KJLS-FM 103.3 10am Sundays
February 9, 2025
“The Truth of the Song”
Part 1
Good morning, Central Kansas and around the world! Thank you for joining us this Valentine’s Day week, 2025 and welcome to “Message at the Top.” We celebrate “Love Day” on Friday. Close to 80 or 90% of the songs we play here at Mix 103 have “love” as part of them in one way or another, and it is only fitting that we have a day set aside to think about love. So, happy “love” day to all of you. Also, happy Super Bowl Sunday to those of you interested in football as I am. Do you have an opinion? Things around Lawrence are only red and my opinion is very biased. / But that is not why we are here. Get set now for the top current popular songs of our country right now and some songs of the past, along with some happy birthdays. My name is Fr. Mike and welcome to MATT!
If you are a regular listener to the show, you know that I close off each of the four sessions of the show with a quote. And almost always when I read that to someone or they talk about with me about it, they will say something like “Now, that is the truth.” You’ll hear what I mean with the four quotes that I will give you today.
How do we look at truth? That is a question that has been around for a while, one made famous by Pontius Pilate who asked that question of Jesus. That question has to do with universal truths, truths that apply to life. The questions about truth that we hear on our show deal more with personal truths, truths in individual cases. Such is the case here in our lead song this morning.
Which is very interesting to study. The title of it deals directly with truth, namely, “That’s So True,” and it doesn’t have anything to do with the truth as such, but takes the situation and says, “ that’s so true.”
And
what is it that’s so true according to this
song?
Simply put, people will get jealous of others who have what we want.
And we will want to get at them in some way. Both of thesetop 10
songs that we are beginning with today say that. Our lead song is one
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 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.” And she becomes very upset: “Made it out alive,
but I think I lost it;
Said
that I was fine, said it from my coffin.”
And
the
response
to her feeling that jealousy can kill you is “That’s so true!”
We’ll call our show this morning “The
Truth of the Song,” and starting us off, this is number 5
right
now from newcomer Gracie Madigan Abrams
or
simply Gracie Abrams
and
her song “That’s So True” from her first album “The Secret of
Us.” on MATT.
(double) 5 THAT’S SO TRUE / Gracie Abrams
10 TASTE / Sabrina Carpenter
Part 2
Also in our top 10 at number 10, another song about jealousy this time directed toward the person to whom her boyfriend’s new love feelings are directed, Sabrina Carpenter for the first time today and her song “Taste” from her album “Short ‘n Sweet” on MATT. It has quite a video which I would not recommend for the faint-hearted. It is the story of an ex girlfriend, she who is singing, and the present girlfriend of the boy. “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. We listen to the song and how jealousy has made her feel so badly, and our response has got to be “That’s So True,” our theme today.
We’ll stay in our top 10 right now, and talk about the truth of Shaboozey’s song in the top 10. The song continues to be very popular in America and around the world. It is a drinking song that begins 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 today, drinking too much alcohol will hurt us in the long run, and should be guarded against. And our theme/refrain to that should be “That’s so true.” This is Collins Obinna Chibueze, known as Shaboozey, American musician /singer/ songwriter and his song “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”, number 4 this week on MATT.
(triple) 4 A BAR SONG / Shaboozey
HEAT WAVES / Glass Animals
MOOD / 24K Goldn f/ Iann Dior
Part 3
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 named “Mood”, the number 1 song of the whole year of 2021 on MATT. “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, but a song about moods. And it leaves one with the statement of our theme: “That’s So True”.
Before them, we heard from the band Glass Animals from their album “Dreamland” and their song “Heat Waves”. It was the number 2 song of the whole year of 2022, the song of a man in the relationship who broke up with his fiancée for some reason and now is looking at that relationship in a philosophical way. “Last night all I think about is you; can’t make you happier now. Usually I put something on TV so I never think about you and me, but today I see our reflections clearly; in Hollywood, laying on the screen. You just need a better life than this. Heat waves been faking me out.” According to the leader of the group, the song is about realizing you can’t make everyone happy. And when we try to, then we have to cover up our feelings and hide inside TV shows or video games or drink or drugs. And again our response to such a truth has to be “That’s So True,” our theme today.
Important things being said there—not because I said them, but because we all need to understand them in order to understand life and love a little more. We’re talking about the best in pop music for the past 45 years on our show that we call MATT. Today, we’re studying each song with the thought of the truth of the songs that we are playing today. Let’s take a little break right now, and let me lead you to that break with this thought from Mrs. or Mr. Anonymous: “I walk around like everything’s fine, but deep down, inside my shoe, my sock is sliding off.” Lots of people are hurting and most of the time we don’t know it. That’s so true. You’ve got MATT on your dial today, this 9th day of February, 2025 the beginning of Valentine’s week. I’m your host Fr. Mike , and this is your invitation to stay right where you are.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
We continue with MATT on Mix 103. Welcome back to the only show of its kind in these parts. We take the messages of the songs we play here on Mix 103, and we look at those messages 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 the title of Gracie Abrams’s song “That’s So True” and we are studying the thoughts of each song of our show thinking of the truth portrayed there.
And we are all set up to listen to number 6 in our top 10 right now. I’ve quoted her before talking about the song: “The song is kind of about seeing femininity as your superpower, and embracing the confidence of being that lady.” I changed a word in that statement, and her song goes: “Now, he’s thinking ‘bout me every night, is it that sweet? I guess so. Say you can’t sleep; I know that’s me, espresso. I can’t relate to desperation. My ‘give a cares’ are on vacation, and I got this one boy and he won’t stop calling. When they act this way, I know I got ‘em. Too bad your ex don’t do it for ya. Walked in and dream came trued it for ya. Soft skin and I perfumed it for ya. I know I Mountain Dew it for ya. That morning coffee brewed it for ya. One touch and I brand newed it for ya. That’s me, espresso.” I changed some of the words. I think the song means that the lady in the relationship is the “Espresso” and she is totally in charge of the relationship, and in terms of our theme, to say that she is confident in what she is doing is an understatement and you might be led to say that she may be overconfident, to which I would say “That’s so true” our theme today. The second time we have heard from this very popular young artist on our show this morning, also from her album “Short n’ Sweet,” Sabrina Carpenter and her song “Espresso” at number 6 on MATT. (double) 6 ESPRESSO / Sabrina Carpenter
WHEN WE WERE YOUNG / Adele
Part 5
The beautiful person and beautiful voice of Adele Laurie Blue Adkins or simply Adele from her album “25” and her song “When We Were Young”. It is a sad song of a person who has left a relationship. “Everybody loves the things you do,” she sings, “From the way you talk to the way you move. Everybody here is watching you 'cause you feel like home. You're like a dream come true. But if by chance you're here alone, can I have a moment before I go? ‘Cause I've been by myself all night long, hoping you're someone I used to know. You look like a movie, you sound like a song: this reminds me of when we were young. I was so scared to face my fears. Nobody told me that you'd be here. And I swear you moved overseas. That's what you said, when you left me.” Breakups continue to be sung about because they are always so difficult and part of life. And our refrain to that statement has to be “That’s So True,” our theme today.
Another triple is right here for us right now beginning with the song at number 9. It 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 good. And so I would say t0 the song, “That’s so true.” From his album “Fireworks and Rollerblades,” his song “Beautiful Things,” Benson Boone, former number 1, number 9 right now on MATT.
