www.frmikescully.com

Part 1
            Hello, Central Kansas and around the world; thank you for joining us this morning, this second Sunday in September, 2020, and getting close to the season of Fall which begins later this month. 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 rock music are all about. I’m Fr. Mike Scully, 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 rock songs of today and yesterday, study them a little bit, and come up with a message that can help us live better.
            We missed saying happy birthday to Alicia Beth Moore Hart last Tuesday. Her stage name is of course Pink and she turned 41 years old last week. So let’s wish happy birthday with two of her songs to start us off, and the first one speaks of “Hitting rock bottom”. I discovered from the internet that the expression comes from mining, and refers to the layer of rock that is reached once the supply of minerals being taken from the mine has been used up. And then applied to our idiom life, it comes to this definition: “the culmination of a descent to a place where a person has nothing left to lose in terms of possessions, status, wealth and perhaps even shelter, food and warmth as a result of self-destructive behavior. Alcohol and drug abuse are often contributing factors. Therefore it becomes the definition of any lowest point in life events, e.g. morale, depression, etc., not necessarily self-inflicted.”
            I say all of that because of Pink’s song “Beautiful Trauma”. She sings, “It’s like we burn so bright we burn out, I made you chase me. My love, my drug, we’re messed up, ‘cause we’ve been on the run so long they can’t find us. Who’s gonna have to die to remind us that it feels like we chose this blindly. These tough times they keep coming. After we were high, it was you, the pill I keep taking, the nightmare I wake in, there’s nothing but you, my perfect rock bottom, my beautiful trauma.” It seems that she is saying that the man in the relationship is very much like a drug that makes her feel tremendously good, but then is let down hard, the perfect rock bottom.
            It is a song about trying to find love. She and her friend are searching for love, and as she tries to achieve it with him, he is leading her over very rough times, comparing him to a drug.
            The man in the relationship has caused her to hit rock bottom, and she must make her efforts now to move on in her life. Let’s think about that idea of moving on this morning, and talk about what one does after hitting rock bottom. Many thoughts can come from that. Here, she has to pick up the pieces of her life, and get away from him.
            But there are other answers and we’ll see what the songs suggest today. To start us off, MATT presenting from Pink from the album, “Beautiful Trauma’; this is the lead song from it, “Beautiful Trauma” on MATT.
(double)    BEAUTIFUL TRAUMA / Pink
                               BLOW ME (ONE LAST KISS) / Pink

Part 2
            Double Pink, wishing her happy birthday last week. That one was from her album “The Truth About Love”, and her song “Blow Me (One Last Kiss)” from 2012. It is a song about a breakup, and the lady in the relationship is angry about it. “I think I’ve finally had enough,” she sings, “I think maybe I think too much. I think this might be it for us—blow me one last kiss—you think I’m just too serious, I think I’m not. My head is spinning so—blow me one last kiss.” She sings about having a really tough day, saying that she has had enough of this, and that her boyfriend will pay for all the lies. She is thinking of revenge, and it is no way to get us off of rock bottom, our theme today. In fact, it will keep us there.
            Let’s dive right into our top 10 and give you the song at number 8 which is a song about the end of the world, and the couple is thinking about their love and how they had it at one time and now do not. But they are saying that if the world was ending, they would be together. “I was distracted and in traffic. I didn’t feel it when the earthquake happened, but it really got me thinkin’. It’s been a year now, think I’ve figured out how to let you go and let communication die out. I know you know we know you weren’t down forever and it’s fine. I know you know we know we weren’t meant for each other and it’s fine. But if the world was ending, you’d come over, right?” Their love relationship really has not ended, and in terms of our theme, knowing that their love is always there just might keep them from hitting rock bottom. It is at number 8 from JP Saxe and featuring Julia Michaels, from JP Saxe’s album “Hold it Together,” and the song “If the World Was Ending” on MATT.
(triple)       8 IF THE WORLD WAS ENDING / JP Saxe f/ Julia Michaels
                               BEAUTIFUL / Christina Aguilera
                               BEAUTIFUL / Mariah Carey f/ Miguel

Part 3
            All of our extra songs on our show today have the word “beautiful” in their title, and therefore we are calling our show the Beautiful MATT this morning. That last one was from Mariah Carey singing along with American rapper Miguel, whose real name is Miguel Jontel Pimentel, and their song from her album “American Idol”, “#Beautiful” from 2013. It is a love song basically extolling the beauty of a young lady. “Hop on the back of my bike,” the man in the relationship sings, “Let the good wind blow through your hair. Ride on through the middle of the night, let the moonlight kiss your skin. You’re beautiful, and your mind is beautiful. And I can’t pretend that that doesn’t mean a thing to me. I like when you run red lights, don’t stop ‘til you thrill me. Take me anywhere ‘cause it’s beautiful.” Strong emotions caused by the feelings of the people involved. One probably must have these beautiful feelings after he/she hits rock bottom, our theme today, but we have to watch that we do more than simply want good feelings in life.
            Before her, another song that simply has “Beautiful” as its title this one from 2003, and Christina Aguilera. “Every day is so wonderful, then suddenly, it’s hard to breathe,” she sings. “Now and then I get insecure, from all the pain, I’m so ashamed. I am beautiful no matter what they say. Words can’t bring me down. I am beautiful in every single way. Yes, words can’t bring me down, so don’t you bring me down today.” The problem is that words can bring us down, and often do. I think that this is a high song of meaning because it implies that words should not bring us down, and indeed they should not—because we are all beautiful in our own way. A person that lets words get him/her down can easily hit rock bottom, our theme today, and the way out of it is to realize that we are beautiful people no matter what. Because we are, really!
            Important things being said there—not because I said them, but because we all need to understand them in order to understand life and its beauty a little more. We’re talking about the best in rock music for the past 40 years on our show that we call MATT. We are exploring the thoughts that songs offer to us, and we are finding that they are pretty good thoughts to learn from. Today, we’re studying the idea of hitting rock bottom and how to get up from it. Get ready for beautiful music from U2 and the group The Last Goodnight during our next segment. Leading us to break, let me quote my quotebook: “If you think you are the smartest person in the room, you are in the wrong room.” Yea indeed. You’ve got MATT on your dial today, this 13^th day of September, 2020. I’m your host Fr. Mike, and this is your invitation to stay right where you are.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
Part 4
            We continue with MATT. Welcome back to the only show of its kind in these parts. We take the attitudes of the songs we play here on Mix 103, and we look at their meanings in the hopes that you and I can learn to live better. I’m Fr. Mike, your host, and it is great to have you with us again today. Our theme came from birthday person last week Pink and her song “Beautiful Trauma” and we are thinking of what to do when we hit rock bottom.
            In our top 10 right now, we have a song about good human behavior. “All I hear were the words I needed to say. When you hurt under the surface like troubled water running cold, well, time can heal but this won’t. So, before you go, was there something I could have said to make your heart beat better? If only I’d had known you had a storm to weather. So before you go, was there something I could have said to make it all stop hurting.” That is a very good attitude I believe. He is trying to figure out how he hurt her, hopefully so he wouldn’t do it again in another relationship. It is a perfect way to behave and in terms of our theme, a person thinking this way would probably not be hitting rock bottom because when you hit rock bottom, the chances are that you won’t be doing anything this self-reflective.         MATT presenting from his album “Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent” Mr. Lewis Capaldi, “Before You Go” at number 3 this week on MATT.
(double)    3 BEFORE YOU GO / Lewis Capaldi
                               STAY BEAUTIFUL / The Last Goodnight

Part 5
            MATT presenting a song from 2008 from the group The Last Goodnight, and their song “Stay Beautiful”, another one of our top 10 “Beautiful” songs. It is a song of love, asking the other in the relationship to continue to be part of it. “Don’t stop, don’t change, stay beautiful,” they sing, “one life, today, you’re irresistible, get up, get out, stay wonderful. All this time is waiting for you. I will run to you; I will come to you.” It is a love song, urging the one loved to stay the way she is. In terms of our theme today, we must continually realize that every one of us is beautiful in our own way, because at some time we will be pretty down, almost hitting rock bottom, our theme today, and we will come out of it very quickly if we remember that we are all beautiful in our own way. We’ll say that a couple times to day.
            Back to our top 10 we go, and we think of what we should do when we hit rock bottom using the thoughts of number 2. It spent three weeks at number 1 and is a song about the lady in the relationship who wants a breakup but is quick to give in when he calls. “I’ve always been the one to say the first goodbye,” she sings, “Had to love and lost a hundred million times, had to get it wrong to know just what I like. Now, I’m falling. Centre of attention, you know you can get whatever you want from me whenever. I’m afraid of all the things it could do to me if I woulda known it. I would’ve stayed at home ‘cause I was doing better alone. But when you said, ‘Hello’ I knew that was the end of it all. I should’ve stayed at home ‘cause now there ain’t no letting you go. Am I falling in love with the one that could break my heart?” In terms of our theme, she may be very close to hitting rock bottom if that person would break her heart. At number 2 is Ms. Dua Lipa, from her album “Future Nostalgia” and her song “Break My Heart” on MATT.
(triple)     2 BREAK MY HEART / Dua Lipa
                               BEAUTIFUL DAY / U2
                               7 RAIN ON ME / Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande

Part 6
            A song about tears that the lady in the relationship is shedding because of a lost relationship. From her album “Chromatica”, Lady Gaga along with Ariana Grande, and “Rain on Me” number 7 this week on MATT. “I didn’t ask for a free ride,” they sing, “I only asked you to show me a real good time. I never asked for the rainfall; you showed me nothing at all. It’s coming down on me, water like misery. I’d rather be dry, but at least I’m alive. Living in a world where no one’s innocent. Oh, but at least we try. Gotta live my truth, not keep it bottled in so I don’t lose my mind. Rain on me.” The lady of the relationship is feeling very badly, but she seems to be ready to try to make the relationship work—“at least we try” they sing. In terms of our theme, a person who is really trying will probably get out of rock bottom if he/she is there.
            Before them, MATT presented the inspiring group U2, a song from 2001, and their song, “Beautiful Day” from their “All That You Can’t Believe” album. They sing of a beautiful day, but it may not be so beautiful as they sing. “You’re on the road, but you’ve got no destination, You’re in the mud, in the maze of her imagination. You love this town, even if that doesn’t ring true. You’ve been all over, and it’s been all over you. It’s a beautiful day, don’t let it get away.” The person in the song just may be letting it get away because things just don’t seem to be working out the way he would like them to. “Touch me, take me to that other place, teach me” they sing. But it is not a song of despair. You get the feeling that things will work out even though the person is close to rock bottom, our theme; things will work out because he wants them to.
            We are looking at the top 10 of this week together with some top 10’s of the 2000’s, 90’s and 80’s, and we have taken our lead from birthday person last week, Pink, and her song “Beautiful Trauma,” and we are speaking about the things that we can do when we hit rock bottom. During this next segment, we will hear music from 1 group, 1 duo and 4 single artists. A quote from Mr. Socrates, from a long time ago, and still great advice “The greatest way to live with honor in this world is to be what we pretend to be.” A superb thought, and if we live with honor, we will be able to rise from the ashes of rock bottom. We look forward to your joining us after the break. I’m Fr. Mike, your dial is set at Mix 103, and I hope you keep it right where it is.
COMMERCIAL BREAK

Part 7
            Thank you for joining us this morning—it’s great to have you here. We are back for “Message at the Top” and we do welcome you to the top 10 songs of our area as determined by our research and your requests. We call our show MATT because we take those top 10 songs and analyze their meaning in light of the messages of human living. I am Fr. Mike, your host for the top 10 show of Mix 103, “Message at the Top.” Our theme this morning came from Pink’s song “Beautiful Trauma” and that theme is “What to do after you hit rock bottom.”
            Let’s begin our second hour together with the song at number 6 right now and a song about 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. And when Charlie Puth joins her, the pronouns change, but the same basic message: “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.” Revenge is never a way to make one’s life better and it is something that could lead one to hit rock bottom, our theme today. This is “I Hope” at number 6 from Gabby Barrett’s album “Goldmine” on the country charts. Gabby Barrett and Charlie Puth are the artists on MATT.
(triple)       6 I HOPE / Gabby Barrett f/ Charlie Puth
                   WHAT MAKES YOU BEAUTIFUL / One Direction
                               10 CARDIGAN / Taylor Swift

Part 8
            A song whose meaning according to its singer Taylor Swift is about a lost romance and why young love is often fixed so permanently within our memories, and why it leaves such an indelible mark. The name of the song “Cardigan” on MATT at number 10, new to our top 10 this week. “When you are young, they assume you know nothing, but I knew you dancing in your Levi’s, and when I felt like I was an old cardigan under someone’s bed, you put me on and said I was your favorite. I knew you playing hide and seek and giving me your weekends. I knew you’d linger like a tattoo kiss. I knew you’d haunt all my what-ifs ‘cause I knew everything when I was young. I knew I’d curse you for the longest time. I knew you’d miss me once the thrill expired and you’d be standing on my front porch light and I knew you’d come back to me.” According to Taylor Swift, it was only a beginning romance, and when it is over, it can cause one to hit rock bottom, our theme today, early in one’s love life.
            Before her, we heard from the group One Direction from their first album “Up All Night” and their song about personal beauty from 2011, “What Makes You Beautiful”. It another statement of the Beautiful MATT today with a song about the beauty of a girlfriend. “You’re insecure,” they sing, “Don’t know what for, you’re turning heads when you walk through the door, don’t need make-up to cover up. Being the way that you are is enough. You light up my world like nobody else, you don’t know you’re beautiful. If only you saw what I can see. You don’t know you’re beautiful. That’s what makes you beautiful.” As we have said with our theme today, that of knowing what to do after one hits rock bottom, if a person is convinced that he/she really is beautiful, there will be no rock bottom, or if there is, he/she will get out of it in a hurry.
            Another triple play is in store for us beginning with a song about being totally taken by another. “Walk in your rainbow paradise,” he sings, “strawberry lipstick state of mind. I get so lost inside your eyes. Would you believe it? You don’t have to say you love me, you don’t have to say nothing. You don’t have to say you’re mine. Honey, I’d walk through fire for you. Just let me adore you.” He sings that being so taken by another means that she doesn’t even have to communicate with him. And as I have said, to my mind, that is not correct at all. In terms of our theme, one of the ways to bring yourself out of rock bottom is to learn to communicate a little better. This is British artist Mr. Harry Styles and the song from his album “Fine Line,” former number 1, now at number 5, the first of two top 5 songs for him, “Adore You” on MATT.
(triple)       5 ADORE YOU / Harry Styles
                               BEAUTIFUL STRANGER / Madonna
                               SCARS TO YOUR BEAUTIFUL / Alessia Cara

Part 9
            The number 1 song of all the songs of 2017, one of our “beautiful” songs today, from Alessia Cara’s album “Know-It-All,” and “Scars to Your Beautiful”. 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; the world could change its heart. No scars to your beautiful, we're stars and we're beautiful.” We are all “beautiful” simply because we are created by a loving God. And that in itself should be enough to pull us out of any despair or rock bottom. But we must convince ourselves that it is true.
            Before her, another one of our “beautiful” songs over the last 40 years, that one from the one and only Madonna from her album “Celebration” and her song “Beautiful Stranger” from 1999. In her song, she sang of a situation where the person in the song had taken a chance on a relationship with someone, and unfortunately for her, it wasn’t the way it should have been. “If I’m smart,” she sings, “then I’ll run away. But I’m not, so I guess I’ll stay. I looked into your eyes, and my world came tumbling down. You’re the devil in disguise.” It seems as though she is singing about a relationship that she wishes she could get out of, but now she can’t, and she is trapped. The lady in the relationship is at / or very close to rock bottom, our theme today, and the way to get out it is to get out of the relationship which in her situation is very difficult, but she has to do it to have a happy life.
            An interesting mix of songs there. Get ready for more “beautiful” music from Ace of Base, Jesse McCartney and James Blunt and then the remainder of the top 10 including the number 1 song in our land as we speak. Let’s go to another good quote from my favorite author Mark Twain and you’ll have to think about this one. “No amount of evidence will ever persuade an idiot.” And my comment: admitting that we may do some idiotic things will help us to understand how to get out of being at rock bottom. I’m Fr. Mike, your host for this show which we call MATT, and we are on the airways on Mix 103 and on the internet at hayspost.com. I hope you are still here when we come back in a few moments.
COMMERCIAL BREAK

Part 10
            Hi again, everyone, this is “Message at the Top”, on Mix 103. Thank you for spending part of your Sunday with us. I am Fr. Mike, and our show gives you the top 10 songs of our area, as well as some great songs of the past. And what is amazing about them is that with a little bit of help, those songs can actually teach us something about ourselves and about our behavior. That aspect of behavior that we are talking about right now is hitting rock bottom, the thought having come to us from Pink’s song “Beautiful Trauma.”
            Back to our top 10 we go, and yet another triple beginning with a story in song of commitment, and then if the commitment is broken for some reason, then what would happen. “You could make a grown man cry if you ever said ‘goodbye,” they begin the song. “You’re the only hand in my back pocket. If you ever left, I’d go psychotic. You’re the key to my heart—lock it. If you ever left, never unlock it. If my love ain’t your love, it’s never gonna be nobody’s love. I’m never gonna need nobody’s touch but yours.” It was our theme last week when we talked about the keys to another’s heart. It fits into our theme this week this way: if that person responds to his/her love, they will not be hitting rock bottom. At number 9 right now, MATT presenting here the song “Nobody’s Love”, Maroon 5 on MATT.
(triple)       9 NOBODY’S LOVE / Maroon 5
                   BEAUTIFUL SOUL / Jesse McCartney
                               BEAUTIFUL LIFE / Ace of Base

