HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Well, I am still here for 2025, how long is still to be determined, but I've discovered some great new music lately, and even the national pop hits have been pretty good, and, despite the same songs staying in the top ten for months, and wishing there was some "new blood", the quality of those songs have been much better than in recent years.
The mission of this blog is essentially the same as it ever was: Some palatable current national hits, augmented by more obscure, regional, up-and-coming gems that need to be heard, be it indie, Carolina beach music or local singer-songwriters.
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| Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars ascent to the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for the first two weeks of the year, while tallying a 6th week on the SNS 100. |
The biggest issue for me is to find sources of new music. I have many sources, and thanks to technology (AI or otherwise), it's easier than it's ever been. That's because of steaming services, such as the Spotify that I have subscribed to in my third year now, recommending songs by artists that I've been listening to, or songs by other artists that are similar as well.
Yes, I still check the Hot 100 (some good news for Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, see below), as well as the national airplay charts for Hot Adult Contemporary, Country, Alternative, and Triple-A, as well as playlists from alternative/Triple-A hybrid stations like the long running WEQX in Vermont. I now also check the Radio Indie Alliance chart and just joined an indie page on Facebook. The website last.fm has a section on New Jersey indie bands as well. And finally, many artists have contacted me to promote their own music (including this week's Top Debut), which is always welcome. Finally, I may experiment with some sort of podcast; at least I will attempt making an episode in the near future.
The downside is of course, time-consuming. Music listening is a prime activity but not the only interest I have. I don't make a dime from any of this, be it my blog or the Top 100 yearly countdowns that I do (primarily due to copyright issues), so I may cut corners, especially reviewing new music that I add. But as always, I try to provide a link to a song's video, or if not available, at least to an artist's website or social media page.
HOT 100: While I was away, as expected, for the week ending January 11, all the holiday songs exited, and cleared the way for Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars' "Die With a Smile" to finally take the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. For much of the past several months, it played second-fiddle to Shaboozey's "A Bar Song (Tipsy)", but finally passed that long-running top song in the past month, but had to contend with all the Christmas entries. But when the dust cleared, it finally took the top spot.
However, "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" has been #2 for these two weeks, thus the watch to see if that song finally can break the record with its 20th atop the charts. With Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You" now totaling 18 weeks on top with the recent sweep of the holiday season, it's pretty much a forgone conclusion that she will break the record next holiday season if Shaboozey doesn't log any more weeks.
While familiar songs like "Birds of a Feather", "Espresso", "Lose Control" and "I Had Some Help" are back in the top 10 there are some new or returning songs. Morgan Wallen moves 27-4 in its second week with "Smile". He has two songs in the top 10, along with "I Had Some Help" Bruno Mars also has two, as he is featured on ROSE's "Apt", which debuted in the top 10 a few months back and has returned. It's refreshing to see non-hip-hop songs in the upper echelon; Bad Bunny and Lil Baby have a bunch of new entries, but none higher than 16. The Hot 100 needs to be more diversified like it's been lately; it's the primary reason why I do what I do.
One final note: Teddy Swims' "Lose Control", recently named Billboards top song of the year, and was forced off the chart by the holiday blitz, moves back into the top 10 in its 71st chart week. That puts it within 20 weeks of the record of 91 set by "Heat Waves" by Glass Animals. We'll keep watch on that pursuit.
SNS: Speaking of doing what I'm doing, the first SNS 100 of 2025 is out, and "Die With a Smile" holds on to the top spot for a sixth consecutive week. It's the first six-weeker since Deb Browning and Marlisa Kay Small's, 2024-topping summer song, "Sunshine and Summertime" did it non-consecutively. The last song to log six straight weeks at the top was Bakar's "First Time" in late 2020/early 2021. As the song has topped the Billboard charts, it becomes the 17th song to top both charts, and the fourth within a year.
Teddy Swims' "Bad Dreams" moves back to #2, The Beaches' "Takes One to Know One" back to #3, while Don West's "Small Change" moves 12-4, and Alternative-charting The Heavy Heavy's "Feel" is at #5. Swims has two songs in the top ten as his duet with Thomas Rhett, "Somethin' 'Bout a Women" moves 13-8. Moto Bandit and Monophonics also enter the top 10.