(triple) 9 BEAUTIFUL THINGS / Benson Boone
THIS IS HOW A HEART BREAKS / Rob Thomas bd
ON MY MIND / Ellie Goulding
Part 6
A song of wonder about a relationship, a common enough situation of these songs. From her album “Delirium,” and her song “On My Mind” from 2015, Ellie Goulding on MATT. “It’s a little dirty how the whole thing started,” she sings, “I don’t even know what you really intended. Thought that you were cute and you could make me jealous, poured it down. Next thing that I know you were talking deep like it was mad love to you. You wanted my heart, but I just liked your tattoos. And now I don’t understand it: you don’t mess with love, you mess with the truth, and I know I shouldn’t say it, but my heart don’t understand why I got you on my mind. You didn’t love me, no, not really. Wait, I could have really liked you. I’ll bet that’s why I keep thinking about you.” Like I say, the lady in the song is wondering about the relationship, and indeed she should—we really have to study our feelings before we make a solid commitment. today. And our refrain which is our theme to that statement, “That’s so True.”
Before her, we remembered a birthday person, a Valentine’s Day birthday when he will be 53 years old. The leader of the band Matchbox Twenty, Mr. Rob Thomas sings of real pain here from his album “Something To Be,” from 2005, and the song “This Is How a Heart Breaks”. “Life is like a mean machine,” he sings, “It made a mess outta me. It left me caught between; like an angry dream I was stranded. And I’m steady but I’m starting to shake, and I don’t know how much more I can take. This is it now. Everybody get down; this is all I can take. This is how a heart breaks. You take a hit now, you feel it break down, make you stay wide away. This is how a heart breaks.” Like I say, a song of pain, and there is no hope in the song—“never get what I want,” he sings. That’s probably not true, but it is how he feels. Again a totally true statement, our theme today: breakups are difficult and cause a bunch of pain.
We’ll be right back with two triple plays, and in order of appearance—listen to this line-up: Hozier, birthday person Ed Sheeran, the band OneRepublic, David Guetta, birthday person Ava Max and Charlie Puth. Pop music always has a message and when you listen carefully, you hear some interesting stories and attitudes and sometimes pretty heavy commentary. We go to break with a thought from George Carlin, and therefore a little wacky: “Here’s all you have to know about men and women: Women are crazy, men are stupid. And the main reason women are crazy is that men are stupid.” And I can hear the women in the audience: That’s so true! I’m Fr. Mike, inviting you to keep your dial right there, as we continue shortly with MATT.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
We continue with the only top 10 show of its kind in this area, maybe the world. It is great to have you with us on Mix 103 and the MATT music network, our show being the show that takes the top 10 of today and yesterday, and discovers what the meanings of the songs are, often giving us some thoughts to live by, a show that works with the idea that it is just fine to enjoy the music, but we should also listen to the message. My name is Fr. Mike, your host, and we have featured the current top 10 song “That’s So True” from Gracie Abrams, and we are talking about the truth of the individual songs that we are playing.
Back to our top 10 again, let’s go to 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 to go into such a relationship is dangerous. And to that thought, we would say our theme—That’s so true. This is Irish singer/songwriter Andrew John Hozier-Byrne, better known simply as Hozier, and his song “Too Sweet”, number 8 right now on MATT.
(triple) 8 TOO SWEET / Hozier
THE A TEAM / Ed Sheeran
I AIN’T WORRIED / OneRepublic
Part 8
From the band OneRepublic from the soundtrack of the movie “Top Gun: Maverick”, and their song “I Ain’t Worried” on MATT. Actually it was written with the idea of having fun on a beach in mind, but according to the critics, it is really much deeper, and not so much about partying as it is about a mind-state where positive thinking is preferred over the reality of a situation. “I don’t know what you’ve been told,” the group sings, “but time is running out, no need to take it slow, I’m stepping to you toe-to-toe. I should be scared, but I ain’t worried ‘bout it right now, keeping dreams alive, 1999, heroes, swimming in the floods, dancing on the clouds below.” There are problems, the group sings, but the person is not worried since he is swimming in the floods. His positive attitude is helping him cope with life. And our response is our theme: That’ so true!
Before them, we celebrated the birthday of Ed Sheeran with his song “The A Team.” He is 34 next Monday. The song came from his album “+”, from 2011. It is a song about a girl who has problems, and she won’t get out of them for a while because she is choosing not to / or can’t, maybe. She has problems with drugs and struggling to make ends meet. The refrain is: “And they say she’s in the class A team, stuck in her daydream, been this way since 18, but lately her face seems slowly sinking, wasting, crumbling like pastries. And they scream: the worst things in life come free to us ‘cause we’re just under the upper hand and go mad for a couple of grams, and she don’t want to go outside tonight, and in a pipe she flies to the Motherland or sells love to another man. It’s too cold outside for angels to fly.” And that thought of being too cold outside for angels says to me that it is a hopeless life for her. The lady he is singing about is hopelessly on drugs, a class A drug in fact, and committed to a life of prostitution. As we consider her situation, as we said it is hopeless, and our response to that thought is our theme: that’s so true, and hopefully, we will say a little prayer for her and for people in that situation. Tough song.
Now we go to our number 7 song on our playlist today. “Don't leave afraid, what's here tonight;” they sing, “Heaven can wait, no use in watchin' the sky. Don't say goodbye, just hold me tight. Heaven can wait, I wanna dance one more time. Give me the feelin' again, Just one more time. Won't you give me the feelin' that I'm forever young? Forever young, I want to be forever young. Do you really want to live forever? Some are like water, some are like the heat, Some are a melody and some are the beat, Sooner or later, they all will be gone. Why don't they stay young? Forever young.” It is an appeal to the world to stay forever in the wonder of what it means to be young. And wanting such a feeling is a very common desire. To which we would say as our theme, “That’s so true.” With David Guetta as producer with Ava Max and—happy birthday to her, and the German group Alphaville and a song which Alphaville introduced in the 80’s, now with a couple of changes and their song “Forever Young”, number 7 right now on MATT.
(triple) 7 FOREVER YOUNG / David Guetta f/ Ava Max and Alphaville
MY HEAD AND MY HEART / Ava Max
LEFT AND RIGHT / Charlie Puth
Part 9
Charlie Puth on MATT featuring Jungkook of the Korean group BTS, from Charlie Puth’s album “Charlie” and the song “Left and Right”. It is a song about a relationship that has faded to a memory. “You take up every corner of my mind,” they sing, “Your love stays with me day and night. I can feel you over here. Whatcha gonna do now? Ever since the day you went away—someone tell me how—how much more do I gotta drink for the pain. You did things to me that I just can’t forget, you’re going round in circles, got ya stuck up in my head. Memories follow me left and right. Did you know you’re the one that got away, and even now, I’m still not okay. Did ya know that my dreams, they’re all the same, every time I close my eyes.” The person is living in the past, and simply must move on. The advice from the song: You will remember the good relationships, but you may simply have to move on. That’s so true! Is our response and theme today.
Before them, we honored another birthday, as I briefly mentioned before to Ava Max who will be 31 next Sunday. We did it with her song “My Head and My Heart.” Her real name is Amanda Ava Koci, better known as Ava Max, snd the song from 2020 and from her album “Heaven and Hell”. It is a song of indecision. The lady in the relationship is wondering exactly what to do as she has to say “forever” to a marriage. “Now and then I think about me now,” she sings, “and who I could have been. And then I picture all the perfect that we lived ‘til I cut the strings on your tiny violin. My mind’s got a mind of its own right now and it makes me hate me. I’ll explode like a dynamite if I can’t decide. My head and my heart are torturing me. Which way leads to forever?” Part of love is to make a firm decision to love forever, and to live up to it. And our theme is what we say to legitimate statements like that—that’s so true!
