and I believed in Father Christmas, and I saw him and through his disguise. Hallelujah, noel, be it heaven or hell, the Christmas you get you deserve.” Whoa. I look it as a protest song, a protest against all the commercialism of Christmas, and in the process we miss what Christmas really is. Strong song of reflection here, and fits into our theme this way: we should give to one another as we consider Christmas, but when the giving becomes more important than the feast, we have lost sight of what we are doing. Listen closely—Greg Lake, “I Believe in Father Christmas” on our special Christmas MATT.
(triple) I BELIEVE IN FATHER CHRISTMAS / Greg Lake
OH LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM / Jewel
THE CLIMB / Miley Cyrus
Part 23
Closing off our final triple play, what could easily have been one of my favorite songs of meaning, Miley Cyrus and a song of determination, her greatest song in my humble opinion, from the soundtrack of “Hannah Montana, the movie,” 2009 was the year. Great words here: “I can almost see it.” she sings, “That dream I'm dreaming, But there's a voice inside my head sayin' "You'll never reach it". Every step I'm takin', Every move I make feels lost with no direction. My faith is shakin,' But I, I gotta keep tryin' Gotta keep my head held high. There's always gonna be another mountain, I'm always gonna wanna make it move; Always gonna be an uphill battle; Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose. Ain't about how fast I get there, Ain't about what's waitin' on the other side. It's the climb. The struggles I'm facing, The chances I'm taking sometimes might knock me down; But no, I'm not breaking; I may not know it But these are the moments That I'm gonna remember most, yeah, Just gotta keep goin'.” As we think of Christmas, we think of the determination of Jesus to be our Savior.
Before her, a familiar sound of the season from Jewel, “Oh Little Town of Bethlehem.” During it, a beautiful prayer that we can make our own this Christmas season: “O hold child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray. Cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today.” And if I may get a bit preachy—which after all is my profession—if we allow Jesus to be born within us, our world would be a lot better than it is right now. I’ve said that a couple of times today. Unfortunately too many Christians have not been completely sold on who Jesus is—we have accepted the season, but we really haven’t accepted the person of Jesus and what he stood for. There is no doubt in my mind that if Christians really believed what Jesus said and did, it would be enough to lead the whole world, Christian and non-Christian alike, to better days, and what he said and did is exactly what we should consider at Christmas time, our theme today.
Our final double play begins with a strong beat from Elton John, no less, and his song, “Step Into Christmas.” “Welcome to my Christmas song,” he begins his song here, “I’d like to thank you for the year, so I’m sending you this Christmas card to say it’s nice to have you here. I’d like to sing about all the things your eyes and mind can see, so hop aboard the turntable, oh, step into Christmas with me.” The tie into our theme? Stepping into Christmas is an attitude, and that attitude spells one of love and joy and peace, all virtues that we should consider in one form or another at Christmas. Originally released in 1973, this is Sir Elton John, the upbeat sound of “Step into Christmas” on the special Christmas MATT.
(double) STEP INTO CHRISTMAS / Elton John
ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH / Mannheim Steamroller
Part 24
The rock sound that has wowed our world the last few Christmases with their music, and I really like their sound, Mannheim Steamroller, and their rendition of “Angels We Have Heard On High” on MATT. Of course, they had no words, but we know what the words are. The angels sing: “Gloria in excelsis Deo”, that is, glory be given to God on high for coming to us and living our lives in such a way that he—God with us—could both teach us how to live and make it possible for us to have eternal life with him. Our theme today is the question of what should we consider at Christmas, and if we try to imitate Jesus Christ who gave so much to us, our lives would be so much better than they would be without that faith. I really believe that. Of course, you would expect a Christian minister to say that. But I really mean it.
It is only fitting that we close our special Christmas time together with THE Christmas hymn as far as I am concerned. The origin of this beautiful hymn was a poem that was written in 1816 by an Austrian Catholic priest by the name of Joseph Mohr. On Christmas Eve in 1818 in the small alpine village called Oberndorf, according to the legend, the organ at St. Nicholas Church had broken for some reason. Fr. Joseph Mohr gave the poem to his friend Franz Xavier Gruber and the melody for Silent Night was composed with this in mind. The music to Silent Night was therefore intended for a guitar and the simple score was finished in time for Midnight Mass on December 25, 1818. My commentary on the song is only a re-statement of its words: our Christmas night is a silent and holy night where all is calm and bright because on that night is born a holy infant tender and mild, sleeping now in a heavenly peace in the arms of his virgin mother. Shepherds awake to the sound of angels who tell them that Christ the Savior is born. Indeed, our Savior is present, the Son of God, love’s pure light. Radiant beams come from his holy face with the redeeming grace that he gives us at his birth. Jesus is the way to lead a better life, and again if we imitate him, we will have learned the message of Christmas and what we should do for each other.