Part 11
            1995 was the year and a love song about someone who has made the person in the song’s life quite beautiful—the Swedish group Ace of Base and their song “Beautiful Life”. “It’s a beautiful life,” they sing, “I just wanna be here beside you and stay until the break of dawn. I’m gonna take you to a place I’ve never been before. I’m gonna take you in my arms and fly away with you tonight.” The person is completely overcome with the other, it would seem, and for that person, emotions are dictating to the mind. The problem with emotions like this is that they may not last for the long run. We’ve said that before, a lot. And the fact is when one has hit rock bottom that bad feelings may have caused it, and the way out of it is to start thinking positive things.
            Before them, we heard from Jesse McCartney and the song that has made the top 10 from him comes from the album named after the song. It comes from 2014, and his song “Beautiful Soul”. It really is a beautiful song. “I don’t want another pretty face,” he begins his song, “I don’t want just anyone to hold. I don’t want my love to go to waste, I want you and your beautiful soul. You’re the one I wanna chase, you’re the one I wanna hold. I won’t let another minute go to waste. I want you and your beautiful soul. You might need time to think it over, but I’m just fine moving forward. I just wanna know if you feel it too.” It is a love song, of course, and one that goes right to the point, saying exactly what he wants, or in this case, who he wants. I really like the idea of the song—being attractive on the outside is important, but being attractive on the inside is the thing to concentrate on—namely what a person’s soul is. And again if a person is convinced that someone else is thinking of them as a “beautiful” soul, that person will not suffer hitting rock bottom.
            A double play right now, beginning with the number 4 song. “Tastes like strawberries on a summer evening” he sings. “And it sounds like a summer feelin’, it’s so wonderful and warm. Breathe me in, breathe me out. I don’t know if I could ever go without. I’m just thinking out loud. Watermelon sugar high. I want that summer feelin’, getting washed away in you. I just wanna taste it, Watermelon sugar high.” It is a song about feelings, and since feelings are fickle, losing those good feelings for whatever reason could cause one to fall into rock bottom. It is the second time we hear from him today, both in the top 5, and both from his album “Fine Line,” Harry Styles at number 4, “Watermelon Sugar” on MATT.
(double)    4 WATERMELON SUGAR / Harry Styles
                               YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL / James Blunt

Part 12
            Our final “beautiful” song today—and there are even a couple more on our playlist—“beautiful” is one popular word in music. That was from Mr. James Blunt and his song “You’re beautiful” from his album, “Back to Bedlam” from 2005.   It is a former 1 song that seems like a normal love song, at least from the title, but it is not a normal love song in the sense that everything will turn out just fine. In fact, just the opposite happens. He closes his song with the words: “You’re beautiful, it’s true. But it’s time to face the truth, I will never be with you.” One of the major difficulties with the romantic love of someone else is of course / when one loves but the love is not returned. If one faces that truth, which he does at the end of his song, he will be able to move on in life, and be able to put himself out of the rock bottom that he is in/ in the song.
            Number 1 on September 13^th, 2020 is from Canadian singer Mr. Abel Makkonen Testfaye, better known as The Weeknd and his song from his album “After Hours” “Blinding Lights” on MATT. He comes back into the number 1 position and altogether now, he has been at number 1 for 11 weeks. It is the story in song that says that the man in the relationship considers his girlfriend to be a blinding light and also the story of someone who made a mistake and let a relationship go, and he’s begging her to come back. “I’ve been tryna call, I’ve been on my own for long enough. Maybe you can show me how to love. I’m going through withdrawals. You don’t even have to do too much; you can turn me on with just a touch. I said, I’m blinded by the lights, I can’t sleep until I feel your touch. I will never let you go this time.” In terms of our theme, saying that he will never let her go and meaning it / will usually keep the other person from hitting rock bottom because there will always be someone to love him/her.
            Today we have spoken about the idea of getting out of situations that make us hit rock bottom. My prayer for you and me is that we will always be able to get out of hitting rock bottom, but if we do, to find the means to get out of it in a hurry. If you would like to get a hold of me, my e-mail address is: frmikescully@yahoo.com or the address at the radio station: KJLS-FM, Hays, 67601 or my website is www.frmikescully.com where you will find a transcript of today’s show, and some meditations about our songs and some pretty good movies. Thank you for being with us today. My thanks to the producers of our show, and to our sponsors, especially Holy Family Elementary School in Hays, Thomas More Prep-Marian High School in Hays, and Hays Car and Truck Alignment. My closing thought for you comes from an anonymous author; “A bad attitude is like having a flat tire; you can’t get very far until you change it.” Besides that, bad attitudes cause us to hit rock bottom more often than not. The number 1 song in our top 10 is from The Weeknd again and as we lead into it, may I remind you that you are listening to today’s best music, Mix 103 and among our words to you, we say to hold a good thought. My name is Fr. Mike Scully. Peace to you, and be good!
1 BLINDING LIGHTS / The Weeknd

            Hello Central Kansas and around the world; happy last Sunday of August and happy beginning of school if that is happening for you in whatever form it comes. I hope your day is a good one today. Thank you for joining us this still-summer Sunday morning. Welcome to “Message at the Top.” Get set for the top 10 songs of our area as determined by the research from your requests, as well as the national research of Mediabase 24-7, and get ready for some great songs from the past as well. We’ll spend some time with past top 10 songs from birthday people Zedd, Beyonce, James Bay, OMI, and Mark Ronson, and of course we have the top 10 right now as well. I’m Fr. Mike, and this is Mix 103, today’s best music, and the number one rock station in Central Kansas.
            This week we celebrate the birthday of Omar Samuel Palsey better known as OMI—Thursday, to be exact when he will be 34 years old. His number 1 song in 2016 was “Cheerleader.” I believe the idea of being a cheerleader for someone else is an important idea. In the song, it is in a romantic context, and when people are committed to one another, one of the real signs of commitment is that each should be a cheerleader for the other. In other words, that each in the relationship thinks of the other only in the highest terms, and gives them incentive to remain that good and even do better than they are.
            The words of the song say that exactly: “When I need motivation,” he begins the song, “my one solution is my queen 'cause she stay strong. She is always in my corner, right there when I want her. All these other girls are tempting, but I'm empty when you're gone and they say, ‘Do you need me? Do you think I'm pretty? Do I make you feel like cheating?’ And I'm like no, not really 'cause I think that I've found myself a cheerleader. She is always right there when I need her.”
            But I think the song can be taken out of the romantic context and applied to living a good life as well. We have a number of close relationships in our lives, and a good way to make them be better is that whole idea of being a cheerleader for the other. It works with any close relationships—friend to friend, teacher to student, parent to child, child to parent—it is the whole thought of the song: be a cheerleader for one another, saying to the other that we are right there in their corner, all the time. Our world would be a lot better, I believe, if every relationship was like that.
            So, let’s go with the general thought which will certainly include the romantic thought in which most of our songs work, and talk about “How to be a Cheerleader For Another.”
            Starting us off this morning, happy birthday to Mr. OMI with his song “Cheerleader” from the songs of 2016 on MATT.
(double)    CHEERLEADER / OMI
                               THE FIRST CUT IS THE DEEPEST / Sheryl Crow

Part 2
            A statement of pain from Sheryl Crow, and her song “The First Cut Is the Deepest” from her album “The Very Best of Sheryl Crow,” from the year 2003 on MATT. The singer is an excellent songwriter, although she did not write this song—Cat Stevens, another really good songwriter did. She sings a commentary on one of the most difficult things to do in life—go back to loving someone after you have been hurt by someone else. “I would have given you all of my heart,” she sings, “but there’s someone who has torn it apart, but, if you want, I’ll try to love again. The first cut is the deepest. If you want I’ll try to love again, but I know the first cut is the deepest.” The person in the song has been in pain, but she is going to try again: “I want you by my side,” she sings. That idea of trying again is so important for life. And, considering our theme, if someone is going to try to start up a relationship while having been hurt, he/she is showing that he/she is a cheerleader for the other in the relationship.
            Let’s break into our top 10 and do it by going to number 8 right now, a song about the end of the world, and they are thinking about their love and how they had it at one time and now do not. But they are saying that if the world was ending, they would be together. “I was distracted and in traffic. I didn’t feel it when the earthquake happened, but it really got me thinkin’. It’s been a year now, think I’ve figured out how to let you go and let communication die out. I know you know we know you weren’t down forever and it’s fine. I know you know we know we weren’t meant for each other and it’s fine. But if the world was ending, you come over, right?” Like I say, their love relationship really has not ended, and in terms of our theme, they still are cheerleaders for each other, and it probably causes some problems for their other relationships. MATT presenting number 8 from JP Saxe and featuring Julia Michaels, from JP Saxe’s album “Hold it Together,” and the song “If the World Was Ending” on MATT.
(triple)       8 IF THE WORLD WAS ENDING / PJP Saxe f. Julia Michaels
                               UPTOWN FUNK / Mark Ronson f/ Bruno Mars
                   PART OF ME / Katy Perry

