Ella's 14th week at #1 Puts Her in Exclusive Territory; Roselle Park Arts Calls It a Day; Deb, Townsend Retake #1 on SNS; One Million Views! (SNS week of 7/19/2026)

 A FEW THINGS TO TALK ABOUT so let's get to it.   And as I'm writing this, a big milestone for this blog, see below!

On the Billboard Hot 100, "Choosin' Texas" by Ella Langley logs a 14th week at #1.  That puts her in an 8-way tie for eighth place on the list of songs with the most weeks at #1 since the Hot 100 started in August 1958.   Among others, she ties songs such as Elton John's "Candle in the Wind 1997", Whitney Houston's, "I Will Always Love You", Boyz II Men's "I'll Make Love To You, The Black-Eyed Peas' "I Gotta Feeling", Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars' "Uptown Funk" and several others.    

However, limit the criteria, and Ella is even closer to the top.   If you just include women artists (without male accompaniment, either as a featured artist or a duet), first, of course, is Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You" with 22 weeks, (and will most likely add to that total in about four or five months).  Next?   It's Ella, along with Whitney, and Ms. Carey's "We Belong Together" with the fourteen weeks.   So, if the song holds on for another week, it will go into sole possession of second place....and if you don't count holiday songs, the longest by a solo woman.     

Ms. Langley is still also at #3 with "Be Her" and at #7 with her Morgan Wallen duet, "I Can't Love You Anymore".   Actually, only one solo male is in the top 10, that being Bruno Mars' "I Just Might", at #10.   You can also include Tame Impala's "Dracula" at #5, but this version is a remix with Korean singer JENNIE.  Otherwise, aside from Ella, we have Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Stella Lefty (whose "Boston" jumps from #12 to #6) and two from Olivia Dean.  Interestingly, all of these songs, have charted on SNS, with the two Ms. Dean tracks and "Dracula" having fallen off.  

Elsewhere on the chart, the rapper Future has an album drop with all 17 new entries on the chart, the highest being "California Girls" at #23.  As for all those songs that entered the chart in the wake of the July 4th holiday, they all drop off this week, but interestingly, another old song, Oasis' "Wonderwall" jumps on at #27.   The reason?  The usage by fans during the ongoing World Cup competition.   The song is one of the all-time best sellers over in the U.K.    It did originally hit #8 here in 1995, and it's the first time on the big chart since then.  

SNS 100: Moving to my chart, Deb Browning and Townsend Link's "The Sea Sand and You" re-takes the top spot, knocking out Ella Langley's "Be Her" after the latter originally knocked out the beach duo.   "Be Her" retreats to #2, while Jennifer James and Brad Cox's cover of "Suspicious Minds" moves 5-3.  The Tams' "I Tried" holds at #4, while "Choosin' Texas" moves back into the top 5, after 26 weeks on the SNS 100.  Vaughan Penn's "Bands on the Beach", a multi-chart #1 this week on beach surveys, and a former chart-topper here, is at #6, while Irishman Barry Walsh moves 9-7 with "Star Ride".

The Womack Sisters' "If I Let You" makes a 49-8 jump this week on the SNS 100.

But the biggest mover in the top 10 belongs to The Womack Sisters' "If I Let You", last week's Top Debut making a monster move from #49 to #8, to grab the Impact award.   It's such an exciting throwback song, and I had requested it at our community's pool party last weekend.    While it might be too retro-soulish for beach music (although if it was released back in, say, 1963, it would still be played today).    Maybe it will catch on, who knows.   But it has a good chance to even contend with the top spot in a week or two.  Rounding out the top 10 is Christina Cooper Black's "A New Lease on Love" at #9, and yet another top 10 for The Black Keys with "When There's Smoke, There's Fire" (12-10).  

Turning to the second ten, we have another contender for the top in a few weeks:  Marsha Morgan's "Whenever There's Summer", another song that could have come out in the mid 1960's (it reminds me a bit of The Sapphires' "Who Do You Love").  It moves 29-16.  Further down, the Mover of the Week goes to Ashen Ringlets' "Waltzing Days in Maidenhood" (73-55).  

Retro soul trio Thee Sacred Souls score the Top Debut with "Any Old Fool"

NEW AND NOTEWORTHY:   One of the groups that sparked the current retro-soul trend, the aptly-named Thee Sacred Souls, are back after a brief hiatus with "Any Old Fool".  The song doesn't disappoint, and once again, this could have come out in the 60's.  It has a sort of a "Tighten Up" (Archie Bell) vibe.   Should be another hit for the trio as the soul in them is in prominent display.  Here's another song that I wish the beach outlets would play.   The song is the Top Debut at #83.