The second ten is active, with Rainy Day Outlaws and Morgan Wallen moving up, the latter with "Love Somebody". Beach music's Pepper Creek lands the Impact award with "We Cruis'n". Jitwam's former top 3 "Opendoors" re-enters the top 20, and Leon Bridges' "Laredo" also enters the top 20. Outside the top 20, the Mover of the Week belongs to Vacations' "over You" (63-44).
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| Irish singer-songwriter Barry Walsh, formerly of The Fireflys, has the Top Debut with "Rescue Me" |
KEY DEBUTS: Eleven new songs enter the chart this week, in an attempt to flush out the holiday songs still on there (I plan on several more adds next week as well). Top Debut goes to Irish singer-songwriter Barry Walsh with his blog debut, "Rescue Me". Walsh was previously with the power pop quartet The Fireflys. The new single, released last May is a cool sixties British Invasion throwback that is very listenable and tasty, somewhat similar to The Pozers' "Missing You (Missing Me)". Maybe sounding a bit like The Beatles' Revolver period, somewhat. It enters at #61.
The other notable entry is beach outfit I-42 Band's latest, "Love Comes Knockin'". This is a cover of Percy Sledge's (of "When A Man Loves a Woman" fame), 1994 recording. The song for the most part is faithful to the original. This is the latest production of Ocean Drive, the outfit helmed by Wayne Troutman and Melissa Hinson. Ocean Drive was responsible for three songs that hit my year-end top 25 last year: "Back By Popular Demand" by Dustin Ahkoui & Sharon Woodruff (#25), "Everything's Changed" by Rivermist (#10) and the number one song "Sunshine and Summertime" (Deb Browning and Marlisa Kay Small). A nicely produced effort here, which enters the chart at #68.
OTHER DEBUTS: Among the other new entries is Jalen Ngonda's follow-up to "Here to Stay", "Anyone in Love", another soulful throwback, kind of reminds me a bit of Dionne Warwick's "Anyone Who Had a Heart". Soulful heaven.......Gizmo Varillas enters with the rather short instrumental, "Paraiso", sort of along the lines of the current blog hits like Arc De Soleil and Menehan Street Band. Varillas is a Spanish singer from the U.K......Michael Kiwanuka, another retro-soul artist, debuts with "The Rest of Me". Already on Triple-A station playlists, this is a slight departure for him, as it begins with an acoustic intro followed by a laid-back jazzy section. Not as wild as prior entries, but still can connect.......Seth Storer, of Whiskey-Chitto Ramblers, steps out solo with "Hungover You", sort of a country/hip-hop hybrid somewhat reminiscent of Morgan Wallen, added by rapper Lil Flip.........Jelly Roll is back with "Liar", oft-requested by a few of my friends who listen to current music....New Jersey's Sharon Van Etten's "Afterlife" is a bit understated but her vocals shine nonetheless.......Pale Jay has been constantly recommended by Spotify. Since he has a new song out, I went with it, "Simple Days", a soul and rapped song (from jev.) that's worth a few listens......Pip Millet, one of the breakthrough blog artists last year, enters with her most recent song, "Have Your Babies", featuring Mariah the Scientist. Sort of a jazzy, laid-back hip-hop effort. Awesome instrumentation, although I think Ms. Millett's true vocal talents are under-utilized here. Some SZA influences here which is a plus......Finally we have SupaPurple's "This is Our House", the title track from the band's latest album, a rocking, somewhat southern-tinged seventies style rock, but coming on as fresh. Daniele Silvestri and company have a winner here.
