AS ELLA LANGLEY'S "Choosin' Texas" extends its record-setting run at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with its 24th week on top of that chart, it's more of the same in its upper region. Once again, much of the top ten hasn't changed at all from last week; the top five still remain the same. Stella Lefty's "Boston" still #2, Morgan Wallen's "Been By Now" #3, Ariana Grande's "Hate I Made You Love Me" #4, and Tame Impala featuring JENNIE's "Dracula" at #5. Speaking of which, Tame Impala has had more new music since that came out a year ago, yet music listeners keep listening to that. It's logged 52 weeks on the chart. Once again, the only movement of note is Karol G's "Bby WOW" still moving up from 7 to 6. There is one debut in the top 10, predictably, it's the new one from Morgan Wallen (one of a few artists capable of a high debut), with "The Last Thing You Need" at #9. Actually, Taylor Swift's "I Knew It, I Knew You" drops from 6 to 12, which seems unusual for a song that has stuck around without an album bomb. And there's still two Olivia Dean songs in the top 10, but neither of them is the awesome duet with Sam Fender, "Rein Me In", stuck down there at #56. It's bulleted, which explains why it's still listed on the chart at 27 weeks, which would normally be removed from the chart due to the recurrent rule.
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| Earth, Wind & Fire's all-time classic "September" re-enters the Hot 100 at #45 as the song references September 21, garnering many streams in its wake last week |
But the news on the chart isn't what's new on it. Re-entering at #45 is "September" by Earth, Wind and Fire. Yes, you read that right. With the lyric's "do you remember / the 21st night of September", through a lot of posts and plays, comes back onto the chart. Once again, old songs have to be in the top 50 if they are to re-enter.
But that begs the question: With the state of popular music out there, which to be honest is rather staid (believe me, there's great music out that that needs to be heard that simply hasn't), is it getting to the point that anything that results in an old song coming back, it is going to do so? This is a trend that had started about 10 years ago when holiday songs started re-charting in November and December, which has gone to the point that almost the entire top 50 each December are Christmas songs of the holiday season.
Then a few years ago, the same started happening for Halloween. Headed by Michael Jackson's "Thriller", songs like "Monster Mash", "Ghostbusters", "Somebody's Watching Me", and even "This is Halloween" are making appearances every year, with "Thriller" hitting the top 10 last year.
Biopics like Michael, TV season finales like Stranger Things, and artist's passings (like the recent Dolly Parton) have sent songs forty to fifty years old back onto the chart. But now, a song that deals with the month of September, which has always been popular when played in clubs, weddings and such, now commands such a following that it hit the chart, 48 years after it was released, and makes the chart for the first time since it peaked at #8 in early 1979, finds it easy to land on the Hot 100 (thanks to the time of year). Will it get to the point that perhaps each summer, songs like "Summer in the City", "Summer Breeze", "Summer Nights", "School's Out", 'Beach Baby" or "The Boys of Summer" just to name a few will re-enter the chart every June, costing more would-be new music a shot at the chart?
Don't get me wrong, I do like "September", although it didn't make my year-end list either in 1978 or '79. It's not Earth, Wind & Fire's biggest song (that would be "Shining Star", #1 in 1975), but similar to Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" (which also is not that bands highest charter), which itself came back on the chart for a week in July as its was played at a U.S. World Cup match with Australia that month, it's the most well-known and still played much today. Incidentally, my favorite by Earth, Wind & Fire is the ballad "After the Love Has Gone" which hit #2 in the summer of 1979.
Billboard has taken much action to ensure that the chart is made of current music, imposing certain criteria for songs that stay on the chart for long periods of times. But, with all these songs coming back on the charts for reasons like the time of year, TV series and even sports events, you have to wonder that if Billboard didn't have the recurrent rule, or another rule that old songs have to enter in the top 50, that we will either have the same current songs on the chart for two or more years (like Teddy Swims' "Lose Control" lasting for 112 weeks before Billboard yanked it off), or a bunch of old songs dominating the chart.
That seems like a possibility when looking at the Billboard 200 Album Chart, which doesn't have those restrictions. While the top of that chart is current, with the latest albums by Miley (Cyrus), Ella Langley, Riley Green, Morgan Wallen and Olivia Rodrigo in the top five, you don't have to scroll down too much to find Thriller at #18, on the chart for 737 weeks! Drake's Take Care is #23 in its 708th week. Fleetwood Mac's Rumours? That's #31 in week 704! Creedence Clearwater Revival's greatest-hits album Chronicle, which didn't do that great when it was released back in 1976, is #45, with 817 weeks. And as much as people are led to believe that Nickelback is a horrible band, tell that to those that have their Best of Nickelback, Volume 1 set at #52 for 311 weeks. Still-popular artists like Drake, SZA and Morgan Wallen have three-digit weeks on chart. Katy Perry's recent album bombed, but Teenage Dream is still on for week 489. Queen's Greatest Hits? 718 weeks. Eminem's Curtain Call? 807. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Tom Petty, Nirvana, Lady Gaga, Linkin Park, Lana Del Rey, Guns'n' Roses, The Beatles, Bob Segar, Bon Jovi all have been on there for years. The most weeks I could find on the chart? Journey's Greatest Hits, no doubt due to the aforementioned "Don't Stop Believin'" (928 weeks) and Bob Marley & the Wailers' Legend (958).