My thanks to the producers, especially Mr. Dustin Armbruster and Mr. Jeff Leiker, and to the sponsors of our show, especially to TMP-Marian High School in Hays, Holy Family Elementary 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, or e-mail me at frmikescully@yahoo.com. My website is www.frmikescully.com where you will find a transcript of today’s Christmas show. Thank you for joining us for this special show. By the way, our show on Sunday, December 28 will feature the top 20 songs of meaning of the year 2025. I hope you join us and I hope your Christmas is a blessed one and that the Christ Child will be part of your life as you celebrate. The traditional Christmas song is up next to close our show, the most famous Christmas carol of all time, here sung by Stevie Nicks. As you listen, may I remind you to hold a good thought. My name is Fr. Mike Scully. Merry Christmas, everyone, peace to you, and be good!
SILENT NIGHT / Stevie Nicks
December 21, 2025
‘WORKING WITH FEELINGS”
Part 1
Hello, Central Kansas and around the world; thank you for joining us this morning, this third Sunday of December and first Sunday of the winter month of December, winter beginning today. I hope your Christmas shopping is well on its way to completion, and that you are ready to celebrate the birthday of Jesus. Welcome to MATT on today’s best music, Mix 103. It’s great to have you with us today as we discover exactly what the attitudes and meanings of popular music are all about. I’m Fr. Mike, your host for MATT and it’s my pleasure to work with some great songs and great messages—that being what we are all about: songs and messages. We take the top 10 popular songs of today and yesterday, study them a little bit, and come up with a message that can help us live better. Today, we’ll spend our usual time with the top 10, and we will center our thinking on workings with our feelings and emotions today.
And the reason for that is our lead song. It is new to the top 10 coming from three top artists. One of the people who write about these songs says that the song itself explores the intensity and volatility of a passionate relationship. “We were fire,” they sing, “impossible to tame like oil in the ocean, no way to put out the flame. We were just runnin, eyes closed in the dark, headed for a wall, full speeed, oh, it’s about to leave a mark. I only want you when you’re gone, playing like we’re done. I love your game, drive me insane.” That is, the feelings of an intense relationship are not easy to study or understand because they are too mixed up. What is necessary is that we work with those feelings so that we have an idea of what they mean to the person so that good decisions can be made.
So, that will be our goal today—we’ll study the feelings and emotions of the songs so as to tell about their relationships and what we can learn from them. The three artists who perform the song are David Guetta, Teddy Swims and Tones and I, at number 5 on our playlist, “Gone, Gone, Gone” on MATT.
(double) 5 GONE, GONE, GONE / David Guetta, Teddy Swims, Tones & I
GONE, GONE, GONE / Phillip Phillips
Part 2
There are a couple of songs by various artists named “Gone, Gone, Gone” on our playlist—that was another one by American Idol Phillip Phillips from his album “The World from the Side of the Moon,” on MATT from the year 2013. It is a song of true commitment to another, certainly one of the things that we must learn about love. “When life leaves you high and dry,” he begins, “I’ll be at your door tonight. If you need help, I’ll shut down the city lights. I’ll lie, cheat, I’ll beg and bribe to make you well. Give me reasons to believe that you would do the same for me. And I would do it for you. I’m not moving on. I love you long after you’re gone, gone, gone. You’ve always done the same for me. Like a drum, don’t stop beating.” It is indeed true commitment even though the other in the relationship is gone. It is a commitment that must be made carefully. Such a commitment cannot be made too early in the relationship, and when it is said, it must mean that the two have said the word “forever” in their lives. For such a relationship to work, both have to make and mean it so that the other will not be gone, gone, gone.
Let’s begin our triple plays today, and we do so with some music from Taylor Swift. Perhaps her own explanation is necessary first. She says that she has always loved opals. Opal is also Travis Kelce’s birthstone, Travis being Taylor’s fiance. Swift took inspiration from the facts connected with opals, saying that opalite is a metaphor for the idea that happiness can be created voluntarily. Opal is also believed to symbolically represent hope, healing and positive energy. She described the song as a song about forgiving yourself for having gone through something that didn’t pan out the way you wanted it to and giving yourself peermission to have it all figured out or not marry the first person you ever dated. So she sings: “Life is a song, it ends when it ends; I was wrong, but alright, you were dancing though the lightning strikes, but now the sky is opalite.” Tough to understand, but ultimately it means that things will work out eventually. In terms of our theme, things will work out if the couple are willing to work at it. This is Ms. Taylor Swift for the first time today, two in the top 10—popular lady—a song of hope, from her number 1 album right now, “The Life of a Showgirl,” number 10 on our charts, “Opalite” on MATT.