Jerry Powell, who had last year's "Song of the Summer" with "Dance with Me", is back with his latest, "Nights on Ocean Drive".  As the title indicates, it's all about the center of beach music with references to all things beach (boardwalk, rides good times).   It's got the requisite bouncy shag-ready beat, but with his vocal and production complete with horns leading the way.   Definitely a good time song that will put him back in the top ten.   It enters at #87.  Watch for the music video due to come out in August. 

As the aforementioned "If I Let You" storms into the top 10, and their "You Went Away Too Long" continues its steady rise (39-29 this week), I add The Womack Sisters' "Chauffeur", which was the trio's prior single before "If I Let You".  This is a steady slice of soul, as you'd expect.   The harmonies are still awesome.   I am so happy that these retro soul songs are making a comeback.   I just wish they would hit nationally as well (although "Chauffeur" is on the RadioWave Triple-A listing at #66).    With these sisters' lineage, perhaps that could be the impetus to a national revival. "Chauffeur" comes in at #91.

For me, the duo of Andy and Oneida remains a mystery to me, and it shouldn't be.  Their "Cruisin' Down the Boulevard" while not cracking the top 50, still amassed 22 weeks on my chart.   But other beach friends have been mentioning them.   When I checked out Ocean Drive (during the day of my interview on Wayne Troutman's Surfside Stories podcast last month), I noticed a plaque across the street at Buoys on the Boulevard with their names on it.    Well, the duo is back with their new one, "Young Again".   While the prior song had a different but still appealing sound, this one is right up the vintage beach music wheelhouse.  Definitely another good-timing song (there are so many of these this year, I feel like my chart is a race with all winners).   Well, this one has a good a chance as any of the others.   Should definitely exceed the peak of "Cruisin".  It debuts at #93.

Finally moving away from beach and soul music and moving to vintage bubblegum, it's the latest by Sir Prize and the Twomorrow Knightz, "Hilltop High".    The ongoing project of Tim Izzard is a bit different from his past songs, but still within that early 1970's Saturday morning cartoon vibe framework.   It sounds like a song you'd hear from, say, The Archies, but this is purely original.    No mentioning of glam rock artists this time, just a cool song you can sing along to.   Tim and company are definitely having fun doing this.    Definitely has an Ohio Express vibe to it.   With the plethora of soul-laden songs out there, this is a refreshing change.    "Hilltop High" enters this week at #95.

Brandi Carlile follows "Human" with "Life on the Run", entering at #98.  Beginning with a "Wild Horses" intro via banjo, this one is a cool, emotional, country-ish ballad that's sung from the heart.  Brandi should have a hit with this one, well sung and produced.

Jennifer Licko's new single is a smooth rendition of the Irish folk song "Danny Boy", entering the Tremors bubbling under chart this week at #102.

BUBBLING UNDER: Two new songs not yet on the main chart, but very noteworthy.  Jennifer Licko had a huge top 5 beach hit with "Meet Me at the Shag Pad" but takes a different tact in her follow-up.  The singer, who has roots both here in the Carolinas as well as overseas in Ireland and the U.K (not to mention Brazil)., tackles the Irish folk standard "Danny Boy".   This is a slow, emotional take on the song, done in a unique way.   Jennifer is in perfect form here.    And while it's aimed at her beach music audience (the horns come in midway through the song, making it a perfect smooth ballad there), this take could spread to other formats as well.

The other new one is "Red Flags" by Lemonhead. Not to be confused by the 90's alt-rockers The Lemonheads, this is one of those Internet contingents fused together by many artists around the world via the Kompoz app, similar to Orbis Max and Einsteins Dad.     The project is led by Kimberly Collins who does lead vocals here.  The supporting cast is probably more familiar to blog readers: Richard Bradley on lead guitar and who also produced, Mario Licata on bass, both from the aforementioned Einsteins Dad, Moe Howard on keyboards, John Cusimano on acoustic guitar and "drummer to the world" Daniele Silvestri doing percussion.   The result is a well-oiled rocker that keeps going and doesn't let up.   Great job!

Notice on the RP Loves Arts FB page that the festival is shutting down after 11 years.

ROSELLE PARK'S GOODBYE TO ARTS:   I had to say a few words about my original hometown of Roselle Park's decision to discontinue their annual "Roselle Park Loves Arts" street festival.  While I know many towns have their own, which features artisans, crafters in addition to the musical talent, this one had hit home, largely because it's the town I grew up in, while many of the performers are from this town, or surrounding ones.  

