The next performance of George Frideric Handel’s Messiah at Augustana College will be extra-special for its conductor and performers, as Jon Hurty – the school’s director of choral activities since 1996 – is retiring at the end of this school year. He will lead the classic oratorio on February 22 at 3 p.m. in Augustana College's Centennial Hall.

For 2025's year-in-music survey, we winnowed contributions down to two lists of top fives – the top five album releases and top five singles (which weren't necessarily on any of the top five albums).

These work products are considered a parody inspired by the original songs. And, given Lydia Electrum's focus on restoring the republic via sound money, namely using gold and silver, we have coined (pun intended) these series of songs "Parody Gold."

The gist of Lydia Electrum's essays focus on restoring sound money to our nation's economy, using gold and silver rather than fiat currency printed out of thin air in ones and zeroes. In pursuit of engaging more like-minded concerned citizens, Lydia was inspired to re-write the lyrics to more than 15 Bob Dylan songs with these principles, history, and topics in mind.