(triple) 10 OPALITE / Taylor Swift
DYNAMITE / BTS
I HOPE / Gabby Barrett & Charlie Puth
Part 3
Our playlist today will give you the top 7 songs of our December 21st show 5 years ago, and that was number 6 that day. MATT presenting Gabby Barrett and Charlie Puth and their song “I Hope” from Gabby Barrett’s album “Goldmine” on the country charts, but this song is on MATT. It is a song of revenge. The song is the scenario of a lady who knows that her boyfriend has cheated on her, and she is out to get him as he is choosing to be with another girl. “I hope she makes you smile the way it made me smile on the other end of a phone in the middle of a highway driving alone. I hope you hear a song that makes you sing along and gets you thinking ‘bout her. I hope she comes along and wrecks every one of your plans. And then I hope she cheats like you did on me.” As I say, it is a statement of revenge. Revenge is never a way to make one’s life better, and I might go so far as to say that if you are a person who gets into revenge, you may be a person who will never feel, our theme today, real love. Do you agree with that? Strong statement.
Before them, we heard from the Korean group BTS at number 7 on December 21, 2020. 2It is the story in song of enjoying life. ‘Cause I’m in the stars tonight,” they begin the song, “So watch me bring the fire and set the night alight. Shoes on, get up in the morn, cup of milk, let’s rock and roll. This is getting heavy; can you hear the bass boom. I’m ready. Life is sweet as honey. Hey, let’s go, shining through the city with a little funk and soul, so I’ma light it up like dynamite.” And he came to celebrate, to have a good time, and that’s great, as long as we don’t hurt ourselves or others in the process. In terms of our theme, people who like to celebrate and have a good time usually have strong feelings, our theme today, and sometimes they must be controlled more than it is.
Important things being said here this morning as we work with the theme of thinking about our feelings and emotions. We will continue with that thought generated by the song “Gone, Gone, Gone” from David Guetta, Teddy Swims and Tones and I in just a minute. Another thought here, this one from comedian Dave Berry: “The problem with winter sports is that they generally take place in winter.” I’d say he had some problems with this season. I’m Fr. Mike for “Message at the Top” on Mix 103. Why not stay right where you are as you enjoy life with us on this December Sunday morning. We’ll be right back.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
Every song has a message and most of the time that message can help us be better people. Such is our belief on this show. And we are back for another segment of “Message at the Top” which gives you the top 10 popular songs of our area that have been most popular during the week which ends today, the Sunday before Christmas 2025. I’m your host, Fr. Mike. Thank you for joining us again this morning. Get ready during this segment for songs from people like Dua Lipa and Olivia Dean. They will all fit into our theme that deals with the fact of working with our different feelings and emotions.
This double play begins with a song that is at number 8 on our playlist right now. It a song that says when we fall in love with someone who is a better person that we are, it is good for us. The man in the relationship was not a very good person before he met her. “Love was a game I played,” he begins his song, and he went off the deep end because of too much drinking, but then he met his girlfriend like an angel waiting. “I didn’t know you’d have brown eyes, like to pray to Jesus, spending Friday nights at home. Didn’t know you’d be the strong kind, deeper than a coal mine lovin’ with a heart of gold. You’re everything that I’m not, everything that I want. There’s a God and you’re proof in those brown eyes. I know that I got to find a better me for you.” And the presumption is that he changes for the better. In terms of our theme this week, in order to change for the better they both had to work on their feelings and emotions. This is Max McNown from his album “Night Diving”, number 8 on our playlist and “Better Me For You” on MATT .
(double) 8 BETTER ME FOR YOU / Max McNown
MOOD / 24KGolden f/ Iann Dior
Part 5
That was American rapper singer songwriter Golden Landis Von Jones better known as 24KGoldn featuring Puerto Rican rapper Michael Ian Olmo better known as Iann Dior and their song “Mood” at number 5 on MATT 5 years ago today. It is a song as the title suggests about moodiness. “Why you always in a mood?” the man in the relationship begins the song, “foolin around, actin brand new. I ain’t tryna tell you what to do, but try to play it cool. I ain’t playin by your rules: everything look better with a view. I could never get attached. When I start to feel, I unattach, somehow I always end up feeling bad. I’m not your dad. I just want your company. We play games of love to avoid the depression. We been here before and I won’t be your victim.” I cleaned up the language a little. Moodiness has destroyed the fact that he should feel good around her, and moodiness will almost always destroy good feelings, our theme today, in life.