Part 3
            MATT presenting Ms. Katy Perry from her album “Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection,” and her song “Part of Me” from 2012. The person in the song has been hurt by her boyfriend, but she is saying something quite true—she will survive. “Days like this,” the lady of the relationship sings, “I want to drive away, you chewed me up and spit me out like I was poison in your mouth. But that was then and this is now. This is the part of me that you’re never gonna ever take from me. Throw your sticks and your stones, throw your bombs and your blows, but you’re never gonna break my soul.” We have to always look at the fact that we have the wherewithal to survive even difficult breakups. In terms of our theme, that is being a cheerleader for oneself which we definitely must do at times.
            Before her, we wish happy 45^th birthday to Mark Ronson on Friday of this week. The song was the Record of the Year according to the 2016 Grammys and the number 1 song in popularity of 2015 from Mark Ronson and featuring Bruno Mars. Mark Ronson is a British singer/songwriter/music producer and the song is from Mark Ronson’s album “Uptown Special” and the name of the song “Uptown Funk”. It is a great dance song and a great dance video. The words of the song suggest dancing, of course. “Come on, dance,” he sings, “jump on it; if you’re sexy, flaunt it; if you’re freaky then own it. Don’t brag about it, come show me. Don’t believe me, just watch.” But I find a little more meaning in the song. In words spoken to someone who is only observing the dancing, they sing in effect: don't just believe or brag about something, do it! The man basically tells others that they do not have to believe that he can dance, but that they should watch him actually do it. That means that we have to put our beliefs into action. And if we learn to do that, we will easily become cheerleaders for others, our theme today.
            During our next segment this last Sunday of August, we will continue our top 10 with numbers 2, 3 and 7, and also songs from Sam Smith, and birthday person James Bay. Some interesting thoughts coming at you in the next 30 minutes. Taking you to our break, here is a thought from the great Albert Einstein: Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe. We’ve got to work on our stupidity before we can be cheerleaders for others. “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.
COMMERCIAL BREAK

Part 4
            It is great to have you back with us. Thank you for sharing part of your August Sunday morning with us, and we welcome you back to the top 10 songs of our area as of the week ending today August 30, 2020. I am Fr. Mike, your host for the only top 10 show of today’s best music Mix 103, “Message at the Top.” Our theme today involves the idea of what it means to be a cheerleader for others. The theme was inspired by OMI and his song “Cheerleader.”
            Let’s begin this portion of MATT with some sugar, watermelon kind. “Tastes like strawberries on a summer evening. And it sounds like a summer feelin’, it’s so wonderful and warm. Breathe me in, breathe me out. I don’t know if I could ever go without. I’m just thinking out loud. Watermelon sugar high. I want that summer feelin’, getting washed away in you. I just wanna taste it, Watermelon sugar high.” It is a song about feelings, and since feelings are fickle we don’t want to put them into words unless we really mean that, and when we do we are certainly a cheerleader for the other. This is the first time we will heard from him today, both in the top 5, from his album “Fine Line,” Harry Styles jumping all the way to number 3, “Watermelon Sugar” on MATT.
(double)    3 WATERMELON SUGAR / Harry Styles
                               STAY WITH ME / Sam Smith

Part 5
            A song from the Grammys of 2015, the record and song of the year that year, and a bunch of other awards for him, from Sam Smith’s album “In the Lonely Hour,” and his song “Stay With Me” on MATT. It is a beautiful / sad song. The man in the relationship has made a mistake, and now she has left, and he is begging her to stay. “Guess it’s true, I’m not good at a one-night stand. These nights never seem to go to plan. I don’t want you to leave, will you hold my hand? Won’t you stay with me? ‘Cause you’re all I need. This ain’t love, it’s clear to see, but, stay with me.” Interesting—he admits that it is not love, and all he wants is someone to stay with him so that he doesn’t hurt, as he sings later in the song. It is the situation of someone begging another, and generally speaking, in terms of our theme, if we are going to be a cheerleader for another, we don’t want to fall into the mistake of begging that other to love us.
            We close off our first hour together with a triple play beginning with Gabby Barrett and Charlie Puth with a song that speaks about 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. And when Charlie Puth joins her, the pronouns change, but the same basic message: “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.” Revenge is never a way to make one’s life better although it may feel like it at the time. As we think of the theme of being a cheerleader for another, the way to make that cease is to cheat on the one you have chosen. And if you do, you might think about revenge being shown on you. I hope we all conquer the desire for revenge. This is “I Hope” at number 7 from Gabby Barrett’s album “Goldmine” on the country charts on MATT.
(triple)     7 I HOPE / Gabby Barrett f/ Charlie Puth
                               LET IT GO / James Bay
                               2 BLINDING LIGHTS / The Weeknd

Part 6
            Former number 1, now at number 2, the very popular song from Canadian singer Mr. Abel Makkonen Testfaye, better known as The Weeknd and his song from his album “After Hours” “Blinding Lights” on MATT. It is the story in song that says that the man in the relationship considers his girlfriend to be a blinding light and also the story of someone who made a mistake and let a relationship go, and he’s begging her to come back. “I’ve been tryna call, I’ve been on my own for long enough. Maybe you can show me how to love. I’m going through withdrawals. You don’t even have to do too much; you can turn me on with just a touch. I said, I’m blinded by the lights, I can’t sleep until I feel your touch. I will never let you go this time.” In terms of our theme, he is certainly being a cheerleader for the one who is his blinding light.
            Before him, we wished happy birthday to English singer/songwriter James Michael Bay with his song from his album named after the song, “Let It Go” from 2015. He will be 30 years old on Friday. It is a song of pain and despair that is expressed in the video quite well. “From walking home and talking loads,” he sings, “To seeing shows in evening clothes with you, from nervous touch to staying up and waking up with you. But now we're slipping at the edge, holding something we don't need. All this delusion in our heads is gonna bring us to our knees. So come on, let it go. Just let it be. Why don't you be you, and I'll be me? When we're becoming something else, I think it's time to walk away.” That is a great statement, and if we want to be a cheerleader for another, our theme today, we will encourage them and us to be who we are with nothing fake about us.
            Our theme this morning deals with the thought of being a cheerleader for another, that theme having come from OMI and his 2016 song “Cheerleader”. Still to come on MATT during the beginning of our second hour together is music from birthday person Beyonce and also music from Kelly Clarkson among others. Let me take you to break with this thought from William Ellery Channing, an American Christian author who died in 1842: “Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict.” We may not like it, but it is true. And conflicts can lead to being a good cheerleader for another in conflict. It is great to have you with us on 100,000 watts of power, Mix 103, and MATT.
COMMERCIAL BREAK

Part 7
            Every song has a message and that message often can be studied so that we can learn some things about life. Such is our philosophy on this show, and we are back for “Message at the Top” on today’s best music Mix 103. Thank you for giving a little of your last Sunday of August to us. I’m Fr. Mike, ready to lead you through the second hour of our show as our music leads us to explore the theme of “How to be a Cheerleader for Another”. As usual, we invite you to enjoy the music and listen to the message so that the message can help your life and mine be a little better.
            We begin our second hour with a triple play and that triple play begins with a second top 5 song from Harry Styles. His song is a story in song of being totally taken by another. “Walk in your rainbow paradise,” he sings, “strawberry lipstick state of mind. I get so lost inside your eyes. Would you believe it? You don’t have to say you love me, you don’t have to say nothing. You don’t have to say you’re mine. Honey, I’d walk through fire for you. Just let me adore you.” He sings that being so taken by another means that she doesn’t even have to communicate with him. And as I have said, to my mind, that is not correct at all, and if he wants to be a cheerleader for her, our theme today, he will enable the communication to happen. The British singer/songwriter Mr. Harry Styles and the song also from his album “Fine Line,” former number 1, now at number 5, “Adore You” on MATT.
(triple)       5 ADORE YOU / Harry Styles
                   SINCE U BEEN GONE / Kelly Clarkson
                               SMILE / Uncle Kracker

