LET'S START THIS WEEK off with what seems to be a broken record these days (in more ways than one!): Ella Langley's "Choosin' Texas" remains at #1 for a 26th cumulative week on the Billboard Hot 100. That's exactly half a year, but as it has been non-consecutive, it's actually drawn out over eight months, dating back to March 7, when it first reached the top spot. That widens its lead over Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You", which accumulated 22 weeks over seven seasonal holiday periods. "Choosin' Texas" again holds off Tate McRae's "Housewife", which debuted last week at #2 and holds that position.
With the annual run of holiday-oriented songs about to start, that opens up the debate on whether the song can survive the annual Mariah blitz. Usually, the peak top performing songs last for four weeks, although depending on the length of the season (taking in when Thanksgiving falls, for example), it could be five. But chances are, Ella's song can be assured of at least a tie for the record after all is said and done. But it probably does need another week or two to play it safe. The song has also amassed 54 weeks on the chart. The recurrent rules, put into effect a year ago, results in removal from the chart (to recurrent status) when a song accumulates 78 weeks and drops below #5. So of course, it's technically possible for the song to get that many more weeks there. However, with the holiday blitz right around the corner, where last year, 40 or so Christmas songs crowded the top 50 (an old song has to be in the top 50 for it to chart on the Hot 100), can all but wipe out the song as the song can be removed if it drops below #10 with 52 weeks (which it's already amassed). It would probably take a miracle for the song to survive that.
And if Ella may have won the battle, then Mariah will probably ultimately win the war, as "All I Want" will return year after year and eclipse "Choosin's" record if it survives, unless we have a new holiday leader this year.
"Expectations", the song by Olivia Rodrigo featuring Chappell Roan which last week leaped 63 to 3, drops back to #6, enabling Stella Lefty's "Boston" and Morgan Wallen's "Been By Now" to move back to the #3 and 4 positions, respectively. "Dracula" by Tame Impala featuring JENNIE, also moves back up to #5, as some had predicted it would move to the top of the list during Halloween.
 |
| Michael Jackson's "Thriller",the title track from his landmark 1982 album, re-enters the Hot 100 at #20. |
Which, speaking of, this is the week that Halloween songs hit the charts. Aside from "Dracula", the perennial favorites re-enter. Michael Jackson's "Thriller" which it top 10 last year, re-enters at #20, Rockwell's "Somebody Watching Me", which features an uncredited Jackson on back-up vocals comes back at #39, and "This is Halloween" the song from the movie The Nightmare Before Christmas, comes back on at #41. Notably missing is "Monster Mash" which is another perennial, but is fourth on the streaming chart, and "Ghostbusters" which is fifth.
Note that the tracking period for this chart, dated November 7, includes streaming, sales and airplay through October 28, so with the three days including up to Halloween, there is a chance for further re-entries and moving up, thus a chance for the songs to still hit new highs.
TURNING TO THE SNS 100, it's a second week at the top for The Mac Daddy's Band's "Shirley, You're Kidding". The Charlie Sattenfield-penned beach music song remains at the top as the start of the CAMMY weekend (leading up to the annual Carolina Beach Music Awards on Sunday) got underway beginning Thursday evening. The song opened up its lead over "Rein Me In", by Sam Fender and Olivia Dean which holds at #2 after three weeks at the top. Meanwhile, "Hilltop High" by Sir Prize and the Twomorrow Knightz continues its slow climb, moving to #3 in its 16th week on the chart. The Jay Vons "Want You Tomorrow" holds at #4 despite gaining points, and "Monster" by The Womack Sisters round out the top five.
 |
| Marlisa Kay Small premiered her new video "In Way Over My Heart" on Thursday afternoon at Deckerz in North Myrtle Beach.. The song moves up to #8 on the SNS 100 this week. |
And while there are no new songs in the top 10, Marlisa Kay Small's "In Way Over My Heart" moves 10-8. I mentioned opening night for CAMMY week on Thursday; it took place at Deckerz in North Myrtle Beach where Marlisa and Deb Browning performed. The night also included the premiere of Marlisa's video for the song.
Beach music is still very strong on the SNS 100; aside from The Mac Daddy's and Marlisa, Jerry Powell's "Nights on Ocean Drive" moves up a notch to #6, and Vaughan Penn's "Sandbar Shuffle" is at #9. Although not on any local charts, Sienna Spiro's "Material Lover", another former blog chart-topper, moves up to #15 on John Hook's Beach Music Top 40 chart, and still sits at #10 here.
And it's another beach song that enters the top 20 and garners the Impact award. That would be "Smack Dab (In the Middle of Love)" by Rick and Lesa (21-14), who will also be performing during CAMMY weekend. Three other songs enter that part of the chart: Aussies The Colliflowers' "Arizona" (22-18), Gotts Street Park featuring Pip Millett from the U.K.'s "Flowers" (23-19), and retro soul act Nicole Willis with her 2007 track "If This Ain't Love (Don't Know What Is)" (29-20).