Another triple play is in store for us as we close off our first hour together this last Sunday before Christmas. That triple begins with our current number 6 song on our playlist. It was our theme last week when we spoke about communication. The whole song is the statement of what I call the virtue which is most needed in any love relationship or any relationship really, namely, communication. “Talk to me,” she begins her song, “looks like we’re making up for lost time; need you to spell it out for me. Don’t be shy, just come be the man I need. Tell me you got something to give. I want it. I kinda like when you call me wonderful, whatever the type of talk it is. Come on then, I gotta know you’re meant to be the man I need. Talk to me. I’d like to think you feel the same way, but I can’t tell with you sometimes. So, let’s get on the same page. Stop making me read between the lines.” So, communication and she gives the reason why. In terms of our theme this week, the only way to work with strong feelings and emotions is to talk them out. This is British singer/songwriter Olivia Lauryn Dean or simply Olivia Dean from her album “The Art of Loving,” and her song “Man I Need” number 6 this week on MATT.
(triple) 6 MAN I NEED / Olivia Dean
LEVITATING/ Dua Lipa
9 DAISIES / Justin Bieber
Part 6
A song that speaks of the makeup of a permanent commitment again from his latest album “Swag”, number 9 this morning, and “Daisies”, Canadian singer/songwriter Justin Bieber on MATT. “’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, 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, questions which the emotions of the moment, our theme today, only make more difficult and there must be days of re-commitment, and important words said in the process.
Before him, we heard from Ms Dua Lipa and a song about strong feelings for another, in fact, feeling like she is floating or levitating in his presence. It came from Dua lipa’s number 4 song on the Sunday before Christmas 2020, “Levitating” from her album “Future Nostalgia.” “If you wanna run away with me,” she sings, “I know a galaxy and I can take you for a ride. I had a premonition that we fell into a rhythm where the music don’t stop for life, glitter in the sky, glitter in my eyes, shining just the way I like. If you’re feeling like you need a little bit of company, you met me at the perfect time. You want me, I want you, I’m levitating, the milky way, we’re renegading.” As I say, strong feelings for another, and it is obvious at that time anyway, that she means to keep those feelings active, our theme today. But she must be careful because feelings tend to change quickly.
Interesting things being said here this morning as we work with the theme of thinking about strong feelings and what to do about them. We will continue with that thought in just a few moments. Another thought here, this one from Fred Allen: “I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.” Yes indeed. I’m Fr. Mike for “Message at the Top” on Mix 103. Why not stay right where you are as you enjoy life with us on this December Sunday morning. We’ll be right back.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
Every song has a message and most of the time that message can help us be better people. Such is our belief on this show. We are back for the second hour of “Message at the Top” on Mix 103 which gives you the top 10 popular songs of our area for the reporting date of today, December 21, 2025. I’m your host, Fr. Mike. Thank you for joining us again this morning. Get ready during this segment for songs from people like Ava Max and sombr. They will all fit into our theme that deals with strong feelings and how to act with them.
Let’s begin our second hour together this morning with Justin Beiber again. In his song here, he makes a personal statement from a man to his wife. As he said in Vogue magazine, “I wanted to rededicate myself to God ... because I really felt it was better for the condition of my soul. And I believe that God blessed me with Hailey (that is Hailey Baldwin his wife) as a result." “I hear a lot about sinners;” Justin Bieber begins his song, “Don’t think that I’ll be a saint, but I might go down to the river ‘cause the way that the sky opens up when we touch. It’s making me say that the way you hold me, feels so holy, can’t wait another second ‘cause the way you hold me feels so holy.” The man in the relationship feels holy because he was blessed by God to have met his wife. A man this much in love is looking at the world in a positive way, and he will allow his world to be guided by his feeling of love, our theme today. This is Justin Bieber along with Chancelor Jonathan Bennett better known as American rapper Chance the Rapper and their song “Holy”, number 3 on MATT exactly 5 years ago today from 2020 from Justin Bieber’s album “Justice” on MATT.