Now, can you imagine what the Hot 100 might look like if there were no restrictions, given all the streams for classic popular music? New music has to compete with these legendary songs and artists. And except for "Choosin' Texas", has any recent song been referenced by friends, social media posts and the like? It doesn't help that vintage artists and songwriters are suing current artists for copyright infringement: Olivia Dean's "I've Seen It" sounds a lot like Bill Withers' "Just the Two of Us" from 1981 resulting in a new lawsuit initiated by Withers' publishers.
Luckily there are current, specialty charts like indie music, beach music, and airplay charts (that omit old music) that you can find new music from. Or heck, just look at the Scenes 'n' Soundwaves 100 if you want fresh new music instead of having to dig for it.
SNS 100: It's a third week at the top for "Material Lover" by Sienna Spiro which spends another stanza at #1, again in a close battle with Brooke Combe's "Love Was Made Of Stone", still #2. Closing in are the next three songs: "Tokyo Honey" by Loaded Honey (5-3), "I Feel Hope Coming" by Alabama Shakes (6-4) and Vaughan Penn's "Sandbar Shuffle" (still gaining points but pushed down 4 to 5). Two new songs in the top 10: Yet another entry from The Womack Sisters' as the ballad "Monster" moves 14-9, and the fourth straight top 10 hit from The Mac Daddy's Band as "Shirley, You're Kidding" moves 13 to 10.
Three new entries into the top 20, led by the Impact winner Sir Prize and The Twomorrow Knightz' "Hilltop High" (23-18), The Jay Vons' "Want You Tomorrow", the sixth straight top 20 from their 2019 album The Word (28-19), and Paul Czekaj's first entry in almost seven years, "Thunder In the Distance" (26-20). Last week's Top Debut, Marlisa Kay Small's "In Way Over My Heart" moves 61-43 to garner this week's Mover.
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| Manchester, England-based Pip Millett returns to the SNS 100 as featured vocalists on Gotts Street Park's latest, "Flowers". |
NEWBIES: It was just over two years ago when English acts Gotts Street Park and Pip Millett joined forces and produced "Got To Be Good" that went straight to #1 on the SNS 100. The combo returns this week with "Flowers". Not quite as haunting as last time out, but still very pleasant and rivals that song as it goes on. Several listens should clinch it. Pip's voice is still awesome, with vibes reminding me a bit of Amy Winehouse. Still very palatable and should be another winner for the combo. My climate for this type of song is still high. It's the Top Debut at #78,
Low Cut Connie is a band from Philadelphia, and is headed by Adam Weiner who has been the only constant member since its formation in 2010. "Can't Be Wrong" is the first to make the SNS and is a tasty morsel of accessible and fun pop-rock. It enters at #81....Meanwhile Orbis Max keeps its momentum going with its latest, "That Riviera Touch", which features Neil Christie. The band is in rare form with Dw Dunphy once again leading with his vocals. While the Internet band hails from all over, Dw's vocals recall many of the vintage Jersey Shore sound, but it goes beyond that. This band keeps coming up with winners. It enters at #85.
September in the Park has been getting some beach airplay with "Brenda", coming in at #93. The ingredients for a contemporary-style beach song are all here, including some horn action. By trade, they are a tribute band for Earth Wind & Wire and Chicago (we've sort of come full circle here, as their name pretty much combines songs by those two artists). But this one doesn't sound like either of those bands, which is fine by me since it's being aimed at the shag crowd.
Those Aussie rockers, Kathleen Turner Overdrive are right back to follow "I Want to Believe", with "Grass Code". Repeated chants of "Johnny come home" (shades of Fine Young Cannibals?) abound here in this bouncy rocker. The band has a way with catchy songs, and this one is no exception. It enters at #95.
The Randy Clay Band is back with "It's About to Get Crazy". While the band plays beach music by trade, this is more of a old-time straight-ahead rocker with sort of a cross between The Rolling Stones and Lynyrd Skynyrd (if you can imagine what that sounds like). It sounds like they're having fun here, entering at #98. The follow-up to the top 20 "We Came to Dance" should rival that position with this one..... Finally bubbling under with the latest from K.Flay, "Ants", a hip-hop/alternative hybrid. May take a few spins to appreciate this one.
Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist
September 27, 2026
|
This Week |
Last Week |
ARTIST-Title |
Weeks on List |
|
1 |
1 |
NUMBER ONE:  Albums: Visitor (Deluxe Digital)/The Devil Wears Prada 2 (Soundtrack) (3 Weeks at #1) |
10 |
|
2 |
2 |
9 |
|
|
3 |
5 |
9 |
|
|
4 |
6 |
7 |
|
|
5 |
4 |
9 |
|
|
6 |
3 |
12 |
|
|
7 |
9 |
8 |
|
|
8 |
8 |
8 |
|
|
9 |
14 |
5 |
|
|
10 |
13 |
6 |
|
|
11 |
11 |
11 |
|
|
12 |
10 |
15 |
|
|
13 |
12 |
9 |
|
|
14 |
7 |
21 |
|
|
15 |
17 |
11 |
|
|
16 |
16 |
36 |
|
|
17 |
19 |
6 |
|
|
18 |
23 |
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:  SIR PRIZE AND THE TWOMORROW KNIGHTZ (Single Release) |
11 |
|
19 |
28 |
5 |
|
|
20 |
26 |
8 |
|
|
21 |
18 |
13 |
|
|
22 |
22 |
30 |
|
|
23 |
31 |
8 |
|
|
24 |
15 |
11 |
|
|
25 |
29 |
10 |
|
|
26 |
32 |
8 |
|
|
27 |
24 |
17 |
|
|
28 |
20 |
12 |
|
|
29 |
21 |
13 |
|
|
30 |
25 |
14 |
|
|
31 |
37 |
6 |
|
|
32 |
40 |
7 |
|
|
33 |
47 |
4 |
|
|
34 |
36 |
10 |
|
|
35 |
41 |
6 |
|
|
36 |
27 |
11 |
|
|
37 |
43 |
5 |
|
|
38 |
33 |
12 |
|
|
39 |
30 |
16 |
|
|
40 |
45 |
7 |
|
|
41 |
46 |
10 |
|
|
42 |
39 |
25 |
|
|
43 |
61 |
MOVER OF THE WEEK:  (Single Release) |
2 |
|
44 |
42 |
22 |
|
|
45 |
51 |
7 |
|
|
46 |
52 |
6 |
|
|
47 |
50 |
9 |
|
|
48 |
35 |
12 |
|
|
49 |
34 |
14 |
|
|
50 |
38 |
19 |
|
|
51 |
53 |
Sylvia Johns
Ritchie and Doyle Wood - I've Got the Just Can't Help Its |
21 |
|
52 |
55 |
7 |
|
|
53 |
56 |
7 |
|
|
54 |
57 |
5 |
|
|
55 |
48 |
24 |
|
|
56 |
59 |
8 |
|
|
57 |
62 |
5 |
|
|
58 |
44 |
10 |
|
|
59 |
49 |
18 |
|
|
60 |
66 |
3 |
|
|
61 |
65 |
4 |
|
|
62 |
67 |
4 |
|
|
63 |
85 |
2 |
|
|
64 |
69 |
3 |
|
|
65 |
88 |
2 |
|
|
66 |
72 |
4 |
|
|
67 |
54 |
18 |
|
|
68 |
68 |
4 |
|
|
69 |
81 |
3 |
|
|
70 |
82 |
2 |
|
|
71 |
60 |
18 |
|
|
72 |
71 |
4 |
|
|
73 |
75 |
3 |
|
|
74 |
80 |
3 |
|
|
75 |
70 |
6 |
|
|
76 |
86 |
3 |
|
|
77 |
63 |
21 |
|
|
78 |
--- |
TOP DEBUT:  GOTTS STREET PARK featuring PIP MILLETT (Single Release) |
1 |
|
79 |
92 |
2 |
|
|
80 |
94 |
2 |
|
|
81 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
82 |
58 |
12 |
|
|
83 |
64 |
18 |
|
|
84 |
90 |
19 |
|
|
85 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
86 |
76 |
13 |
|
|
87 |
78 |
6 |
|
|
88 |
95 |
3 |
|
|
89 |
87 |
5 |
|
|
90 |
91 |
3 |
|
|
91 |
97 |
2 |
|
|
92 |
103 |
1 |
|
|
93 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
94 |
77 |
10 |
|
|
95 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
96 |
89 |
8 |
|
|
97 |
101 |
1 |
|
|
98 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
99 |
102 |
1 |
|
|
100 |
73 |
15 |
Tremors:
101. Dolly Parton - I Will Always Love You
102. K.Flay - Ants
Tremors: Songs which have steady or increasing points but not enough to chart on the SNS 100.
Murmurs:
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
●Songs garnering 25 plays on Spotify (“Scrobbles”) according to Last.Fm (effective October 2024) ▲ Songs garnering 50 plays.
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 41-100 and Newbies Songs in Positions 41-100 on the SNS 100 plus new additions
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.
(Rob Sheldon is a music fan who has followed music trends the past 60 years, and covers new and classic music, specializing in pop, rock, alternative, beach, soul and country genres). He can be contacted at rsheldonx4804@gmail.com