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| Internet collective Orbis Max has big plans for 2025 |
SOUNDWAVE BUZZ: Arguably the hardest working contingent around, Orbis Max, isn't resting on its laurels. It's a new year; thus, new music is in the pipeline. During the past two years, the Internet collective has released songs every few weeks, culminating with an album release towards the end of each year. Dw Dunphy and company are back in their collective studios working on new material. Ten new songs are planned, including three new collaborations with Tim Izzard. Dale Breeden, a former core member, will return with two new penned tracks, Martin Holt has contributed a few tracks as well. While the band is worried about their creativity "drying up", with the various musicians contributing, that doesn't seem possible
With "Breakdown" moving up to #26, and Seth Storer's aforementioned "Hungover You" entering his week, the Whiskey-Chitto Ramblers have considered changing their name. Someone jokingly suggested "Seth Leppard", but many responses have been in favor of keeping the name.
Juliet Callahan who had a successful 2024 with three entries on my Top 100 list but hasn't released anything since the summer. That should change as Ms. Callahan will be releasing two new songs, the first on January 24, then another on February 14.
Remember Tinkers Lane, the Ian Roberts-led U.K. band which had a blog #1 in 2021 with "Honey Honey"? They have big plans for the New Year, and Ian wanted me to share a Showreel that they made a couple weeks ago, recorded live at the Stables club in the band's hometown of Milton Keynes.
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| The Weeknd's "Blinding Lights" was named Billboard's "Song of the Century", encompassing the first 25 years of the 2000's |
AND CLOSING: Since the end of 2024 marked the quarter-mark of the 2000's, Billboard has compiled a list of the top songs of the 21st Century thus far. The winner? "Blinding Lights" by The Weeknd. While that song only reached #87 on the SNS 100 in a short, six-week run, apparently everyone else thought big of the song, thus it led the pack of the first 25 years. The song amassed a total of 90 weeks on the Hot 100, second only to "Heat Waves" by Glass Animals' 91.
And lastly, I am thinking of those in California affected by the tragic wildfires, as well as the continuing hardship of those in western North Carolina that were affected by Hurricane Helene.
Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist
January 12, 2025
|
This Week |
Last Week |
ARTIST-Title |
Weeks on List |
|
1 |
1 |
NUMBER ONE:  (Single Release) (6 Weeks at #1) |
18 |
|
2 |
4 |
14 |
|
|
3 |
5 |
19 |
|
|
4 |
12 |
5 |
|
|
5 |
8 |
9 |
|
|
6 |
6 |
11 |
|
|
7 |
11 |
7 |
|
|
8 |
13 |
6 |
|
|
9 |
7 |
11 |
|
|
10 |
20 |
7 |
|
|
11 |
9 |
17 |
|
|
12 |
17 |
11 |
|
|
13 |
18 |
9 |
|
|
14 |
15 |
8 |
|
|
15 |
21 |
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:  (Single Release) |
9 |
|
16 |
10 |
14 |
|
|
17 |
16 |
17 |
|
|
18 |
24 |
19 |
|
|
19 |
28 |
5 |
|
|
20 |
3 |
6 |
|
|
21 |
26 |
10 |
|
|
22 |
30 |
6 |
|
|
23 |
27 |
11 |
|
|
24 |
32 |
7 |
|
|
25 |
2 |
8 |
|
|
26 |
33 |
8 |
|
|
27 |
39 |
4 |
|
|
28 |
25 |
10 |
|
|
29 |
31 |
22 |
|
|
30 |
19 |
15 |
|
|
31 |
23 |
12 |
|
|
32 |
38 |
7 |
|
|
33 |
37 |
8 |
|
|
34 |
41 |
6 |
|
|
35 |
45 |
7 |
|
|
36 |
29 |
Sylvia Johns Ritchie -I Don't
Care Who Knows ( I Love My Baby) |
14 |
|
37 |
40 |
9 |
|
|
38 |
51 |
6 |
|
|
39 |
49 |
20 |
|
|
40 |
14 |
7 |
|
|
41 |
55 |