Which brings us to a break in the action, as we pause to think of some things to which we would respond “That’s so true”. Let me give you this thought from my favorite author, Mr. Mark Twain: “Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” Good thought, Mr. Twain—no cynicism there. Stay with us—you have MATT on your radio dial this morning on Mix 103.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
Part 10
This is the MATT music network, as we are apt to say here, as we play only the top 10 songs that have graced our airwaves over the past 45 years, and we talk about them from what they talk about—that is their meanings, saying as we do so that we can enjoy the music, but we should listen to the message so that the message can make our lives better than they are already. Happy Valentine’s Day week! I am Fr. Mike, and I welcome you back to our show that is using a refrain to the truths of the songs from Gracie Abrams—her song “That’sso true!”
Let’s feature a lady by the name of Ashley Nicolette Frangipane or Halsey during this segment 10 presentation. She has a number of accolades among which are 3 Billboard Music Awards, a Billboard Women in Music Award, an American Music Award and nominations for 3 Grammy Awards. She was included on Time’s annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2020.
First off, her song of “So Good.” The lady in the song starts off with a relationship which has not gone well. “I’m here standing in the same dress, you’re in your apartment, I’m already gone. When you left, I bet you held her body closer, and I was hoping you would tell her it was over. You’re all I think about and everywhere I look, I know it’s bad, but we could be so good.” Then a couple years pass by, and she feels the same way saying “I never got to change your mind.” But the last verse seems that he finally did change his mind, and now, she feels so good, so that things really did get better: “When you left,” she sings, “I thought you held her body closer, I never knew that you would tell her it was over, ‘Cause I’m all you think about and everywhere you look, I know it’s bad, but we could be so good.” It worked out. Things really did get better. As a result, one could conclude that we need to hang in there with our situations, because things will get better. And that is definitely a great feeling that we can respond, “That’s so true”, our theme today. This is Halsey and her song “So Good” from 2022 on MATT.
(triple) SO GOOD / Halsey
BAD AT LOVE / Halsey
WITHOUT ME / Halsey
Part 11
The featured song on my website www.frmikescully.com with a meditation that says: “A break-up with a person that we have helped is even more difficult than any other break-up.” Halsey again, and her song “Without Me” from the year 2018 on MATT from her album “Manic”. It is a song about a friend that the lady in the song helped, but apparently he has forgotten her now that he feels better. “Found you when your heart was broke,” she sings, “I filled your cup until it overflowed, took it so far to keep you close, I was afraid to leave you on your own. I said I’d catch you if you fall, Put you right back on your feet just so you could take advantage of me. Tell me, how’s it feel sittin’ up there? Feeling so high, but too far away to hold me. I’m the one who put you up there. I don’t know why, thinking you could live without me.” Her love was blind she sings, and now it has cost her the relationship because he has left. Tough song. When speaking of early relationships, each of us must remember to be thankful if the other has helped them out, whether they stay together or not. And, our theme today, “That’s so true.”
Before her, her again, Halsey, and her song “Bad at Love.” She seems to be in the process of loving, mentioning the boys and where they are from, and saying “I believe that we’re meant to be, but I’m bad at love.” It is from her album “Hopeless Fountain Kingdom” from 2017. Actually she is just having a good time, and doesn’t want to settle down, even though she tells the boys that she will settle down. Bad situation, to be sure. When we fool around with romantic love, it’s bound to come back to haunt us, and then it will probably lead to real problems, and our refrain/theme, “That’s so true!”
As usual, let’s close our show with the top 3 songs on our chart as of today’s date which is February 9, 2025. At number 3 is Billie Eilish and 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 hopefully, the partner feels the same way. If that is the case, then they do belong together forever, to which our theme will be spoken: “That’s so true!” Billie Eilish here at number 3 this week from her album “Hit Me Hard and Soft”, and her song “Birds of a Feather” on MATT.
(double) 3 BIRDS OF A FEATHER / Billie Eilish
2 DIE WITH A SMILE / Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars
Part 12
Falling from the number 1 position which they held for two weeks in a row, 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, this week, they were screaming at one another at one time, and were at war with one another, because their love was questionable. It no longer is and so they pretty much deserve each other’s company forever. ‘That’s so true”, our theme and refrain today.
And now to number 1, a spot that altogether he has held for 3 weeks, is a song about two people who have discovered real love. It comes from British singer Myles Smith and his song “Stargazing”. “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 committed love and if it is, the relationship is for real, and will last forever, to which we will say our theme –that’s so true.
Our theme has been the name of Gracie Abrams’s song “That’s So True,” and we have found statements throughout our show together with our songs where we say with conviction “That’s so true.” My prayer for you and me is that we will know the real truth of a song or situation and accept it into our lives. If you would like to email me, my email address is: frmikescully@yahoo.com and at the radio station: KJLS-FM, Hays, America, KS, 67601. My website is www.frmikescully.com where I give you some Christian meditations on the Gospels and songs of our show and movies, one for every day of the year. Our meditation today, as I mentioned is on the song “Without Me”. Thank you for the privilege of your time today. Remember that you can join us on the web also every Sunday morning at 10 by tuning to www.hayspost.com on your internet device and choosing Mix 103. My thanks to the producers of our show, and to our sponsors especially Holy Family Elementary School in Hays, Thomas More Prep-Marian Junior and Senior High School in Hays, and Hays Car and Truck Alignment. Enjoy the Super Bowl tonight if you are a football fan. A closing thought from Ralph Waldo Emerson: “The sun shines and warms and lights us and we have no curiosity to know why this is so; / but we ask the reason for all evil, pain, and hunger, and mosquitoes and silly people.” Such a great insight—we complain about things like crazy, but we don’t appreciate all the good things we have. Like learning how we can get help from the popular music of today. Next week’s show will include the Grammys in our genre of music from 2025, winners and nominees; hope you’re here. Right now our number 1 song is from British artist Myles Smith and we close with it—through beautiful downtown Lawrence KS decorated in Chiefs’ red and from the great state of West Virginia, my name is Fr. Mike Scully. Hold a good thought. Stay safe, peace to you, and be good!
1 STARGAZING / Myles Smith
February 2, 2025
“Taking Risks”
Part 1
Hello, Central Kansas and around the world! Thank you for joining us this first Sunday morning of the winter month of February 2025 although it doesn’t feel much like winter around here in West Virginia—and that is something to be thankful for, I believe—welcome to “Message at the Top.” I am Fr. Mike and you have your dial set to today’s best music Mix 103, the number one music station in Central Kansas. I invite you to listen to the music and learn from the message of that music as we are continuing our theme of enjoying the music, but at the same time listening to the message so that we can perhaps be better people. Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars had the number 1 song last week, and we’ll see if they remain there this morning.
It is Natalie Imbruglia’s birthday this Tuesday when she will be the big 5-0, and this Australian singer inspires a question to start us off this morning. How is it that something so beautiful is often so painful? How can a relationship that was so close and full of love end up so far apart? How can sorrow pierce a heart that once was so full of love? Is it true perhaps that love is pain? / Love may not be pain, but with love, there is always the possibility of pain. Allowing for that risk is part of love. Natalie Imbruglia presents that fact in her song “Torn.” “I thought I saw a man brought to life,” she sings. “He came around like he was dignified. … Well, you couldn’t be that man I adored. You … don’t seem to care what your heart is for. … There’s nothing where he used to lie. … Nothing’s fine, I’m torn.” She goes on to explain what all of that pain does to her: “I’m all out of faith, … I’m cold and I am ashamed. … Illusion never changed into something real. … I can see the perfect sky is torn. You’re a little late, I’m already torn.” She had taken the risk. And suffered pain as a result. There can be little doubt, at least in this imperfect world, that love and pain are often intertwined. The reason is the risk factor of love.