Part 8
            MATT presenting Uncle Kracker whose real name is Matthew Shafer, an American singer/songwriter/musician born in Mount Clemens, Michigan in 1974 and is influenced a lot by his friend Kid Rock, that is, Robert James Ritchie. His song was a pleasant love song from his album “Happy Hour,” “Smile,” a former number 1. “You’re better than the best,” the man in the relationship begins the song, “I’m lucky just to linger in your life. Cooler than the flip-side of my pillow. Nothing can compare to where you send me. You make me smile like a sun, fall outta bed, sing like a bird, dizzy in my head, spin like a record, crazy on a Sunday night. You make me dance like a fool, forget how to breathe, shine like gold, buzz like a bee. Just the thought of you can drive me wild. Oh, you make me smile.” It is a great thought that simply says that you should try to be a little happier in life, especially if you are in love, and the way to be a cheerleader for another, our theme today, is to make her/him smile a little more.
            Before him, we heard from Kelly Clarkson and she gives the best way to deal with a breakup, that is, to begin again in her song from her album “Breakaway,” from 2005 “Since U Been Gone”. “Here’s the thing,” the lady in the relationship begins the song, “we started out friends,” and then she points out how they got along, but he did not respond too well. So she left, and now she sings, “Since you been gone, I can breathe for the first time. Thanks to you, now I get what I want. You had your chance, you blew it.” Tying it into our theme today, one of the ways to be a cheerleader for another is to help him/her with a breakup when it occurs.
            Yet another triple right now, beginning with a song new to the top 10 coming in at number 9. It is a story in song of commitment, and then if the commitment is broken for some reason. “You could make a grown man cry if you ever said ‘goodbye,” they begin the song. “You’re the only hand in my back pocket. If you ever left, I’d go psychotic. You’re the key to my heart—lock it. If you ever left, never unlock it. If my love ain’t your love, it’s never gonna be nobody’s love. I’m never gonna need nobody’s touch but yours.” As I say, it is a statement of a very strong commitment. If that commitment is broken, then the person would be shattered—go psychotic—he says. Hopefully the commitment once made will not be broken. In terms of our theme, he is certainly the cheerleader for the other. New to the top 10 at number 9, and we will make it our theme next week, Maroon 5, “Nobody’s Love” on MATT.
(triple)       9 NOBODY’S LOVE / Maroon 5
                               DRUNK IN LOVE / Beyonce f/ Jay Z
                               4 BEFORE YOU GO /Lewis Capaldi

Part 9
            Remaining at number 4, from his album “Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent” Mr. Lewis Capaldi, “Before You Go” on MATT. It is a song that speaks of good human behavior. “All I hear were the words I needed to say. When you hurt under the surface like troubled water running cold, well, time can heal but this won’t. So, before you go, was there something I could have said to make your heart beat better? If only I’d had known you had a storm to weather. So before you go, was there something I could have said to make it all stop hurting.” That is a very good attitude I believe. He is trying to figure out how he hurt her, hopefully so he wouldn’t do it again in another relationship. It is a perfect way to behave and in terms of our theme, the perfect way to become a cheerleader for a future love.
            Before him, we heard from the album “Beyoncé,” from Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter and her husband Shawn Corey Carter or Jay Z and their song “Drunk in Love”. Beyonce will be 39 years old on Friday. The song is probably best described as a very sensual song. “We woke up in the kitchen,” the girl in the relationship sings, “saying ‘how did this happen?’ Drunk in love we be all night, and everything alright.” It is a song that extols the beauty of being together in a sensual way. I believe that we can be too sensual in our attitudes toward others, and being a cheerleader for another implies that we will respect them enough to know each of our boundaries.
            Which brings us to another momentary break in the action in the words of my friend Gerard Wellbrock, but we are speaking of music and message. Get ready during our final segment for numbers 6, 10 and 1 of our top 10, as well as a Mr. Zedd, the group Berlin and the group Coldplay. And here is a thought that comes from Eleanor Roosevelt, and you’ve probably heard it before, but it is worth our time remembering: “It is not fair to ask of others what you are not willing to do yourself.” We are pursuing a theme that has been generated by OMI and that theme is the answer to the question, “How can we be a cheerleader for another?” Stay with us; we’ll be right back.
COMMERCIAL BREAK

Part 10
            Welcome back to MATT on today’s best music Mix 103. I am Fr. Mike, and we are beginning the final segment of our show this morning. We take the songs of the top 10 of today and yesterday, and we speak about the messages of those songs, those messages often giving us some thoughts to live by. Our motto as always is to enjoy the music of our show and this great radio station, and at the same time, listen to the message. Our theme this morning concerns being a cheerleader for another.
            And let’s see what the number 6 song says about that. It is from superstars Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande. Its meaning according to Lady Gaga has to do with tears that she is shedding because of a lost relationship. “I didn’t ask for a free ride,” they sing, “I only asked you to show me a real good time. I never asked for the rainfall; you showed me nothing at all. It’s coming down on me, water like misery. I’d rather be dry, but at least I’m alive. Living in a world where no one’s innocent. Oh, but at least we try. Gotta live my truth, not keep it bottled in so I don’t lose my mind. Rain on me.” The lady of the relationship is feeling very badly, but she seems to be ready to try to make the relationship work—“at least we try” they sing. If one is being a cheerleader for another, our theme today, one will try to help with the pain of the one they love. MATT presenting from her album “Chromatica”, Lady Gaga along with Ariana Grande, and “Rain on Me” number 6 this week on MATT.
(triple)       6 RAIN ON ME / Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande
                   I WANT YOU TO KNOW / Zedd f/ Selena Gomez
                               TAKE MY BREATH AWAY / Berlin

Part 11
            Remember that one? You have to be a little older to remember it probably. It satisfies my 80’s craving. It is from the soundtrack of the motion picture “Top Gun”, the theme song from it, a song from 1986, called “Take My Breath Away” on MATT. The video gives you the main idea of the movie. The group Berlin who are still on the music scene sings the song of a lonely person begging the other to “take my breath away.” She wants him to satisfy her problem of loneliness. Loneliness is primarily a personal problem. With respect to the person, it’s no one else’s problem, and generally speaking, the solution must come from within a person. But if we are aware of it in another person, we can become a cheerleader for them as we help them be less lonely.
            Before them, we celebrated Mr. Zedd’s 30^th birthday. This is Selena Gomez and Zedd, from 2015 from Zedd’s album “True Colors” and their song “I Want You to Know”. Actually, it isn’t Mr. Zedd—it is producer Anton Zaslavski, who goes by the name of Zedd. As he produces songs, he employs the talents of some great people, and here Selena Gomez. “I want you to know that it’s our time,” she sings, “You and me bleed the same light. I want you to know that I’m all yours. You and me run the same course. I’m slippin’ down a chain reaction, and here I go. And once again I’m yours in fractions. It takes me down, pulls me down low. It’s raining tonight, but storms always have an eye. Tell me you’re covered tonight, or tell me lies. I want you to know that it’s our time. You and me we’re the same force, I want you to know that it’s our time.” So, a song of wanting the presence of another, and the lady’s reasoning why. For her, there is no doubt that it is worth her time to pursue the relationship, and she is being a cheerleader for him, our theme today.
            Our final double play begins with         a story in song about a break-up that has occurred. “Seasons change,” he sings, “and our love went cold, feed the flame ‘cause we can’t let go. Run away, but we’re running in circles. Run away. I dare you to do something, I’m waiting on you again, so I don’t take the blame. Let go, I got a feeling that it’s time to let go. I knew that this was doomed from the get-go. You thought that it was special. But it was just the sex though. I got a feeling that it’s time to let it go.” When physical relationships are the basis of a relationship, the chances are that we will miss what love is all about because we are taken up with the strong emotions of the physical. With our theme of being a cheerleader, hopefully he will work with her on thoughts that are more than feelings. MATT presenting Austin Richard Post better known as Post Malone, from his album “Hollywood’s Bleeding” and his former number 1 song “Circles”, number 10 this week on MATT.
(double)    10 CIRCLES / Post Malone
                               Talk / Coldplay (NOT Khalid)

Part 12
            The group Coldplay from their album “X and Y”, number 6 of all the songs of meaning of 2006 on MATT. It is a high category song of meaning because it stresses the one thought that is absolutely necessary for good living—communication. The man in the relationship realizes that his girlfriend is not talking the way she should: “I can’t get through,” they sing, “I’ve been trying hard to reach you, ‘cause I don’t know what to do. I’m so scared about the future and I wanna talk to you.” And they close the song: “So you don’t know where you’re going, and you wanna talk, and you feel like you’re going where you’ve been before. You tell anyone who’ll listen but you feel ignored. Nothing’s really making any sense at all. Let’s talk.” It is exactly what we should be saying, and he is being a cheerleader for her, that being our theme today.
            And the number 1 song for two weeks in a row is from Ms. Dua Lipa, from her album “Future Nostalgia” and her song “Break My Heart”. It is a song about the lady in the relationship who wants a breakup but is quick to give in when he calls. “I’ve always been the one to say the first goodbye,” she sings, “Had to love and lost a hundred million times, had to get it wrong to know just what I like. Now, I’m falling. Centre of attention, you know you can get whatever you want from me whenever. I’m afraid of all the things it could do to me if I woulda known it. I would’ve stayed at home ‘cause I was doing better alone. But when you said, ‘Hello’ I knew that was the end of it all. I should’ve stayed at home ‘cause now there ain’t no letting you go. Am I falling in love with the one that could break my heart?” Probably, but she is trying to be a cheerleader for him, our theme today.
            Our thought this morning has revolved around that thought of being a cheerleader for another and what that means. My prayer for you and me is that we will try to be cheerleaders for all of our friends. Thank you for taking the time to spend it with us this Sunday of this last Sunday of August. I hope the remainder of it is a good one for you. My thanks also to the producers of “Message at the Top,” to the staff here at Mix 103, and to our sponsors, my friends at TMP-Marian Junior and Senior High School in Hays, at Holy Family Elementary School in Hays, and at Hays Car and Truck Alignment.
            One of those sponsors asked me to say a word about how important the idea of being a minister is / in today’s world. Let me say this: if you feel that you can give yourself to the complete service of God, you are making a choice that will help our world, and you are automatically becoming a cheerleader for another.
            If you have any suggestions for me, or if you want to comment on anything I have said, feel free to write me here at KJLS-FM, 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 great movies and a transcript of the show. And if you are away from your radio, you can reach us on any listening device on the web every Sunday morning at 10 am by logging on to www.hayspost.com and choosing Mix 103. One final thought before we leave that comes from Narcotics Anonymous and you’ve probably heard it before: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results.” Now, that is one great thought. As Dua Lipa leads us out of our show today with her number 1 song, may I remind you that you are listening to today’s best music, Mix 103. And besides all the other words I have said to you, I urge you to remember to hold a good thought. My name is Fr. Mike Scully. Stay safe, peace to you, and be good!
1 BREAK MY HEART / Dua Lipa

January 5, 2020

"The Messages of the Top Songs from 1998 to 2019"

Part 1
            Hello Central Kansas and around the world; thank you for joining us this first Sunday of the new year of 2020. Happy January, and happy winter although we haven’t seen too much of it so far. Thank you for joining us and welcome to MATT on Mix 103, the number 1 rock station in central Kansas. It’s great to have you with us this Sunday morning as we study the top 10 of today and yesterday, not only listening to the songs, but studying their meanings as well. I am Fr. Mike Scully, your host for MATT and it’s my pleasure to give you some great songs and some great messages. And especially today—we’ll begin the new year with the number 1 songs of every year from 1998 til 2019. Therefore every song here I consider to be a 10+ category song of meaning. Putting them altogether means that we will hear great meaning with every song. I’ll be tempted to talk about all of them for a long time, but I will restrain myself. This is a great show today.
            And we will begin with 2019 and talk about hope because the number 1 song last year was all about hope. I did some checking on the idea of hope, and something I didn’t know came to light—in my mind anyway.
            Elpis is Greek for “Hope” and it appears in ancient Greek mythology with the story of Zeus and Prometheus. Prometheus stole fire from the god Zeus which infuriated Zeus of course. In turn Zeus created a box that contained all manners of evil, unbeknownst to the receiver of the box. Pandora opened the box after being warned not to, and unleashed a multitude of harmful spirits that inflicted plagues, diseases, and illnesses on humankind. Spirits of greed, hatred, revenge, despair and other spirits scattered far and wide looking for humans to torment. Inside the box, however, there was also an unreleased healing spirit named Hope. From ancient times, people have recognized that a spirit of hope had the power to heal afflictions and helps them bear times of great suffering caused by malevolent spirits and events.
            Now I did not know that Greek mythology was the source of Pandora’s box and within it not only were bad things, but Hope was there also, and it had the power to heal from all the evil.
            Well, I doubt that the group Panic! At The Disco had any idea about Pandora’s Box and Hope but they certainly see the importance of hope for the world. “Had to have high hopes for living,” they sing, “shooting for the stars when I couldn’t make a killing. Didn’t have a dime but I always had a vision, always had high hopes. Mama said, fulfill the prophecy, be something greater, go make a legacy, rewrite your history, light up your wildest dreams.” Smart Mama, indeed, who is inspiring him. And that is one of the elements of being hopeful—that you have some inspiration to turn to in order to give one hope.
            The theme for the number 1 song of 2019 translates to all of our songs today: “There is hope in every situation of our lives.” Panic! At The Disco, their song “High Hopes”, number 1 in 2019 on MATT.
(double)    19 HIGH HOPES / Panic! At the Disco
                               15 SEE YOU AGAIN / Wiz Khalifa f/ Charlie Puth

Part 2
            The number 1 song of meaning from 2015, Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth from the “Furious 7” soundtrack and a tribute to actor Paul Walker who died before the movie was released, and their song “See You Again” on MATT. “It's been a long day without you, my friend,” they sing, “And I'll tell you all about it when I see you again. We've come a long way from where we began. Oh, I'll tell you all about it when I see you again. Who knew? All the planes we flew, good things we've been through that I'll be standing right here talking to you about another path. I know we loved to hit the road and laugh, but something told me that it wouldn't last, had to switch up, look at things different, see the bigger picture. Those were the days, hard work forever pays. Now I see you in a better place.” I love it when popular music refers to faith in God and heaven, and the song is very clear in its statement about it. We will all be together again in our soul world. If we really understand that, all of us would have a better life, I believe. Of course, you would expect me to say that.
            A likewise great song is the number 1 song from 2011 which will be followed by the number 1 song from 2010 and 2008. First to 2011. I call it the number one song of meaning between the years 2002 to 2012 which is high praise for the song, I believe. I place it that high because I look at it as the theme song of how to live in this world. She is singing about the potential of the human being. She sings: “Do you ever feel like a plastic bag drifting through the wind, 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 4^th 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.” What she is singing is that we can be so much more than we are now, and we shouldn’t be discouraged with who we are. It has a great video connected with it as well. From her album “Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection”, the excellent song “Firework” number 1 in 2011 on MATT.
(triple)       11 FIREWORK / Katy Perry
                               10 LIVE LIKE WE’RE DYING / Kris Allen
                                    08 IT’S NOT MY TIME / 3 Doors Down

Part 3
            They have two songs of meaning among the songs of meaning from 1998 til 2019. The number 1 song from 2008 from 3 Doors Down. This is the group 3 Doors Down from their album simply named “3 Doors Down”, a great song with a great video “It’s Not My Time” on MATT. “Looking back at the beginning of this,” they begin the song, “and how life was, just you and me and love and all of our friends, living life like an ocean. Now the current’s slowly pulling me down. It’s getting harder to breathe; it won’t be too long and I’ll be going under. Can you save me from this? It’s not my time, I’m not going. All this time I’ve just been too blind to understand what should matter to me. My friend, this life we live is not what we have, it’s what we believe.” Determination to stay alive, and in the video, to prevent a death, is the topic of the song, even though life is tough and things don’t seem to be going the way we want. The song is a plea for help as the man in the song tries to stay alive, as he sings, and he sings a very important line for a believer—“This life we live is not what we have, it’s what we believe.” That which will bring about help, I believe, is finding a belief in a Higher Power.
            Before them, we heard the number 1 song of 2010 from Mr. Kris Allen, American Idol first series number 8 from his album named after him, and his song “Live Like We’re Dying”. Tremendous words here: “Sometimes we fall down and can’t get back up; we’re hiding behind skin that’s too tough. How come we don’t say 'I love you' enough 'til it’s too late. It's not too late. If your life flashed before you, what would you wish you would've done. We gotta start looking at the hands of the time we’ve been given here. This is all we got and we gotta start pickin’ it. Every second counts on a clock that’s tickin’, gotta live like we’re dying.” If we live like we're dying, every second will count as we live our day, and we will spend those seconds developing love and life.
            Magnificent thoughts from magnificent songs today since we are playing all the number 1 songs of the years 1998-2019. Rock music always seems to have an approach to life about it, and rock songs always contain something to talk about, especially the songs of our show today. Let me take you to break with a thought from Jacopo Sannazaro: “Man is only miserable so far as he thinks himself so.” Now, that is one great thought—and it certainly addresses an attitude that can lead to being determined to do good things in life. I’m Fr. Mike, inviting you to keep your dial right there as we continue shortly on MATT on Mix 103.
COMMERCIAL BREAK

Part 4
            We continue with the only show of its kind in this area as we celebrate winter in the Heartland of America. It is great to have you with us on the station that plays the very best in rock music, and the show we have labeled as MATT, the show that takes the top 10 songs of today and yesterday, and discovers just what their approach to life is, often giving us some thoughts with which we can guide our lives toward the good, the show where our motto is to enjoy the music and listen to the message so that the message can help us. My name is Fr. Mike, your host, and we are featuring the thoughts of the number 1 songs of every year from 1998 til 2019.
            Let’s go back to the 90’s, this time to the number 1 song of meaning in 1999. “Your brain gets smart,” they sing, “but your head gets dumb. So much to do, so much to see. You’ll never know if you don’t go. Hey, now, you’re an all star, only shooting stars break the mold. Go for the moon.” I interpret the song this way: the group seems to be entreating us to carefully weigh our behavior, and eventually choose to motivate ourselves toward change since “the ice we skate is getting pretty thin.” The song tells us to look carefully at what we are doing, and go for the moon—do the best that we can. The group is Smash Mouth, an American rock band formed in San Jose, California in 1994, and still active in the music scene. From their album named after them, Smash Mouth and their song “All Star” number 1 in 1999 on MATT.
(double)    99 ALL STAR / Smash Mouth
                                    01 THANK YOU / Dido

Part 5
            We play it every Thanksgiving show on MATT, the number 1 song of meaning of 2001, from her album “No Angel,” Dido, and her actual name is quite long, but she goes by the name of Dido, actually her first name. Her song is “Thank You.” “My tea’s gone cold,” she begins her song there, “I’m wondering why I got out of bed at all. The morning rain clouds up my window, and I can’t see at all, and even if I could, it’d all be gray”—now that is excellent imagery of real negativity, but the song is just the opposite, because even though she has those negative feelings, she goes on to say, “But your picture on my wall—it reminds me that it’s not so bad.” And the person in the song goes on to thank her boyfriend, a great song of thanksgiving, something we should all be into.
            Another triple closes off our first hour of the number 1 songs of the year from 1998 to 2019. We begin the triple with the highest song of meaning from 2012. It is a song that describes a situation that could bring about real anger and revenge, and there seems to be a little of that, but mainly, it is about a breakup that made the person in the song stronger. “You know the bed feels warmer,” she begins the song, “sleeping here alone. You think you got the best of me, think you had the last laugh, bet you think that everything good is gone, but you’re dead wrong. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, stand a little taller. Doesn’t mean I’m lonely when I’m alone. What doesn’t kill you makes a fighter, footsteps even lighter, doesn’t mean I’m over ‘cause you’re gone.” As we work to find those things that can give us help, one of them would be to take the negative things that happen, work on them, and let them make you better than you are right now. From her album named after the song, American Idol number 1 Kelly Clarkson, and “Stronger”, the number 1 song of meaning of 2012, on MATT.
(triple)        12 STRONGER / Kelly Clarkson
                                    17 SCARS TO YOUR BEAUTIFUL / Alessia Cara
                                    06 UNWRITTEN / Natasha Bedingfield

Part 6
            MATT presenting a super song from Natasha Bedingfield, from her album named after the song, the number 1 song of meaning in 2006, “Unwritten”. It is a poetic statement about the fact that we are determining what kind of life we are going to lead. “I am unwritten,” she sings, “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, let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find. Release your inhibitions, feel the rain on your skin, no one else can feel it for you, only you can let it in. 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.” Marvelous words. I look at it as 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.
            Before her, we heard from the number 1 song of all the songs of 2017, from Alessia Cara’s album “Know-It-All,” and “Scars to Your Beautiful”. 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; the world could change its heart. No scars to your beautiful, we're stars and we're beautiful.” We are all beautiful simply because we are created by a loving God.
            There are important things being said here this morning, not because I said them, but as a result of the songs that we are playing today, the number 1 songs of meaning from the years 1998 to 2019. Before our break, here is a thought about forgiveness from a man by the name of Paul Boese: “Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future.” You bet. I’m Fr. Mike for MATT on Mix 103. Why not stay right where you are as you enjoy life with us on this rather mild January Sunday morning. We’ll be right back.
COMMERCIAL BREAK

Part 7
            Every song has a message and with a little bit of help that message will usually help our lives. Such is our philosophy on MATT. We don’t need a lot of help to these songs today because they are so good with words. We are back for the second hour which usually gives you the top 10 rock songs of our area that have been most popular during the week but today we have a special show, a super one I believe, since we are playing all of the number 1 songs of meaning since 1998. I am your host, Fr. Mike. Thank you for joining us again this morning. Let’s begin here with the number 1 song of meaning of the whole year of 2007.
            It comes from a group that is the only artist or artists that have more than one song in this elite set of songs, the Canadian group by the name of Nickelback and this number 1 song of 2007, a song whose setting is a man in the relationship who is sharing real love with his friend, and having that love inspires him to think about the complicated world he is in. The words of the refrain are: “If everyone cared and nobody cried, if everyone loved and nobody lied, if everyone shared and swallowed their pride, then we’d see the day when nobody died. And I’m singing, amen, I’m alive.” And they sing: “As we lie beneath the stars, we realize how small we are. If they could love like you and me, imagine what the world could be.” That is, we will have eternal life when we learn to love each other. That is great theology and it gives rise to great thinking. If we sense that there really is caring about another, it is a good indication that love is present. This is the group Nickelback from their album “All The Right Reasons,” and the song “If Everyone Cared” number 1 in 2007 on MATT.
(triple)       07 IF EVERYONE CARED / Nickelback
                               00 WITH ARMS WIDE OPEN / Creed
                               98 IRIS / Goo Goo Dolls

Part 8
            The number 1 song of meaning from 1998, the Goo Goo Dolls, formed in 1986. The song comes from the 1998 movie “City of Angels” soundtrack and was on the Billboard top 100 for almost a whole year. It came from their album, “Dizzy Up the Girl,” and the song “Iris” on MATT. “I don’t want the world to see me,” they sing the thoughts of the angel in the song, “cause I don’t think that they’d understand. When everything’s made to be broken, I just want you to know who I am.” I really like that thought. We do live in a world where a lot of things are expected not to last or be broken—as they sing. “I just want you to know who I am,” the person sings, as if to say, you can count on me—I’m not going to break, and his love is going to be real, no matter what the circumstances. One of the ingredients for a love to be real is that it be a giving love.
            Before them, we heard the number 1 song of the year 2K, “With Arms Wide Open” from their album “Human Clay” from the group Creed. They sing the thoughts of a man in a marriage: “Well, I just heard the news today. It seems my life is gonna change. I close my eyes, begin to pray, as tears of joy stream down my face.” And how is his life going to change? He and his wife are going to have a child. “We’ve created life,” they sing. And so they sing that everything has changed. Anyone who has a child for the first time will tell you how true that is! A couple who really wants a child, and experiences that miracle in their lives, really understands what the power of love in life is all about.
            Let’s go to another triple play right now, and begin this one with the number 1 song of 2002. She begins the song: “My friend the communist holds meetings in his RV. I can’t afford his gas, so I’m stuck here watching TV. I don’t have digital, I don’t have diddley squat. It’s not having what you want, it’s wanting what you’ve got. I’m gonna soak up the sun, I’m gonna tell everyone to lighten up. I’m gonna tell them that I’ve got no one to blame; for every time I feel lame, I’m lookin’ up.” Now that is one great attitude, and what makes it more difficult is that her boyfriend doesn’t seem to have it—maybe something’s wrong with you, she says. The songs says simply: adopt a positive attitude in life. MATT presenting here Sheryl Crow from her album “C’mon, C’mon” the number 1 song of 2002, “Soak Up the Sun” on MATT.
(triple)       02 SOAK UP THE SUN / Sheryl Crow
                                    16 UNSTEADY / X Ambassadors
                                    03 I’M WITH YOU / Avril Lavigne

Part 9
            Going back to the year 2003 and the number 1 song of meaning then from Canadian singer/songwriter and her song “I’m With You” from her album “Let Go,” Avril Lavigne on MATT. It is a cry for help as I look at it, and a significant song, what I call poignant words that every adult and youth minister should study carefully. In many ways, this song is the philosophical description of teenage thinking, and may be the best top 40 song that has been produced that helps the parent and youth minister to understand the specific situation of a teenager in North American society. It is a song of a teenager hoping that adults and other teenagers will be interested in her/him. Young people want involvement. In a sense, they want someone to take them “by the hand” because although they might not understand why things happen, they know first-hand what the world is doing to them, namely, causing a situation where “nothing’s going right and everything’s a mess” as she sings. “Isn’t anyone trying to find me,” she sings, “Won’t somebody come take me home. It’s a damn cold night, trying to figure out this life. Won’t you take me by the hand. I don’t know who you are, but I’m with you. I’m looking for a place; I’m searching for a face. Is anybody here I know, ‘cause nothing’s going right and everything’s a mess. And no one likes to be alone.” Great song, as all of these are.
            Before her, another song about young people, I believe, and just as important as Avril Lavigne’s, the number 1 song of 2016. It was from the group X Ambassadors and a song that talks about the importance of Moms and Dads. It is from their album “VHS”, and their song “Unsteady”. In my humble opinion, it should be required listening for everyone who decides to have a family. “Hold on,” the young person sings because he/she is a little unsteady. “Mama,” the child sings, “come here. Daddy, I’m alone ‘cause this house don’t feel like home. If you love me, don’t let go. Hold on to me.” One of the great hopes for everyone’s future in life, is that parents will treat their children with great care. Unfortunately, it will cause great hurt when that does not happen.
            What great songs these songs are, the number 1 songs from the years 1998 through 2019. And we have made it to our final segment of this first Sunday of the winter month of January of the year 2020—ah, the beginning of a new year. What will that new year bring for each of us? Interesting question, and something to think about. During this next segment, you will hear and hopefully enjoy the artistry of Swedish House Mafia, the group Nickelback again, the group Los Lonely Boys, Ed Sheeran, Katy Perry and 3 Doors Down. I take you to break with another thought, this one from the Roman satirist Juvenal—many moons ago: “All wish to possess knowledge, but few, comparatively speaking, are willing to pay the price.” Paying the price involves a lot of work and effort but if we want to have a good life, it is worth it. I’m Fr. Mike, and you’re listening to “Message at the Top” on Mix 103.
COMMERCIAL BREAK

Part 10
            We are back for our final segment of the number 1 songs of meaning of the years 1998 through 2019. And we always give you the meanings of the songs we play. I hope this beginning of the cold month of January has been good for you, and that your new year will be one of good things. I’m your host, Fr. Mike on “Message at the Top” on today’s best music Mix 103. Thank you for joining us again this morning. It’s great to have you with us, as we have taken a theme of the meanings of the number 1 songs of the years 1998-2019. Great songs on our show today, even super-great if there is a category like that.
            The number 1 song of meaning in the year 2004 was from the group Los Lonely Boys and a song that calls to mind the virtue of hope as it calls upon our Supreme Being. They sing a prayer to God: “Save me from this prison; Lord, help me get away ‘cause only you can save me now from this misery. Well, I’ve been lost in my own place, and I’m getting weary—How far is heaven—And I know that I need to change my ways of living—How far is heaven—Lord, can you tell me.” You can bet that I like this song because I firmly believe that one of the things that we must hope for is a better place which might just require some changes in ourselves. This is the group Los Lonely Boys, from their self-named album, and “Heaven”, the number 1 song of 2004 on MATT.
(triple)       04 HEAVEN / Los Lonely Boys
                                    13 DON’T YOU WORRY CHILD / Swedish House Mafia
                                    09 IF TODAY WAS YOUR LAST DAY / Nickelback

Part 11
            Another group who have two songs among the songs of meaning over the past 22 years. That one was another great song from the group Nickelback, and their song “If Today Was Your Last Day”, one of the most meaningful songs of the past decade and the number 1 song of 2009 from their album “Dark Horse”. “My best friend gave me the best advice;” they began their song, “he said each day’s a gift and not a given right; leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind, and try to take the path less traveled by. That first step you take is the longest stride. If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late, could you say goodbye to yesterday? Would you live each moment like your last, leave old pictures in the past? Donate every dime you had, if today was your last day?” What a great song! Their advice: “Do whatever it takes, ‘cause you can’t rewind a moment in this life. Would you call those friends you never see, reminisce old memories? Would you forgive your enemies?” One of the indications of love is the fact that we are living every moment as if it were our last. Super stuff there.
            In fact, all of these song give us super stuff. Before them, we heard the number 1 song of meaning from 2013. It is a song about a breakup and learning from it. The lesson the person in the song learns is that things will work out well. “There was a time I used to look into my father's eyes,” he sings. “In a happy home, I was a king, I had a golden throne. Those days are gone, now the memory's on the wall. I hear the songs from the places where I was born. Upon a hill across a blue lake, that's where I had my first heartbreak. I still remember how it all changed. My father said, 'Don't you worry, child. See heaven's got a plan for you.” The song points out the theological thought that God is at work even in the most dire of circumstances for young people in love and for all people really. Even though there is a breakdown of a relationship in which love was present and no longer is, God or heaven is at work. In fact, God will always be at work in every part of our lives, helping us achieve a good life. A way to help us from worrying in life and love—turn to God in your life. Of course, you know that I would say that. Great song here, from Swedish House Mafia, and singer John Martin, and their song “Don’t You Worry Child”, number 1 in 2013 on MATT.
            Number 1 the following year is next for your listening pleasures. It is a statement by the girl in the relationship that if the man wants a commitment from her, she will give it, but he’d better be sure of what he’s doing. “I knew you were gonna come to me,” the lady in the relationship sings, “and here you are, but you better choose carefully ‘cause I’m capable of anything and everything. So you wanna play with magic, boy, you should know what you’re falling for. I’m coming at you like a dark horse. Are you ready for a perfect storm ‘cause once you’re mine, there’s no going back.” Her words are excellent for anyone who wants to have a sincere relationship with commitment—you don’t enter it lightly, and you’d better be ready to back up your words. And it really is up to both of them whether the relationship will work or not, and each of them should spend time doing it. A song nominated for a Grammy, Ms. Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson better known as Katy Perry, the second song among the top songs of meaning from 1998 till 2019, this one with Jordan Michael Houston better known as Juicy J and their song “Dark Horse” from Katy Perry’s album “Prism”, number 1 in 2014 on MATT.
(double)    14 DARK HORSE / Katy Perry f/ Juicy J
                                    05 LET ME GO / 3 Doors Down

Part 12
            The second song from them in our top songs of meaning of the past 22 years. Going back to 2005, from the album “Seventeen Days” from 3 Doors Down, the number 1 song of meaning that year, “Let Me Go” on MATT. “One more kiss,” they sing the thoughts of the man in the relationship, “could be the best thing, but one more lie could be the worst. And all these thoughts are never resting, and you’re not something I deserve. In my head there’s only you now. In this world there’s real and make believe, and this seems real to me. I’m torn between this life I lead and where I stand. And you love me, but you don’t know who I am. So let me go.” This is a really important message especially for the marriages of our world. Before we can say that we love someone, we really have to know them—the reason why so many marriage counselors suggest dating for a long time before marriage takes place. During that time, one will have to learn many things about the other, and learn to be completely satisfied with the other. Super song for people in love.
            As is this final song of our show today from Ed Sheeran, the number 1 song of 2018. It actually began its air time in 2017, but it was so popular that it took the number 1 song of all the songs that were played in 2018. His song “Perfect” from his album which is just a division sign. “I found a love for me,” he begins the song, “just dive right in and follow my lead. I found a girl, beautiful and sweet, I never knew you were the someone waiting for me ‘cause we were just kids when we fell in love, not knowing what it was. I will not give you up this time, your heart is all I own and in your eyes you’re holding mine. When you said you looked a mess, I whispered underneath my breath, but you heard it, you look perfect tonight.” Something that people in love must remember is that they show that love in as perfect a way as possible. And for those who are not in love in a romantic way, we ought to learn love of others in as perfect a way as possible also.
            And there you have it, a number of great songs today, 22 of them, the number one songs of meaning of the years 1998 to 2019. This was an important show for all of us because the number 1 songs of those years had truly important things to say to us. My prayer for you and me is that we continue to learn from the songs that we play here. My thanks to the producers of “Message at the Top” and to our sponsors, especially Hays Car and Truck Alignment, Thomas More Prep-Marian Junior and Senior High School and Holy Family Elementary School, all three in Hays, and all three places with great products. If you have some song suggestions or want to comment on anything that I have said, feel free to write me here at KJLS-FM, Hays, or e-mail me at frmikescully@yahoo.com. My website is www.frmikescully.com where you will find some meditations on these songs and some great movies and a transcript of the show. Remember that you can join us on the web every Sunday morning at 10 am by going to www.hayspost.com and choosing Mix 103. We invite you to be here next Sunday, same time, same station. One final quotation from Albert Einstein. “Only a life lived for others is a life worth-while.” How about that!—Albert Einstein. The number 1 song of 2018 was from Ed Sheeran. And as you listen, may I remind you that you are listening to today’s best music Mix 103 and part of our advice is to hold a good thought. My name is Fr. Mike Scully. Peace to you, and be good!
18 PERFECT / Ed Sheeran