6 |
|
|
42 |
35 |
19 |
|
|
43 |
36 |
16 |
|
|
44 |
63 |
MOVER OF THE WEEK:  "Over You" Album: No Place Like Home |
3 |
|
45 |
22 |
Sylvia Johns Ritchie and
Rivermist - Down Home Old Fashioned Christmas |
5 |
|
46 |
59 |
5 |
|
|
47 |
50 |
16 |
|
|
48 |
34 |
4 |
|
|
49 |
48 |
13 |
|
|
50 |
67 |
6 |
|
|
51 |
68 |
5 |
|
|
52 |
52 |
18 |
|
|
53 |
65 |
Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night
Sweats - Call Me (Whatever You Like) |
6 |
|
54 |
56 |
17 |
|
|
55 |
72 |
3 |
|
|
56 |
53 |
10 |
|
|
57 |
71 |
6 |
|
|
58 |
62 |
17 |
|
|
59 |
57 |
12 |
|
|
60 |
81 |
2 |
|
|
61 |
--- |
TOP DEBUT: 
|
1 |
|
62 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
63 |
70 |
18 |
|
|
64 |
79 |
18 |
|
|
65 |
61 |
14 |
|
|
66 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
67 |
66 |
21 |
|
|
68 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
69 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
70 |
87 |
16 |
|
|
71 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
72 |
44 |
5 |
|
|
73 |
64 |
12 |
|
|
74 |
73 |
8 |
|
|
75 |
80 |
11 |
|
|
76 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
77 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
78 |
---- |
1 |
|
|
79 |
42 |
7 |
|
|
80 |
46 |
Sir Prize and the Twomorrow
Knightz - Classic Cartoon Christmas |
5 |
|
81 |
---- |
1 |
|
|
82 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
83 |
75 |
14 |
|
|
84 |
47 |
8 |
|
|
85 |
76 |
10 |
|
|
86 |
43 |
6 |
|
|
87 |
60 |
5 |
|
|
88 |
82 |
7 |
|
|
89 |
54 |
6 |
|
|
90 |
58 |
5 |
|
|
91 |
86 |
16 |
|
|
92 |
69 |
5 |
|
|
93 |
74 |
4 |
|
|
94 |
84 |
11 |
|
|
95 |
77 |
3 |
|
|
96 |
78 |
3 |
|
|
97 |
83 |
4 |
|
|
98 |
85 |
4 |
|
|
99 |
88 |
10 |
|
|
100 |
89 |
22 |
Murmurs:
The Cure - A Fragile Thing
Billy Strings - Gild the Lilly
Samizdat - Reasons That Require Cleaning (EP)
Barry Walsh - The Sound
Lainey Wilson - 4X4XU
Sabrina Carpenter- Bad Chem
Shaboozey - Good News
Jim Quick and Coastline - Hustlin'
SZA - BMF
Jitwam - Temptations
Thee Sacred Souls - My Heart Is Drowning
Paige Kennedy - Life in Fear
The Offspring -OK, But This is the Last Time
The Lumineers - Same Old Song
Cage the Elephant - Metaverse
Sam Fender - People Wartching
Moon Soul - Love Again
Lola Young - Messy
Pat Christie - Too Cold to Hold
The On and On's - Roller Coaster
Roxanne Fontana - Melancholy and You
ROSE ft. Bruno Mars - APT
Murmurs: Songs which are in the
queue for future adds onto the Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist.
|
|
Songs with the greatest increase in favorite points over the prior week
|
|
Holiday
Songs
▲Song garnered most plays
on Spotify, for the month, with a
superscript following the symbol if most played for multiple months; or if a
song was among the top 5 most plays for two months. ● Song
among top 5 most plays on Spotify.
Awards given during the last blog of each month. To qualify, the song must be currently or
have peaked in the top 40. (Until September 2024)
●Songs garnering 25 plays
on Spotify (“Scrobbles”) according to Last.Fm (effective October 2024)
Songs
on the SNS 100 are included on the following public Spotify playlists
Scenes
‘n’ Soundwaves Top 40: Contains songs in positions 1-40 on the SNS
100
Scenes
Up and Coming: Songs From 41-100 that are moving up the
chart that have not reached the top 40
Scenes
Down and Going: Song formerly in the top 40 that are
descending but still on the SNS 100.
Scenes
Recurrents: Songs which had been in
the top 20 and/or songs on the chart 25 weeks or more, that have dropped off
the SNS 100.