In love, there comes a point where one must finally reveal oneself, a point after which both people in the relationship will know more about each other than anyone else has ever known. The point cannot be crossed lightly—and the risk must be measured. Do I want to reveal myself completely in this love relationship so that if I do, there will be nothing else—and the other may not like it? The other could walk away, and use the knowledge that I have freely given, to hurt me... which seems to be the exact case of Natalie Imbruglia’s song. But if it is real love, the risk must be taken. And with any risk, there is always pain, because the outcome may not be what a person wants. / Sometimes, as in the song, the risk that the other is not ready for the same level of love turns out to be fact. In that case, a valuable lesson has been learned, even if it does not ease the pain. Sometimes, giving oneself in love even though there is the risk of pain, results in deeper love. Such is the hope of every love relationship. / There is always the risk of being “torn” in a love relationship, but if it is love, the people in love will embrace the risk. As we go through the songs of our show this morning, let’s concentrate on the risks involved in love and life. And to start us off, our featured song of the morning. 1998 was the year it was popular. Natalie Imbruglia from her album “Left Of The Middle”, her song “Torn” on MATT.
(double) TORN / Natalie Imbruglia
WRONG IMPRESSION / Natalie Imbruglia
Part 2
Closing off a double play from her, the first of which was our theme from her song “Torn,” birthday person on Tuesday Natalie Imbruglia sang there “Wrong Impression” from her album “White Lillies Island” from the year 2002. “Calling out,” she begins her song, “haven’t you wondered why I’m always alone when you’re in my dreams. Calling out, haven’t you wondered why you find it hard just looking at me. I want you, but I want you to understand. I leave you. I love you. Didn’t want to leave you with the wrong impression. Didn’t want to leave you with my last confession of love.” But she is leaving him. A little later on she sings, “Haven’t you wondered what we could have been if you’d only let me in.” It’s his fault, and apparently, he doesn’t know it. But she is telling him—in no uncertain terms. Straightforward communication here, the type that must be, especially if he has behaved the way that he seems to have. We’ve said it a number of times on this show. If we want good relationships, we have to learn straightforward communication. But opening ourselves up to someone else is always a risk, but it is a risk we must take if we are in love, that idea of risk being our theme today.
Our first triple play of the day begins with one of my six songs with the most meaning since 1980. It was the number 1 song of 2017. On the video, the song closes with the lady’s personal statement about the song which is a great commentary: “Oftentimes”, she writes “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.” If we can convince ourselves of our own beauty, knowing that we can indeed make ourselves more beautiful than we are, and other people’s beauty, we will understand ourselves and others very well. It’s a risk, our theme today, but if we take it, it will be well worth our while, taking risk being our theme today. Great song here from her album “Know-It-All,” Alessia Cara and her excellent song “Scars to Your Beautiful” from 2017 on MATT. Listen to the words.
(triple) SCARS TO YOUR BEAUTIFUL / Alessia Cara
CATCH MY BREATH / Kelly Clarkson
10 I HAD SOME HELP / Post Malone & Morgan Wallen
Part 3
Beginning our countdown at number 10, a couple very popular artists, Austin Richard Post, that is Post Malone from his album “F-1 Trillion”, along with Morgan Wallen and their song “I Had Some Help” on MATT. “I had some help,” these two artists 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, they will both have to get rid of their desire to blame the other before their relationship will work out. That’s a little risky, our theme today in the sense that one will have to admit fault, and that’s not a feeling that our human natures like.
Before them, we heard for the first time on our show this morning, American Idol number 1, Ms. Kelly Clarkson, from her album: “Greatest Hits: Chapter One”, her song from 2012, “Catch My Breath”. I believe that it is a high song of meaning because of the determination shown in the song. “I don’t wanna be left behind,” she sings, “distance was a friend of mine, catching breath in a web of lies. I’ve spent most of my life riding waves, playing acrobat, shadowboxing the other half, learning how to react. I’ve spent most of my time catching my breath, letting it go, turning my cheek for the sake of the show. Now that you know this is my life, I won’t be told what’s supposed to be right. It’s all so simple now. Catch my breath, no one can hold me back, I ain’t got time for that. You helped me see the beauty in everything.” It can be looked at as a statement to a boyfriend, or as a prayer thanking God for allowing her to understand the beauty about life. And as we think of taking risks in life, it is a risk to believe in something that you can’t prove, and praying will be part of that risk.
We have some more top 10 music from the past and present as we look at our theme of risk taking today. Popular music always seems to have an approach to life about it, and popular songs always contain something to talk about. Let me take you to break with a thought from the “Iron Chancellor”, the first Chancellor of Germany, Otto Von Bismark: “When you want to fool the world, tell the truth.” Maybe a little cynical, but reality; telling the truth is really important in our world today and especially in romantic relationships, and one of those risks that must be taken for relationships to last. 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, MATT on Mix 103. Our guiding thought is to enjoy the music and listen to the message at the same time. My name is Fr. Mike, your host, and we began speaking about taking risks, a theme that we took from birthday person on Tuesday, Natalie Imbruglia and her excellent sad song “Torn.”
Let’s go to another excellent song from 43 year old American singer Rachel Platten. “Hands,” she sings, “put your empty hands in mine, and scars, show me all the scars you hide, and if your wings are broken, please take mine so yours can open too, ‘cause I’m gonna stand by you. Even if we’re breaking down, we can find a way to break through. Even if we can’t find heaven, I’ll walk through hell with you. Love, you’re not alone, ‘cause I’m gonna stand by you.” In terms of our theme, one of the risks that must be taken in life, is to be a true friend to another. A 10+ song, a song of real commitment to a friend from her album “Wildfire,” great song and great video, Rachel Platten and “Stand By You” from 2015 on MATT. Again, listen to the words!
(double) STAND BY YOU / Rachel Platten
9 THAT’S SO TRUE / Gracie Abrams
Part 5
New to our top 10 this week and our theme next week, a song of intense jealousy and there are a couple of those in our top 10 right now. This one is number 9 right now from newcomer Gracie Madigan Abrams or simply Gracie Abrams and her song “That’s So True” on MATT. It comes from her first album “The Secret of Us.” “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, our theme today. You really don’t know how it will turn out. Sometimes it’s good, sometimes, it’s a bitter disappointment as in that song.
Another triple play is in store for us right now and it begins with a double play of songs with the same title. We begin it with the one and only Madonna. She sings: “Tell the leaves not to turn, but don’t ever tell me I’ll learn. Take the black off a crow, but don’t tell me I have to go. Please don’t tell me to stop.” Obviously, she doesn’t want the relationship to be over, but it seems that there is that possibility from the way she is reacting in the song. I look at the fact that it could be over / as a good thing and a bad thing. It is bad, since she doesn’t want it to happen, but it can be looked at as something positive if it will help her to be truly in love in the long run. And that is a risk that must be taken if the lady in the relationship really wants a relationship, taking risks being our theme today. This is the first of “Don’t Tell Me”’s, this time from Madonna from the year 2000, from her album “Music” on MATT.
(triple) DON’T TELL ME / Madonna
DON’T TELL ME / Avril Lavigne
8 TASTE / Sabrina Carpenter
Part 6
Sabrina Carpenter for the first time today in the top 10 and her song “Taste” at number 8 from her album “Short ‘n Sweet” on MATT. 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 again. “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. If one makes it a learning experience, it is a way of bringing about love, and it is a good feeling, but usually it will not be a good experience. As we said before, beginning a relationship is quite risky, our theme today, because it may not work out.