Colorjoy, whose album dropped this week, continues to do well. With "Women" moving 15-11, the other advanced release song, "To The Ground" garners the Mover trophy (71-51) after being the Top Debut last week.
DEBUTS: The new songs are led by the latest from Starbuck, "If I Ever", debuting at #79. This is a nice "laid-back", cool, kind of song that has sort of a country flair to it. The bouncy beat is perfect for shagging. While I am not sure if Bruce Blackman is actively promoting this as the follow-up to the top ten "Bongo Bay", this is tasty enough to still advance up the chart. Bruce has released a Christmas song "You're My Merry Christmas", which will no doubt hit the charts, possibly as early as next week.
"Lies" the Zach Bryan and Lana Del Rey songs that debuted on the Hot 100 at #4 last week (and dropped to #11 this week), enters here at #79. This is a nice country-tinged ballad, nice and subtle with Zach singing with his heart. Lana then chimes in, with her usual somber voice, it's perfect for the song. They also harmonize well. This one has a chance.
Lainey Wilson follows her "Phone, Keys, Wallet" with "Kinda Love It". Right in the country-pop lane and more uptempo than the prior song. Lainey seems to have taken a back seat to the likes of Ella Langley, but she definitely cannot be taken for granted. A nice emotions performance for Lainey here. The song comes in at #81.
Two songs, by artists who have had success on my lists a while ago, also debut: Mayer Hawthorne's "Ice Water" and Kate Voegele's "Bad Taste" enter at #84 and 85 respectively. Hawthorne, whose 2011 blog #1 "The Walk" also scored in beach music circles, had a mid charter with Party Pupils with the cover of Player's "Baby Come Back". This one is a solo endeavor from the Apple TV animated series Camp Snoopy. If you've seen all the specials over the years, you'll know that the music associated with them has been light and jazzy, and this one is no exception; a homage of sorts to those vintage specials. And Mayer's voice is suited just fine for that.....meanwhile, Kate Voegele, who appeared on the series One Tree Hill, and a big song (for me, anyway) with "99 Times", along with "Manhattan From the Sky" back in 2009, returns with "Bad Taste". This has a steady beat, not exactly hip-hop but not too far off, and Kate sort of sings and raps to it. While not as immediate of her past hits I mentioned, her voice is still emotional enough to add a lot of flavor to it. This one has a chance if I can listen to it a few times.
Also debuting are Savs' "Coffee Can" (#87), a nice and easy alt-pop song, and Bush's "In a Lonely Place". The latter is from a deluxe edition of the Gavin Rossdale-led Brit band's 1997 album of remixes Deconstructed. An interesting, subdued take on a song with Rossdale's in a mysteriously somber tone in his vocals. Might be good for a few listens. "Dracula" by Tame Impala and JENNIE, also re-enters the SNS 100; the song peaked at #7 earlier this year.
I MENTIONED the CAMMY weekend of events, here is more detail on the goings on at various venues. As previously indicated, Deb Browning and Marlisa Kay Small kicked off the time at Deckerz on November 5. Friday the 6th featured Jim Quick and Coastline at Hoto's, Rivermist at Far Harolds, while a deck party will be held at Deckerz. On the 7th, Rick and Lesa will be hosting a party at the Landshark Bar & Grill. Too Much Sylvia will be at Far Harolds that evening as well. Jeff James will be at Deckerz, and will be joined by The Mac Daddy's Michael Fite.
It all culminates with the 2026 Carolina Beach Music Awards on Sunday, November 8, at 3PM at the Alabama Theatre. I mentioned the nominees in key categories a while back, which you can read here:
For more information the events and who will be playing, check the CBMA website here: Upcoming Events
 |
| Donnie Iris, who had hits with The Jaggerz as well as solo hits in the early 1980's, passed away last week at age 83. |
Finally, I want to mention the passing of Donnie Iris. He was a member of the one-hit-wonder band The Jaggerz, who scored in 1970 with "The Rapper". But he also carved out a solo career with several pop and rock hits in the early 1980's with songs like "Ah! Leah!", "Sweet Merrilee", "Love Is Like a Rock", "My Girl", and "Do You Compute". Iris, born Dominic Ierace was from New Castle, PA. He was also a member of the band Wild Cherry but didn't join until after their "Play That Funky Music" had been a big hit. During his time with that band, a song from the band's third album I Love My Music, featured "1-2-3 Kind of Love", a ballad that was a smooth beach music hit, although Iris didn't perform on it, instead participating in Wild Cherry's next and final album, Always the Wild Survive. Donnie then formed Donnie Iris and the Cruisers, which backed him up on his early 1980's hit. The original Cruisers disbanded; thus he formed another version of the band that lasted until 1993. He continued to record albums until 2010. In 2023 he was diagnosed and treated for bladder cancer. He passed away in Pittsburgh due to health issues. He was 83.
Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist
November 1, 2026
|
This Week |
Last Week |
ARTIST-Title |
Weeks on List |
|
1 |
1 |
NUMBER ONE:  (Single Release) (2 Weeks at #1) |
11 |
|
2 |
2 |
13 |
|
|
3 |
5 |
16 |
|
|
4 |
4 |
10 |
|
|
5 |
3 |
10 |
|
|
6 |
7 |
16 |
|
|
7 |
9 |
11 |
|
|
8 |
10 |
7 |
|
|
9 |
6 |
14 |
|
|
10 |
8 |
15 |
|
|
11 |
15 |
4 |
|
|
12 |
12 |
17 |
|
|
13 |
14 |
13 |
|
|
14 |
21 |
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:  "Smack Dab (In the Middle of Love)" (Single Release) |
4 |
|
15 |
13 |
13 |
|
|
16 |
20 |
9 |
|
|
17 |
11 |
13 |
|
|
18 |
22 |
10 |
|
|
19 |
23 |
6 |
|
|
20 |
29 |
Nicole Willis
and the Soul Investigators - If This Ain't Love (I Don't Know What Is) |
4 |
|
21 |
16 |
14 |
|
|
22 |
19 |
26 |
|
|
23 |
17 |
12 |
|
|
24 |
18 |
14 |
|
|
25 |
25 |
41 |
|
|
26 |
30 |
7 |
|
|
27 |
24 |
11 |
|
|
28 |
26 |
16 |
|
|
29 |
27 |
12 |
|
|
30 |
33 |
7 |
|
|
31 |
35 |
5 |
|
|
32 |
41 |
3 |
|
|
33 |
32 |
15 |
|
|
34 |
38 |
7 |
|
|
35 |
37 |
8 |
|
|
36 |
50 |
3 |
|
|
37 |
51 |
4 |
|
|
38 |
28 |
11 |
|
|
39 |
42 |
6 |
|
|
40 |
40 |
8 |
|
|
41 |
31 |
35 |
|
|
42 |
47 |
6 |
|
|
43 |
39 |
14 |
|
|
44 |
49 |
3 |
|
|
45 |
45 |
6 |
|
|
46 |
34 |
11 |
|
|
47 |
36 |
18 |
|
|
48 |
43 |
30 |
|
|
49 |
53 |
6 |
|
|
50 |
55 |
6 |
|
|
51 |
71 |
MOVER OF THE WEEK:  Album: Carve Me Out |
2 |
|
52 |
59 |
7 |
|
|
53 |
60 |
5 |
|
|
54 |
44 |
20 |
|
|
55 |
46 |
9 |
|
|
56 |
63 |
7 |
|
|
57 |
64 |
5 |
|
|
58 |
72 |
3 |
|
|
59 |
48 |
13 |
|
|
60 |
52 |
12 |
|
|
61 |
57 |
27 |
|
|
62 |
66 |
5 |
|
|
63 |
70 |
4 |
|
|
64 |
77 |
2 |
|
|
65 |
61 |
8 |
|
|
66 |
75 |
3 |
|
|
67 |
80 |
2 |
|
|
68 |
78 |
3 |
|
|
69 |
86 |
2 |
|
|
70 |
58 |
15 |
|
|
71 |
54 |
12 |
|
|
72 |
83 |
3 |
|
|
73 |
65 |
5 |
|
|
74 |
73 |
8 |
|
|
75 |
87 |
2 |
|
|
76 |
--- |
TOP DEBUT:  (Single Release) |
1 |
|
77 |
79 |
5 |
|
|
78 |
88 |
2 |
|
|
79 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
80 |
62 |
12 |
|
|
81 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
82 |
56 |
12 |
|
|
83 |
85 |
6 |
|
|
84 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
85 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
86 |
69 |
22 |
|
|
87 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
88 |
68 |
18 |
|
|
89 |
95 |
2 |
|
|
90 |
74 |
7 |
|
|
91 |
76 |
Sylvia Johns
Ritchie and Doyle Wood - I've Got the Just Can't Help Its |
26 |
|
92 |
67 |
15 |
|
|
93 |
82 |
29 |
|
|
94 |
102 |
25 |
|
|
95 |
84 |
19 |
|
|
96 |
81 |
16 |
|
|
97 |
97 |
2 |
|
|
98 |
92 |
24 |
|
|
99 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
100 |
89 |
8 |
Tremors:
101. David F. Porfirio - The Drifter (Alternate Guitar Mix)
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