Roselle Park had a total of eleven arts festivals, and I was fortunate to attend three of them (2021, '22 and '24).     I was introduced to acts like ScreenAge (and its spin-off Colorjoy), Charlotte Sessions, The Dust-Ups (including Ryan Chatelain solo), Jennifer Cintron, Alexis Morrast, Swingadelic, and most recently, Kelli Bruno and Nini Iris.   Popular cover and tribute bands like Verdict also performed.   In addition, there were dance troupes and drum circles included in the day-long event each year.

The festival debuted in 2015, and ran every year except for 2020 due to COVID, and 2025, when it was delayed until April of this year (traditionally, it was held the last week of September every year).   The original organizer of the festival had passed away a few years back, but a small group of volunteers was able to keep it going.   Unfortunately, the small group wasn't large enough to keep it going on that level.  

If nothing else, town festivals like this one is great for music lovers as they introduce you to obscure, emerging and up-and-coming artists.  I am very fortunate to be able to subsequently follow their careers and have friended many of them on social media.    

I invite all of you, to check out any festivals going on in your town.    You might be able to catch a future rising star.  A big thanks to those in Roselle Park for 11 years of arts and music, and maybe in the future, someone can revive it.   And also, good luck to the artists that I was able to try and promote on Scenes n' Soundwaves. 

AND FINALLY, when I had started writing this week's blog on Friday, July 24, I had 997,000 views.  When I woke up on Saturday morning to finish this, I was over ONE MILLION!   Even remarkable is that about half of those came in the past year.... just as many as the 14 years before that.   I will reflect more on that milestone in next week's blog.     But for now, a big "Thank You" to all my readers!

Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist

July 19, 2026

This Week	Last Week	ARTIST-Title	Weeks on List
1	2	NUMBER ONE: DEB BROWNING and TOWNSEND LINK "The Sea, Sand and You" (Single Release) (2 Weeks at #1)	11
2	1	Ella Langley - Be Her●	20
3	5	Jennifer James and Brad Cox - Suspicious Minds	9
4	4	The Tams - I Tried	14
5	6	Ella Langley - Choosin' Texas●	26
6	3	Vaughan Penn - Bands on the Beach●	15
7	9	Barry Walsh - Star Ride	8
8	49	TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK: THE WOMACK SISTERS "If I Let You" Album: The Womack Sisters	2
9	8	Christina Cooper Black - A New Lease on Love	12
10	12	The Black Keys - Where There's Smoke There's Fire	8
11	10	Alexia Jayy - Rent Free	11
12	11	The Chelsea Curve - Ride	10
13	13	The Rolling Stones - In the Stars	9
14	15	Devon Gillfillian - Hold On (Hourglass)	11
15	7	Brooke Combe - Tears Won't Lie●	15
16	29	Marsha Morgan - Whenever There's Summer	3
17	17	Ruth Morayniss - Another Tragic Love Story	9
18	14	Sarah Teti - Borrowed Time	16
19	18	Clarion -- Hello Juliet	9
20	20	Starbuck ft Elsie B - Sleeping in the Rain and Thunder	9
21	22	Caroline Rose - Yip Yip Yow	8
22	21	The Six Piece Suits - High Tide, High Life	7
23	28	Megan Moroney - Wish I Didn't	7
24	27	Starbuck - Doo Wop Bop	8
25	16	Rick Strickland and Lesa Hudson - Too Late	13
26	19	Sombr - Homewrecker●	22
27	34	Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr - Home To Us	6
28	33	Ella Langley and Morgan Wallen - I Can't Love You Anymore	8
29	39	The Womack Sisters - You Went Away Too Long	6
30	30	The Half-Cubes ft. Glen Burtnik - Bend Me, Shape Me	10
31	38	James Hunter Six - Believe It When I See It	10
32	43	Ruth Morayniss - You Don't Know	8
33	35	Courtney Barnett - Lotta Love	13
34	41	Teddy Swims - Mr. Know It Alll	9
35	44	Bradley Denniston - No Saving You	5
36	23	Kelli Bruno - Love and Games	12
37	36	Kasey Musgraves - Dry Spell	11
38	46	Orbis Max - Falling Through the Cracks	5
39	24	Don Toliver - E85	12
40	45	R. Mark Black - Just Love	10
41	25	Tim Sidden - Don't Let Us Fade Away●	15
42	56	Interpol - See Out Loud	4
43	26	Sylvia Johns Ritchie and Doyle Wood - Just Can't Help Its	12
44	37	Suki Waterhouse - Tiny Raisin	7
45	40	Paul Carrack - Sleep on It	11
46	58	Jalen Ngonda - Burning Temptation	4
47	48	Michael Bright - Nothing Else Will Do	6
48	52	Rivermist - Heaven's Not That Far Away	4
49	47	The Milk - Loaded Dice	7
50	55	Trails and Ways - Next of Kin	5
51	53	Blair Sparrow - I Gave You Everything	7
52	57	Feature Attraction Band - Call Me	6
53	31	Malcolm Todd - Earrings	13
54	59	Kurt Vile - Chance to Bleed	7
55	73	MOVER OF THE WEEK: ASHEN RINGLETS "Waltzing Days in Maidenhead" Album: Waltzing Days in Maidenhead (EP)	2
56	65	Karen Wallo - Plum Loco Blues	2
57	63	Weezer ft. Best Coast - Go Away	4
58	61	Rhonda McDaniel and Gary Lowder - Jump on It	5
59	32	Alabama Shakes - American Dream	13
60	70	Wendy Lucas - Down For the Drive	3
61	62	Taylor Swift - I Knew It, I Knew You	5
62	42	Starbuck - Red Cadillac	16
63	51	Ruth Morayniss - Come The Light	16
64	67	Beck - Ride Lonesome	7
65	69	Juliet Callahan - XOXO	4
66	60	Orbis Max - You Know That Ain't Right	8
67	71	Sombr - Potential	3
68	54	Bruno Mars - Something Serious	18
69	86	Iration - Roots	2
70	80	David F. Porfirio - The Drifter	3
71	79	The Beaches - Should've Known Better	11
72	64	Groove Harbor - No Such Thing	18
73	72	Bleachers - The Van	4
74	50	C. Lynne Smith - A Little Faith	18
75	84	Micky Dolenz - Terri	3
76	83	Ariana Grande - Hate That I Made You Love Me	4
77	85	Sombr - My Body Isn't Ready	2
78	77	I-42 Band - Carolina's Calling	5
79	76	Olivia Rodrigo - The Cure	5
80	97	Stella Lefty - Boston	5
81	78	Aubrie Sellers - Trigger Happy	14
82	81	The Revivalists - Razorblades and Runaways	7
83	---	TOP DEBUT: THEE SACRED SOULS "Any Old Fool" (Single Release)	1
84	87	The Holiday Band - Music Makes the World Go Round	4
85	95	The Amplifier Heads - A Song Called Sha La La	2
86	89	Role Model - High Hopes 3000	3
87	---	Jerry Powell - Nights on Ocean Drive	1
88	94	Kathleen Turner Overdrive - I Want to Believe	2
89	66	North Tower - Pretty Lady▲	43
90	96	pMad - NineFortyFive	2
91	---	The Womack Sisters - Chauffeur	1
92	102	Brad Cox - Girl Like You	1
93	---	Andy and Oneida - Young Again	1
94	68	Jennifer James - Takin' It Easy	16
95	---	Sir Prize and the Twomorrow Nights - Hilltop High	1
96	74	The Mac Daddy's Band - Bad Time	20
97	90	The Jay Vons - Changing Seasons●	23
98	---	Brandi Carlile - Life on the Run	1
99	103	Phoebe Ryan - Love Is a River	1
100	91	The Half-Cubes - Whenever You're On My Mind●	21

Tremors:

101. Cigarettes After Sex - Twizzler

102. Jennifer Licko - Danny Boy

103. Lemonhead - Red Flags

104. Andy and Oneida - Crusin' Down the Boulevard

105. Mitski - Fireproof

Tremors: Songs which have steady or increasing points but not enough to chart on the SNS 100.

Murmurs:

The Half-Cubes - The Ghost at Number One

Sienna Spiro - Material Lover/ Great Expectation 

Harley Olivia - Try Me On For Size

In Color - Headlights

Violet Grohl - Bug In the Cake

Young the Giant - Evergreen

Phoebe Bridgers - Lost Boys

The Revivalists - Heart Stop

U2 - Street of Dreams

Thee Sacred Souls - Waiting for the Right Time

Charcoal Greys - Blisters

The Pink Slips Band - Windows Rolled Down

Gary Alexander - Soul Full of Sunshine

Party Pupils ft. Mayer Hawthorne - Baby Come Back

Classic Soul ft. Terri Gore - Where Did You Go

Kelly Clarkson - I'd Be Lyin'

Paul Czekaj - Thunder in the Distance (album)

Sam Fender ft. Olivia Dean - Rein Me In

Beabadoobee - The Sun Has Set

Cage the Elephant - Beaches in Tennessee

The Jayhawks - Keeping Our Heads Above Water

Maren Morris - Hard Liquor and Soft Water

Samzidat - Broken Illusion (EP)

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