Before her, we heard the second of two songs with the same title, “Don’t Tell Me,” that last one from Avril Lavigne from her album “Under My Skin” from 2oo4. It is a great song in my opinion because of her conviction and her decision. It seems as though the young man in the song wants some physical involvement that she does not want to give. In fact, she tells him to get lost. “Did you think that I was gonna give it up to you this time?” she sings, “Did you think that it was something I was gonna do and cry? Don’t try to tell me what to do, don’t try to tell me what to say. Did I not tell you that I’m not like that?” And she sings: “I’m better off alone anyway.” The lady in the relationship is letting him know exactly what she thinks, and I believe that she is right on with her thinking, but that is my opinion. It is certainly a risk that she is taking, our theme today, because he just may walk away, and she may not like that in the long run.
We will continue to look at the top 10 of this week, and some top 10’s from the past as well. Right now, let’s pay some bills as DJ’s are wont to say. Let me take you to that break with a quote that someone gave me, and therefore I have to say it is anonymous; I’ve used it before, but it is well worth while: “The really happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery when on a detour.” Now, think about that. There are a lot of detours in relationships, and to be happy with all of them is quite a chore, and most of the time, there is some risk involved. I am Fr. Mike, this show is “Message at the Top”, this radio station is Mix 103, and we’ll be right back.
We are back for “Message at the Top” on Mix 103 as that fine announcer just said, and we welcome you back to the top 10 songs of our area as determined by our research at Mediabase 24-7. We call our show MATT because we take those top 10 songs and analyze their meanings in the light of how we can live better in this complicated world. I am Fr. Mike, your host for the top 10 show of Mix 103. Our theme came from birthday person Natalie Imbruglia and her 1998 song “Torn”.
Back to our countdown now, and we are up to number 7. It 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 good. But the person in the song has a good idea of how things work. It’s risky to get so enamored with one person, because he knows it may not work out. From his album “Fireworks and Rollerblades,” his song “Beautiful Things,” Benson Boone, former number 1, number 7 right now on MATT.
(triple) 7 BEAUTIFUL THINGS / Benson Boone
I DON’T WANT TO BE / Gavin DeGraw
6 ESPRESSO / Sabrina Carpenter
Part 8
The second time we have heard from this very popular young artist on our show this morning. Also from her album “Short n’ Sweet,” Sabrina Carpenter and her song “Espresso” at number 6 on MATT. She said of the song: “The song is kind of about seeing femininity as your superpower, and embracing the confidence of being that lady.” I changed a word in that statement, and her song goes: “Now, he’s thinking ‘bout me every night, is it that sweet? I guess so. Say you can’t sleep; I know that’s me, espresso. I can’t relate to desperation. My ‘give a cares’ are on vacation, and I got this one boy and he won’t stop calling. When they act this way, I know I got ‘em. Too bad your ex don’t do it for ya. Walked in and dream came trued it for ya. Soft skin and I perfumed it for ya. I know I Mountain Dew it for ya. That morning coffee brewed it for ya. One touch and I brand newed it for ya. That’s me, espresso.” I changed some of the words. I think the song means that the lady in the relationship is the “Espresso” and she is totally in charge of the relationship, and in terms of our theme, even though she is this confident, as we have said, any relationship can be risky. Before her, we wished happy birthday to Gavin DeGraw who will be 48 on Tuesday. We wished him those wishes with his song “I Don’t Want To Be” from his album “Chariot”. The song is a song of meaning from 2004 and is a high category song because of its stress on self-knowledge. “I don’t want to be anything other than what I’ve been trying to be lately,” he sings. “All I have to do is think of me and have peace of mind. I’m tired of looking around rooms wondering what I gotta do or who I’m supposed to be. I don’t want to be anything other than me.” Great thought because we have to begin our maturity by recognizing that we begin with ourselves—that’s all we have, and it’s worth our time and effort. But there is some risk in doing that because we probably have to correct some of our faults in the process, “taking risks” being our theme today.
And we move to the top 5 in our songs this first Sunday of February. At number 5 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 to go into such a relationship is risky, our theme today, because it may very easily break up. This is Irish singer/songwriter Andrew John Hozier-Byrne, better known simply as Hozier, and his song “Too Sweet”, number 5 right now, on MATT.
(triple) 5 TOO SWEET / Hozier
GOLDEN / Harry Styles bd
4 A BAR SONG / Shaboozey
Part 9
Collins Obinna Chibueze, known as Shaboozey, American musician /singer/ songwriter and his song “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”, number 4 this week on MATT. The song continues to be very popular in America and around the world. It is a drinking song that begins 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 today, drinking too much alcohol is certainly risky, and should be guarded against.
Before him, we shared birthday wishes for British performer Harry Styles who was 31 yesterday. We celebrated with his song “Golden” from his album “Fine Line” from 2020. It is a song that speaks of being close, but the possibility of a break-up seems to be the dominant thought. “Golden,” he sings, “As I open my eyes, hold it, focus, hoping, take me back to the light; I know you were way too bright for me. I’m hopeless, broken, so you wait for me in the sky, browns my skin just right. You’re so golden. I’m out of my head and I know that you’re scared because hearts get broken. I don’t wanna be alone. Loving you is the antidote.” That may be, but it sounds like they have a bunch of work to do before their love will blossom. And you can bet, as with all beginning love relationships that there will be some risks that both must make, our theme today.
And we have played our way to another break this first Sunday of February Sunday morning of 2024. It’s great to have you with us this morning, and I hope you stay around for our final segment which will include the top songs of the whole year of 2012. A thought to close out this segment: it comes from author Sam Keen: “We come to love not by finding a perfect person / but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly.” Great statement, and therein will be a lot of risk taking. There is more good thought in front of you—stay with us here on MATT on Mix 103.
Part 10
Good morning to all of you as we close out that morning, and welcome back to MATT, your top 10 show on Mix 103, a show that gives you the top 10 songs of the day in our area, but we also go into the top 10’s from the past, and with all of our songs, we not only play the music, but we give you their messages, often finding that the messages of popular music can help us live better lives in this complicated world that we are part of. We always say that we should enjoy the music and listen to the message. The message we are working with this morning is the fact that in life there will be a lot of risk taking.
Let’s take a little break from our countdown before we go to number 3 and as promised, visit the year 2012 and in particular, the top 3 songs of meaning of that particular year. Great songs of meaning coming at you. At number 3 that year of 2012 was an excellent song and video from Ellie Goulding. It is a tribute to what the person in the song calls “the lights.” “I had a way then,” she begins her song, “losing it all on my own, and I’m not sleeping now—the dark is too hard to beat. You show the lights that stop me turn to stone; you shine it when I’m alone, and so I tell myself that I’ll be strong, and dreaming when they’re gone, ‘cause they’re calling me home, you show the lights that stop me turn to stone, you shine it when I’m alone, home.” It seems to me to have a number of interpretations, but perhaps the best one is that there is a light given to her that enables her to be the person that she should be. Believers would call the light to be the grace of our Higher Power. On my website, I use the theme with the song of “We have a light that can guide us home to God.” And choosing some light like Christianity or any faith may result in taking some risks as we believe. This is number 3 of all the songs of meaning of 2012, Ms. Ellie Goulding, the title song from her album, “Lights” on MATT. Listen to the words.
(triple) LIGHTS / Ellie Goulding
SOMEBODY THAT I USED TO KNOW / Gotye
STRONGER / Kelly Clarkson
Part 11
The number 1 song of meaning from the year of 2012 and the number 1 song of popularity according to Mediabase 24/7 was from Kelly Clarkson and the album named after the song, “Stronger”. 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.” I use this theme on my website: “Negative experiences can make us better if we want them to.” But it is risky, our theme today, because our feelings want to go another direction.