(triple) HOLY/ Justin Bieber
BANG! / AJR
7 BACK TO FRIENDS / sombr
Part 8
Shane Michael Boose there, better known as sombr and his song “Back to Friends” from his album “I Barely Know Her,” number 7 in our playlist on MATT. 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?” It seems as though the lady in the relationship 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. In terms of our theme, probably the high emotions of physical togetherness have taken over their lives, and they both must face them.
Before him, we heard the song at number 2 this date 5 years ago, from the trio AJR named after the group’s first names Adam, Jack and Ryan Metzger, and their song is called “Bang!” It is a song about a time in people’s lives. According to the singers, they wrote the song about the weird middle ground between being a kid and becoming an adult; a time when we're doing all the things adults are supposed to do, but we don't yet feel grown up. The fact is, adulthood is bound to hit us at some point, so the plan we made in the song is to 'go out with a bang.'" So, a song about the age just before adulthood. “I get up, I get down and I'm jumpin' around” they sing. “And the rumpus and ruckus are comfortable now. Been a heck of a ride but I'm thinkin' it's time to grow (bang! bang! bang!) So I got an apartment across from the park, put quinoa in my fridge, still I'm not feelin' grown. Been a heck of a ride but I'm thinkin' it's time to go (bang! bang! bang!) (here we go)”. I cleaned up the expletive. As young people grow into maturity, they must learn to control and use the strong feelings connected with that growth, our theme today.
At number 4 right now is a song that occupied our number 1 spot for a record number of times, and takes off on the word “ordinary”. It talks of an “ordinary” love relationship and says that what he has for a friend of his is not part of “the ordinary.” 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 this week, if they achieve that outcome, they will have done some very sincere communication and faced the strong emotions of love, our theme today. It comes from his album “You’ll Be Alright, Kid” from Alex Warren and his song “Ordinary”, number 4 on MATT.
Part 9
The song featured on my website for today, December 21st, that is www.frmikescully.com. It is from their album named after them, that was the Lumineers, a group who was formed in the year 2005, and are now based out of Denver, and their song “Ho Hey” from the songs of meaning of 2013 on MATT. Using the catch words “Ho” and “Hey” throughout the song, the song, the group tells a story of a person who is looking for love. "I’ve been trying to do it right," they sing, "I’ve been living a lonely life. So show me family, all the blood that I would bleed. I don’t know where I belong, I don’t know where I went wrong, but I can write a song. I belong to you.” In terms of our theme, if he really does belong to her, there will be a lot of good feelings that both of them will have to work with, our theme today.
Before them, we heard the number 1 song on December 21st, 2020 from Ava Koci better known as Ava Max and it could well be an anthem on behalf of feminism, and her song “Kings and Queens” from her album “Heaven and Hell”. “If all of the kings had their queens on the throne, we would pop champagne and raise a toast to all the queens who are fighting alone. You’re not dancin’ on your own. Can’t live without me, you wanna, but you can’t. Think it’s funny, but honey, can’t run this show on your own. I’ll show you how a real queen behaves. No damsel in distress, don’t need to save me. Once I start breathin’ fire, you can’t tame me. Disobey me, then, it’s off with your head, gonna change it and make it a world you won’t forget.” It is a dancing song to be sure, but it’s all about the importance of women. And any time people discuss strong women, there will be different feelings no doubt in the group discussing them. And the group will have to work with them, our theme today.
We are talking about that, namely “working with feelings”, that thought having come from David Guetta and friends and their song “Gone, Gone, Gone”. We have another half hour to go yet as we listen to some more music and messages. A thought to take us out of this segment: it comes from Erma Bombeck: “Never go to a doctor whose office plants have died.” Think about that. Don’t go way—we’ll be right back with MATT on Mix 103.
Part 10
You, my friends, are in tune with “Message at the Top,” your top 10 show on today’s best music Mix 103. Welcome back to the songs that have been most popular in this area during this week which ends today, the third Sunday in December 2025. Our show takes the top 10 from today and yesterday and studies their messages, and then, we call our show MATT. I’m your host Fr. Mike. It’s great to have you here. We have taken our theme from David Guetta and friends and their song “Gone, Gone, Gone.” and our theme is “working with feelings.”
We have three birthday greetings this week that will be good to recall. Chris Daughtry will be 46 years old on Friday. His is a love song asking for forgiveness for a past action: “Ten miles from town,” he began his song, “and I just broke down; I’m out here alone just trying to get home to tell you I was wrong but you already know. Believe me, I won’t stop at nothin’ to see you, so I’ve started runnin’. All that I’m after is a life full of laughter as long as I’m laughing with you. I’m thinking that all that still matters is love ever after / after the life we’ve been through, ‘cause I know there’s no life after you.” The person in the song has made a mistake, and now he’s paying the price. One of the feelings in life that must be worked with, our theme today, is to learn how important the granting of and giving of / forgiveness is in the way we go about those lives. This is Chris Daughtry and band from 2010 from their album “Leave This Town” and their song “Life after You” on MATT.