Before her, we heard the intriguing sound of Belgian-Australian singer Gotye singing along with New Zealand singer/songwriter Kimbra, from Gotye’s album, “Making Mirrors,” and the song “Somebody That I Used to Know”, a former number 1, what MATT and Mediabase 24/7 make the number 2 song of meaning of 2012 and the number 2 song of popularity. Many charts had it at number 1. It is a relatively bitter song about a breakup. The man in the relationship is thinking back to the moment of the breakup and he felt alright about it, but then he adds: “But you didn’t have to cut me off, make out like it never happened and that we were nothing, and I don’t even need your love, but you treat me like a stranger and that feels so rough. No, you didn’t have to stoop so low. Now you’re somebody that I used to know.” What makes it such a high song of meaning for me is that we should learn what not to do in a relationship and in life. As I say it on my website, “There are difficulties in life, but we must learn to work with them in a Christian way.” Never resort to hurting others just because things don’t work out—and that’s a risky because we will want to blame somebody besides ourselves, “taking risks” being our theme today.
From 2012, we return to our countdown of February 2, 2025, and at number 3 is a song about two people who have discovered real 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 committed love and if it is, the risk should be over, “risky things” being our theme today. At the number 3 position this week, British singer Myles Smith and his song “Stargazing” on MATT.
(double) 3 STARGAZING / Myles Smith
2 BIRDS OF A FEATHER / Billie Eilish
Part 12
Billie Eilish at number 2 this week from her album “Hit Me Hard and Soft”, and her song “Birds of a Feather” on MATT. 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 the risk is that the other partner does not feel the same way, “risk taking” being our theme today.
And our number 1 song for two weeks in a row is 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, this week, they were screaming at one another at one time, and were at war with one another, because their love was not risk-free. Now it seems the love is solid and committed and therefore hardly any risk at all.
Our theme today has been the fact that we have to take risks at times especially as we develop the understanding of romantic love. The thought came from birthday person on Tuesday Natalie Imbruglia and her song “Torn.” My prayer for you and me is that we learn to take risks only with those things that will help us in the long run. My thanks to Jeff Leiker, the producer of “Message at the Top,” to the staff here at Mix 103, and to our sponsors, some of whom include my friends at Hays Car and Truck Alignment, at TMP-Marian Junior and Senior High School in Hays, and at Holy Family Elementary School in Hays. 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. Our meditation today is on the opening portion of the movie “Skyscraper” where I use the theme “The most common reason for evil in this world is love of money.” Remember that you can join us on the web if you are away from your radio by choosing www.hayspost.com every Sunday morning at 10 Central Time and clicking on Mix 103. A thought to lead us out comes from my favorite author, Mr. Mark Twain: “The reason we hold truth in such respect is because we have so little opportunity to get familiar with it.” Whoa, cynical as always, but a truth—pun intended—that we should learn, and if we remember it, it will help us in every relationship.
The number 1 song in our land today is from Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, and as you listen to it, may I remind you that you are listening to today’s best music, Mix 103, and our advice to you among the other things that we have said is to hold a good thought. My name is Fr. Mike Scully. Thank you for the privilege of your time today. Remember to catch the Grammys tonight. From the beautiful state of “Almost Heaven,” be safe, peace to you, and be good.
1 DIE WITH A SMILE / Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars
JANUARY 26, 2025
“The Good Feeling of Being Young”
Part 1
Good morning, Central Kansas and around the world! Thank you for joining us this last Sunday of January 2025 as we are still in the middle of cold winter in the beautiful Heartland and in West Virginia where I am. Welcome to “Message at the Top.” It’s great to be with you. Get set for the top 10 songs of our area right now as determined by the research from your requests, as well as the research of Mediabase 24-7 for the reporting date of today, January 26, 2025, and get ready to listen to their messages. Besides the top 10, we will take some songs of the past and refresh our memories on the meanings of those songs and we will talk a little today about the feeling of being young. My name is Fr. Mike, and you have your dial set to Mix 103, the number one popular music station of Central Kansas. And our show’s motto remains the same: let’s enjoy the music, but listen to the message and allow it to shape our lives for a better life.
Our lead song today asks the question, “Do your really want to live forver?” I’m sure that the answers would vary as much as there are individuals in the world. There are many older people who would answer “No” given what they have been through, and likewise many younger people who would answer “Yes” given what they have been through. And vice-versa. But the question is not the meaning of the song. The song is getting at the feelings that are connected with being young, and the fact that those feelings are generally something very good. And that’s the way we will look at our show with that as our lead song this morning.
“Don't leave afraid, what's here tonight;” they sing, “Heaven can wait, no use in watchin' the sky. Don't say goodbye, just hold me tight. Heaven can wait, I wanna dance one more time. Give me the feelin' again, Just one more time. Won't you give me the feelin' that I'm forever young? Forever young, I want to be forever young. Do you really want to live forever? Some are like water, some are like the heat, Some are a melody and some are the beat, Sooner or later, they all will be gone. Why don't they stay young? Forever young.” It is an appeal to the world to stay forever in the wonder of what it means to be young. With David Guetta as producer with Ava Max and The German group Alphaville and a song which Alphaville introduced in the 80’s, now with a couple of changes and their song “Forever Young”, number 10 right now on MATT.
(double) 10 FOREVER YOUNG / David Guetta f/ Ava Max & Alphaville
WITHOUT YOU / David Guetta f/ Usher
Part 2
Double David Guetta there, that last one featuring Usher Raymond IV better known as Usher who is singing with the help of DJ David Guetta, and a great song and video to study, “Without You” from the yar 2011. It is a 10+ category song because although it can be looked at as a love song, it can be interpreted as a song for humankind to imitate which is the direction that the video goes. “I can’t win, I can’t reign, I will never win this game without you,” Usher sings. “I am lost, I am vain, I will never be the same without you. I won’t run, I won’t fly, I will never make it by without you. I can’t rest, I can’t fight, all I need is you and I.” He is stating that everyone needs everyone else and if we understand it more, we will be talking about one of the great feelings of being young, our theme today.
Let’s go back to our top 10, and this time to number 4 and the first time for this very popular young artist on our show this morning. She said of the song: “The song is kind of about seeing femininity as your superpower, and embracing the confidence of being that lady.” I changed a word in that statement, and her song goes: “Now, he’s thinking ‘bout me every night, is it that sweet? I guess so. Say you can’t sleep; I know that’s me, espresso. I can’t relate to desperation. My ‘give a cares’ are on vacation, and I got this one boy and he won’t stop calling. When they act this way, I know I got ‘em. Too bad your ex don’t do it for ya. Walked in and dream came trued it for ya. Soft skin and I perfumed it for ya. I know I Mountain Dew it for ya. That morning coffee brewed it for ya. One touch and I brand newed it for ya. That’s me, espresso.” I changed some of the words. I’ve said before that it is an interesting use of the English language—making verbs out of nouns. I think it means that the lady in the relationship is the “Espresso” and she is totally in charge, and in terms of our theme, part of the good feelings of being young is self-confidence. Of course, there can be too muchof it, and too much is just plain selfishness. Our number 4 song today from Sabrina Carpenter from her album “Short n’ Sweet,” and her song “Espresso” on MATT.
(triple) 4 ESPRESSO / Sabrina Carpenter
BURN / Ellie Goulding
KARMA / Taylor Swift
Part 3
From her album “Midnights”, her song “Karma” from the songs of last year on MATT. In it, according to the musical critics, she is expressing her belief that one’s actions will decide a person’s fate. She is quite happy with her fate brought about by her actions. In that sense, karma is a “boyfriend” and a “god.” Her enemies do not fare as well. “You’re talking bad for the hell of it,” she sings, “addicted to betrayal, but you’re relevant. You’re terrified to look down, cause if you dare, you’ll see the glare of everyone you burned just to get there. It’s coming back around. And I keep my side of the street clean, you wouldn’t know what I mean. ‘Cause karma is my boyfriend, karma is a god, karma is the breeze in my hair on the weekend. Karma’s a relaxing thought.” I changed some words a little. So, in her mind, “karma” will bring about good if you do good, and bad if you do bad. In terms of our theme, one of the good characteristics of being young is the knowledge that good actions will bring about good in life.
Before her, we heard from Ellie Goulding from her album “Halcyon Days,” from 2014 and her excellent song “Burn”. It is a great song and can easily be interpreted to be a leadership song. She sings about having the fire of love and if enough people accept it, perhaps it will not die. Wouldn’t that be nice! Her words: “We don’t have to worry ‘bout nothing ‘cause we got the fire, and we’re burning something. They gonna see us from outer space. Light it up, like we’re the stars of the human race. When the light’s turning down, they don’t know what they heard. Strike the match, play it loud, giving love to the world. We’ll be raising our hands, shining up the sky ‘cause we got the fire, and we gonna let it burn.” One of the good characteristics of feeling young, our theme today, is the importance of the love of everyone. Good song, good video.
We have some more great music for you in our next segment. In fact, get ready for music from Latto, Doja Cat and Benson Boone, among others, all of them with their own little contribution to a thought about the good feelings of being young. Before our break, here is a thought about life: “The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking spaces.” Indeed. 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 America. It is great to have you with us on the station that plays the very best in popular 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 our number 10 song from David Guetta and friends and talking about the feelings of being young.
Our number 6 song is up for us next and 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 in fact, one of the good feelings of being young, our theme today is being able to sort out what is true love. This is Irish singer/songwriter Andrew John Hozier-Byrne, better known simply as Hozier, and his song “Too Sweet”, number 6 right now, on MATT.
(double) 6 TOO SWEET / Hozier
YOU RIGHT / Doja Cat f/ The Weeknd
Part 5
From Doja Cat and The Weeknd, from Doja Cat’s album “Planet Her,” and their song “You Right” on MATT from the year 2022. It is a song about selfishness. In the song, she has a boyfriend, but she wants someone else. “I got a man,” she sings, “but I want you. It’s just nerves makin’ me think about someone new. You know, I got so much to say, I try to hide it in my face, and it don’t work; you see through that; I just wanna get with you. You right, got my guy, but I can’t help it, I want you.” And the man responds, “Girl, I want you like you want me too, I feel that energy.” It is a mixed up relationship, and it’s mixed up because of the selfishness involved on her part, and probably his too. She wants what she wants, and he’s fitting right into the pattern. In terms of our theme, when selfishness takes over relationships, there are no good feelings at all, and there won’t be until both of them grow up.
We go to our number 7 song right now. It 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 one of the good feelings of a person who is young, our theme today. From his album “Fireworks and Rollerblades,” his song “Beautiful Things,” Benson Boone, former number 1, number 7 right now on MATT.
(triple) 7 BEAUTIFUL THINGS / Benson Boone
BIG ENERGY / Latto
9 TASTE / Sabrina Carpenter
Part 6
Coming back into our top 10 songs is that one from Sabrina Carpenter again—this time, her song “Taste” at number 9 also from her album “Short ‘n Sweet” on MATT. 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. If one makes it a learning experience, it is a way of bringing about love, and it is a good feeling for the young, but usually it will not be a good experience. Tough song.
Before her, we heard from her album “777”, her being Alyssa Michelle Stephens, better known as the American rapper Latto and her song “Big Energy”. It is a song about energy and confidence again, a song that says that one must have energy to live and love well, and she feels that she has it. “Got that real big energy,” she begins her song, “I could be your fantasy. I can tell you got big energy. It ain’t too many people that can handle me, but I might let you try. I like what I see: a boss like you need a boss like me.” I cleaned up the language a little. Quite obviously, the lady in the relationship feels that she is just right for any man. And, as we think of our theme today, one of great feelings connected with being young is the feeling of being really confident about your life.
And that brings us to the close of our first hour together this morning. We will continue with the theme of the good feelings of being young in just a couple of minutes. In fact, we will see how that theme can be discussed in light of the situations of the music of in order of appearance: Post Malone, Dove Cameron, Halsey, Shaboozey, Kate Bush and Marshmello. To break we go with this quote from humorist Thomas Dewar: “Minds are like parachutes: they only function when open.” You’ve got MATT this last Sunday of January morning on your radio dial on Mix 103.
Every song has a message and many times that message will actually help our lives—such is our belief on this show. I’m Fr. Mike; good morning to all of you and thank you for joining us for our second hour of MATT here on Mix 103.3 on your radio dial. I’m ready to lead us through the middle segment of our show this morning, and songs that deal with—among other topics—love, since 80% of all songs are about love. Our motto during the show is to enjoy the music and listen to the message. We are putting all of our songs into a theme that we have entitled: “The Feeling of Being Young.” It came from David Guetta, Ava Max and Alphaville and their song “Forever Young”.
And immediately we go back to our top 10 at number 8. “I had some help,” these two artists 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, they will both have to get rid of their desire to blame the other before their relationship will work out. And if they do, it will be one of the good feelings of being young, our theme today. The number 8 song right now from Austin Richard Post, that is Post Malone from his album “F-1 Trillion”, along with Morgan Wallen and their song “I Had Some Help” on MATT.
(triple) 8 I HAD SOME HELP / Post Malone & Morgan Wallen
BOYFRIEND / Dove Cameron
SO GOOD / Halsey
Part 8
Things will get better than they are, is the theme of that song from Ashley Nicolette Frangipane, better known as Halsey and her song “So Good” from 2022. The lady in the song starts off with a relationship which has not gone well. “I’m here standing in the same dress, you’re in your apartment, I’m already gone. When you left, I bet you held her body closer, and I was hoping you would tell her it was over. You’re all I think about and everywhere I look, I know it’s bad, but we could be so good.” Then a couple years pass by, and she feels the same way saying “I never got to change your mind.” But the last verse seems that he finally did change his mind, and now, she feels so good, so that things really did get better: “When you left,” she sings, “I thought you held her body closer, I never knew that you would tell her it was over, ‘Cause I’m all you think about and everywhere you look, I know it’s bad, but we could be so good.” It worked out. Things really did get better. As a result, one could conclude that we need to hang in there with our situations, because things will get better. And that is definitely a great feeling that young people should adopt, our theme today.
Before her, we heard from Chloe Hosterman who legally changed her name because her father gave her the nickname to Dove Cameron, and her song “Boyfriend” from her album “Alchemical: Volume 1” from 2022. It is a song about being better than someone else in the art of loving. She sings “I could be a better boyfriend than him. I could do the stuff that he never did, up all night, I won’t quit, thinkin’ I’m gonna steal you from him. I could be such a gentleman; I could be a better boyfriend. I don’t need to tell you twice all the ways he can’t suffice. If I could give you some advice, I would leave with me tonight.” Speaking in terms of a boyfriend, she says that she as boyfriend could do better than someone else. The song may speak about a person’s sexual identity, but however we see it, it is a song of comparison to someone else, and the statement that she/he can do better. And that feeling is one of what it feels like when we are young, our theme today.