(tri ple) LIFE AFTER YOU / Daughtry
NO AIR / Jordan Sparks and Chris Brown
NO / Meghan Trainor
Part 11
Meghan Elizabeth Trainor will be 32 years old tomorrow and we celebrated with her song “No” on MATT. Her song is a song about how not to get into a relationship. You do it by saying “no.” It comes from her album “Thank You”, and very simply its title “No” on MATT. “I think it's so cute and I think it's so sweet,” she sings, “how you let your friends encourage you to try and talk to me. But let me stop you there before you speak. My name is no; my sign is no; my number is no. You need to let it go.” Then she goes into a little teaching, saying “All my ladies, listen up. If that boy ain't giving up, girls all you gotta say is no.” It’s really not bad advice—our relationships and feelings get all messed up at times, and maybe a way to start fixing them up is to start with ‘No’ and then working with what happens. Do you agree with that?
Before her, we wished happy birthday to Jordin Sparks. That is, we wished happy birthday to the lady in the duo, Ms. Jordin Sparks will be 36 years old tomorrow She was singing with Chris Brown and their song “No Air” from 2008 from the album “Jordin Sparks.” The song begins with its theme: “Tell me how I’m supposed to breathe with no air.” Then they continue: “If I should die before I wake, it’s ‘cause you took my breath away. Losing you is like living in a world with no air. How do you expect me to live alone with just me, ‘cause my world revolved around you. It’s so hard for me to breathe. Tell me how I’m supposed to breathe with no air; can’t live. That’s how I feel whenever you ain’t there.” Not very good English, but rather straightforward thought—for some reason, the two broke up, and it feels like they’re dying because there is no air. A very good description of pain. We simply have to work with the pain, and move on in life—which is not the case there: it’s only bad news, what I call a tough song. One of the reasons why I call it a tough song is that too easily pain can lead to revenge, and things really turn badly then. The remedy is to handle the pain as best you can in the first place. And then work with what happens, our theme today.
Which brings us to the top three songs this Sunday before Christmas. At number 3, a song about the strong feelings of a love that the man in the relationship had at the moment of the song, our theme today. “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 because they seem to be able to talk. It is from Ed Sheeran’s album “Play,” his song “Camera” at number 3 this morning on MATT.
(double) 3 CAMERA / Ed Sheeran
2 THE FATE OF OPHELIA / Taylor Swift
Part 12
Falling one place after spending six weeks in a row at number 1 is from Taylor Swift again and the first song from her new album “The Life of a Showgirl,” 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 famous 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, it is exactly what is supposed to happen if there is a deep love of each other, and both will be willing to talk to one another about it and eventually work out the deep feelings of love between them, our theme today.
And the new number 1 song is “Golden” from the Korean movie and music of Huntr/X. It 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, it sounds like a song of determination to do the right thing, and in terms of our theme, if we are determined to do the right thing, we will spend some time together working things out, our theme today.
That theme was taken from the song “Gone, gone, gone” from David Guetta, Teddy Swims and Tones and I. My prayer for you and me is that we will be able face those moments of high emotion in our lives in such a way as to learn from them. My thanks to our producers and sponsors, especially our sponsors at Hays Car and Truck Alignment, Holy Family Elementary School in Hays, and Thomas More Prep-Marian Junior and Senior High School in Hays. If you want to contact me by mail, I hope you do so at KJLS radio, Hays, KS, 67601 or my e-mail address is frmikescully@yahoo.com. My website is www.frmikescully.com where you will find some meditations on some Gospels, these songs and some great movies and a transcript of this show. If you want to join us on the web, go to www.hayspost.com and click on Mix 103 at 10am Sunday morning. Also, tune in Christmas day for our special Chritmas show. A final thought from author Joshua Millburn: “The things that truly bring us joy are rarely things.” As we close with our number 1 song, “Golden” from Huntr/X may I remind you that you are listening to today’s best music Mix 103, and among the other things that we have said today, our advice is to hold a good thought. My name is Fr. Mike Scully. I’ll see you on Christmas day should you so desire. Be safe, peace to you, and be good.
1 GOLDEN / Huntr/X