Another triple play is in store for us as we close off this section of our show and it begins with a drinking song that has been on our chart for quite a while. The popular artist 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, one of the problems of being young is too much relaxation, and when we overcome that, it becomes one of the good feelings of being young, our theme today. This is Collins Obinna Chibueze, known as Shaboozey, American musician /singer/ songwriter/ filmmaker and producer, and his song “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”, number 5 this week on MATT.
(triple) 5 A BAR SONG / Shaboozey
RUNNING UP THAT HILL / Kate Bush
HAPPIER / Marshmello
Part 9
The song featured on my website today www.frmikescully.com from Christopher Comstock better known as Marshmello, and singing with him was the British group Bastille, and their song “Happier” from 2018. The video to the song is an inspiring story, and the song uses the thought of a way to make a person happier. But it’s really a very sad song because the way he is going to make his girlfriend happier is to leave the relationship. “Lately, I’ve been thinking,” he begins the song, “I want you to be happier. With all that has happened, I think that we both know the way that the story ends. Know that means I’ll have to leave. Lately, I’ve been thinking I want you to be happier. So, I’ll go.” With our theme of the feeling of being young, the video describes that very well. As for the song, he must spend some time realizing that after he leaves the relationship, things will really get better, and that is part of the good feeling of being young.
Before them, we heard a song who has some history in order to understand it. It is actually an 80’s song, 1985 to be exact, but it came into the top 10 because of a show on Netflix. It was the background music of one of the episodes of the very popular series called “Stranger Things.” It was listened to by so many people that it became popular again. It came from Kate Bush from 1985, but in our top 10 of 2025 from her 1985 album “Hounds of Love,” British singer Kate Bush, and her song “Running Up That Hill”. Its message is that of understanding another person. “If I only could, I’d be running up that hill,” the lady in the relationship sings, “It doesn’t hurt me. Do you want to feel how it feels? Do you want to know that it doesn’t hurt me? Do You want to hear about the deal that I’m making? It’s you and me. And if I only could, I’d make a deal with God, and I’d get him to swap our places, be running up that road if I only could.” In an interview, the author Kate Bush said: “I was trying to say that, really, a man and a woman, can't understand each other because we are a man and a woman. And if we could actually swap each other's roles, if we could actually be in each other's place for a while, I think we'd both be very surprised! And I think it would lead to a greater understanding. And really the only way I could think it could be done was either... you know, I thought a deal with the devil, you know. And I thought, 'Well, no, why not a deal with God! That’s a good thought, I believe—one of the ways to strengthen any romantic relationship is to work on a greater understanding of each other. Actually, that is great advice for any relationship involving people—work for a greater understanding. You could call it one of the good feelings of being young, our theme today.
Which brings us to a break in the action, as my friend Gerard Wellbrock says here on Tiger Radio. We’ll be back with more music in our final segment from the top songs of right now and some others too. First, let me lead you to that break in the action with this thought about happiness: “Sanity and happiness are an impossible combination.” Sometimes to be happy, we have to be a little crazy. Hey, stay with us—you have MATT on your radio dial this morning on Mix 103.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
Part 10
This is the MATT music network, as we are apt to say here, as we play only the top 10 songs that have graced our airwaves over the past 45 years, and we talk about them from what they talk about—that is their meanings. I am Fr. Mike, and I welcome you back to our show that is speaking about “The Good Feelings of Being Young” this morning, that thought from David Guetta and friends and their song “Forever Young”.
And during our segment 10 presentation which is right now, let’s go back to the top 3 songs of the year 2011. At number 3 of that year is a plea to human beings to decide to lead a good life. The song begins in London, and the group OneRepublic sings, “Day turns to night, night turns to whatever we want: we’re young enough to say. Oh, this has gotta be the good life, this really could be a good life. Got this feeling that you can’t fight, like this city is on fire tonight. Please tell me what there is to complain about: when you’re happy like a fool, let it take you over; when everything is out, you gotta take it in. Oh, this could really be a good life.” They are singing, I believe, that life is what you make it, and wherever you are, whatever you do, you can make it something good. That is one great message. As I phrase its theme on my website, “I can make my life ‘the good life’ if I want to.” And fitting into our theme today, it is certainly one of the good feelings of being young. From their album “Waking Up”, a 10+ category song of meaning, and the number 3 song of meaning of 2011, “Good Life” on MATT.
(triple) GOOD LIFE / OneRepublic
PERFECT / Pink
FIREWORK / Katy Perry
Part 11
The number 1 song of meaning of 2011 from Katy Perry. Mediabase 24-7 had it as the number 7 song of popularity, and if I could give a category higher than 10+ with a song of meaning, I would do it for this one. This is one great song, and perhaps the theme song of how to live in this world. It comes from her album “Teenage Dream,” and the name of it is “Firework”. It is one of my six songs since 1980 with the highest meaning. 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 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.” 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. My theme on my website is: “We have the potential to do wonderful and positive things.” And in terms of our theme today, it should be one of the great feelings of being young. Super song.
The number 2 song of meaning of 2011 and the number 2 song of popularity according to Mediabase 24-7, was from Pink’s album “Greatest Hits…So Far”, her song “Perfect”. “Made a wrong turn once or twice,” she began the song to someone in her life, “dug my way out, blood and fire, bad decisions, that’s alright. Mistreated, misplaced, misunderstood—it didn’t slow me down. Mistaken, always second guessing, underestimated, look I’m still around. Don’t you ever feel like you’re less than perfect. If you ever feel like you’re nothing, you are perfect to me. You’re so mean when you talk about yourself. You were wrong. Change the voices in your head, make them like you instead. Look happy, you’ll make it!” It is a statement about being positive about the way things are and making a friend of hers realize that she really is a good person—perfect as she says. My theme on my website is: “There are many people who have experienced difficult circumstances in their lives, and have gone on to enjoy happiness.” In terms of our theme today, it is one of thoughts of the good feelings of being young.
From 2011, we move to today, the last Sunday of January 2025 and again the top 3 songs. At number 3 is a song that spent the last two weeks at number 1 from Billie Eilish. 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 overcome any problems in a mature way. And that is one of the good feelings of being young, our theme today. This is Billie Eilish from her album “Hit Me Hard and Soft”, and her song “Birds of a Feather” on MATT.
(double) 3 BIRDS OF A FEATHER / Billie Eilish
2 STARGAZING / Myles Smith
Part 12
At the number 2 position this week, 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 sometimes that doesn’t happen.
And our new number 1 song is 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, this week, they were screaming at one another at one time, and were at war with one another, and one of the good feelings of being young or really anytime in life is that feeling of working things out so that the situation will work out eventually.
Our topic today has been just that—some of the good feelings of being young. It came from David Guetta, Ava Max and Alphaville. My prayer for you and me is that we will never grow old as we think of life and what it should be, that is, stay young in our thinking. My thanks to the producers here in the studio, and to our sponsors, especially Hays Car and Truck Alignment, Holy Family Elementary School here in Hays, and Thomas More Prep-Marian 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 find a transcript of the show and many meditations on Gospels, songs and messages. As I mentioned, our song today is the song “Happier” by Marshmello and Bastille. May I close with this thought from many young people. “Wi-fi went down today, so I had to talk to my family—they seem like nice people.” Yes, indeed. As you listen to the number 1 song in our land from the duo of Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars and their song “Die with a Smile,” may I remind you to hold a good thought. From the studios of Eagle Radio and KJLS in Hays, America, KS through downtown Lawrence, KS, and by way of me and my computer in West Virginia, my name is Fr. Mike Scully; be safe, stay warm, peace to you, and be good.
1 DIE WITH A SMILE / Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars