WE ARE WELL INTO OCTOBER, and that leaves just a little over two months before we call it a year. As seems to be the norm in recent years, it's another boring year on the Billboard Hot 100. While Billboard will end its 2026 season in a couple of weeks, I think we already know what the #1 year-end song of 2026 will be. Given that "Choosin' Texas" was released a year ago this week, and the tabulation period started just a couple weeks after....and the song is STILL #2 on this week's Hot 100, having logged a cumulative total of 24 weeks at the top, it's a forgone conclusion. While Taylor Swift's "Patient Zero" is still #1 for a third week, there's no way that will topple Ella Langley for year-end honors, although some of her other hits this year could at least make the year-end top 10.
There was an article on Billboard this past week asking some chart pundits as to what the remainder of 2026 will look like at the top of the big chart. Thrown into the equation, of course, is the developing Halloween season (which was a non-issue until the last couple of years, when Michael Jackson's "Thriller" got to the top 10). Then, of course, it's the holiday season, with just about the entire top half of the Hot 100 is in holiday mode (old songs can only enter the chart if they land in the top 50). Among the responses of those were asked several questions as to what will top the chart.
First of all, there apparently are some key artists releasing music in the next few weeks that could impact the top position. While Ms. Swift successfully did that with "Patient Zero", could others do the same? Well, recent entries by heavyweights like Morgan Wallen and Drake did fall short in their recent entries, debuting in the top 10 but not at the top position. But "Choosin' Texas", which set the record for most weeks on top and extended it to 24 weeks total, probably needs a few more weeks at the top to prevent Mariah Carey's annual blitz with "All I Want For Christmas Is You" (which, depending on when Christmas falls during the week, can either be four or five weeks), from retaking the record.
Some of those asked do think "Choosin' Texas" will go back to the top. While "Patient Zero" has had a strong three weeks, the other songs that were added to her recent album The Life of a Showgirl, have long departed the top of the chart, with the highest being "Babylon" at #58. Even "I Knew It, I Knew You", her song from Toy Story 5 that hit #1 a few months back and stuck around the top 10 for a bit, is down to #37.
Some think that maybe a Halloween-driven song might hit the top. While there still are no Oct 31-driven songs on the chart...yet,...those asked named two possibilities, including one that has been in the top 10 for months, even a year now. Of course, "Thriller" has the momentum, per its top 10 showing last year, but the other? That would be "Dracula", by Tame Impala, with the version that features K-Pop singer JENNIE. While the recent Taylor blitz pushed that song down to #10 a few weeks ago (having logged 52 weeks on the chart, meaning due to the recurrent rule, one notch lower it would have been removed.) But the song has moved back to #5, and given the Halloween theme of the title, could be in a position to reach the top in a couple of weeks. The song peaked at #7 earlier this year on my SNS 100 chart and logged 24 weeks before it exited in March. While I'm not sure if I'll readd the song, it would be great to see a fave band like Tame Impala hit #1.
As to other songs that might hit the top, some are choosing ADELA's "Nicole Kidman", which has been steadily rising each week to its current #6. One person picked Ashe's "Stop the Wedding" which moved 48 to 36 this week. Others are suggesting Tate McRae's "Housewife" has a chance at the top, as well as anything by Noah Kahan, who just got some Grammy nominations.
Moving a month or so down the road, how about the holiday season? Will Mariah Carey dominate yet again, like she's done six of the past seven years (and still racked up two weeks in the Brenda Lee-dominated 2023 stanza)? Some are saying Wham!'s "Last Christmas" which had gained momentum the past couple of years, and this Christmas being the 10th anniversary of his passing. It reached a new peak of #2 during the season last year, before falling back to #4 at the end. I'll discuss this more in a few weeks as the season gets into gear.
 |
| Sam Fender and Olivia Dean's "Rein Me In" logs a second week at #1 on the SNS 100. The song is also #49 on the Hot 100. |
SNS 100: Meanwhile on my chart, Sam Fender and Olivia Dean's "Rein Me In" charts a second week at the top of my listing in a close three-way race. The song is still struggling in the middle of the Hot 100 #49 this week (up from #61) but at week 30, it's getting an exemption from being a recurrent since it's still showing signs of growth.
The song barely holds off The Womack Sisters' "Monster" (now that would be a great Halloween title!) and The Mac Daddy's Band's "Shirley, You're Kidding", up to #2 and #3, respectively. It'll be a toss-up as to what will top my chart next week. Vaughan Penn's "Sandbar Shuffle" is holding tough at #4, while Sienna Spiro's "Material Lover", which had a four-week reign at the top, is now at #5.
Three new entries in the top 10, with The Jay Vons' "Want You Tomorrow (11-8) becoming the outfits sixth top 10 from their 2019 set The Word; Jerry Powell's "Nights on Ocean Drive" (12-9), which this week tops Don Mark's Surfside beach music chart; and Jungle, which garners its first top ten in ten years with "Sunshine"(13-10, despite knocking two of its members, recording as Loaded Honey, out of the top 10 with "Tokyo Rain" (7-11).
There are two new entries in the top 20, both garnering awards. Anna Lavigne's "One Black Swan" takes the Impact award (21-19), while last week's Top Debut, Colorjoy's "Woman", is this week's Mover (38-20).
DEBUTS: The new entries are led by the latest from Scotland's Brooke Combe, "Passing Faces". Her Northern Soul-driven voice and production remain intact. As with her other songs, this is a good time, up-tempo song with some cool organ interspersed throughout. She does a fantastic job of capturing the retro-ness of the song, as she usually does. She has five top 10's this year, including a number one, two #2's, a #3 and a #4. This should add to that total. It debuts at #63.
Next is Devon Gilfillian's "Let's Stop Fucking Around". Coming off the rock-oriented "Black Dog Rabbit Hole", he returns to the retro-soul sound that got me interested in the first place. It's up-tempo with a classic soulful texture. He sounds sort of like a cross between Al Green and Curtis Mayfield, but he's his own person. I'm sure the title will limit any airplay (although that didn't stop Cee Lo Green's "Fuck You"), but maybe a "clean version" would be released. It has the definitive potential. It debuts at #65.
Heading to the beach, we have Maggie Rose's "The Mission" which is on John Hook's Beach Music Top 40 chart. Another positive vibe on this one with a steady beat. She is very soulful with a dash of country to boot. She has been recording since 2009 and had a Grammy nomination in 2025 for Best Americana Album. It comes in at #75.
Also entering is "Glass" by Ace Monroe, from Nashville, but decidedly an alt-pop romp on this one. It's persistent and can make some notice. Love the synthesizer in the middle of the song; Internet contingent SupaPurple's "Ruins", as a lot of things going on here...a bit of rock, funk and alt-pop; "Kiss Me Like You Miss Her" by Adult Leisure from the U.K, another center-lane alt-pop song with a lot of texture; beach contingent The Feature Attraction Band, following up their top 40 "Call Me" with "Rondels Medley", referring to late 60's beach band Bill Deal and the Rondels, including "May I", "I've Been Hurt", "What Kind of Fool Do You Think I Am" (originally by The Tams). The song was recorded live at Fat Harolds, and also at the Alabama Theatre during the 2025 Beach Music Awards; and Bubbling Under is Wednesday's "June 2 (Early Version)" a sort of mellow alt-pop presentation.
Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist
October 18, 2026
|
This Week |
Last Week |
ARTIST-Title |
Weeks on List |
|
1 |
1 |
NUMBER ONE:  Album: People Watching (2 Weeks at #1) |
11 |
|
2 |
3 |
8 |
|
|
3 |
5 |
9 |
|
|
4 |
4 |
12 |
|
|
5 |
2 |
13 |
|
|
6 |
6 |
11 |
|
|
7 |
10 |
14 |
|
|
8 |
11 |
8 |
|
|
9 |
12 |
14 |
|
|
10 |
13 |
9 |
|
|
11 |
7 |
12 |
|
|
12 |
8 |
10 |
|
|
13 |
17 |
11 |
|
|
14 |
9 |
12 |
|
|
15 |
14 |
15 |
|
|
16 |
18 |
11 |
|
|
17 |
19 |
5 |
|
|
18 |
16 |
24 |
|
|
19 |
21 |
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:  Album: Just Be |
7 |
|
20 |
38 |
MOVER OF THE WEEK:  "Woman" Album: Carve Me Out |
2 |
|
21 |
15 |
14 |
|
|
22 |
20 |
39 |
|
|
23 |
29 |
8 |
|
|
24 |
28 |
9 |
|
|
25 |
25 |
9 |
|
|
26 |
34 |
4 |
|
|
27 |
44 |
2 |
|
|
28 |
24 |
16 |
|
|
29 |
27 |
33 |
|
|
30 |
33 |
10 |
|
|
31 |
23 |
11 |
|
|
32 |
37 |
5 |
|
|
33 |
35 |
9 |
|
|
34 |
22 |
18 |
|
|
35 |
32 |
13 |
|
|
36 |
26 |
12 |
|
|
37 |
42 |
5 |
|
|
38 |
31 |
10 |
|
|
39 |
30 |
10 |
|
|
40 |
66 |
Nicole Willis
and the Soul Investigators - If This Ain't Love (I Don't Know What Is) |
2 |
|
41 |
48 |
6 |
|
|
42 |
39 |
28 |
|
|
43 |
40 |
10 |
|
|
44 |
53 |
5 |
|
|
45 |
43 |
13 |
|
|
46 |
61 |
3 |
|
|
47 |
52 |
7 |
|
|
48 |
54 |
6 |
|
|
49 |
41 |
10 |
|
|
50 |
55 |
4 |
|
|
51 |
59 |
4 |
|
|
52 |
57 |
4 |
|
|
53 |
36 |
13 |
|
|
54 |
51 |
25 |
|
|
55 |
65 |
4 |
|
|
56 |
50 |
16 |
|
|
57 |
46 |
20 |
|
|
58 |
63 |
6 |
|
|
59 |
72 |
4 |
|
|
60 |
71 |
5 |
|
|
61 |
47 |
Sylvia Johns
Ritchie and Doyle Wood - I've Got the Just Can't Help Its |
24 |
|
62 |
88 |
2 |
|
|
63 |
---- |
TOP DEBUT:  Album: Too Late for Tears |
1 |
|
64 |
45 |
14 |
|
|
65 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
66 |
79 |
3 |
|
|
67 |
74 |
5 |
|
|
68 |
81 |
3 |
|
|
69 |
85 |
3 |
|
|
70 |
60 |
6 |
|
|
71 |
49 |
12 |
|
|
72 |
77 |
4 |
|
|
73 |
56 |
17 |
|
|
74 |
58 |
7 |
|
|
75 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
76 |
90 |
3 |
|
|
77 |
68 |
27 |
|
|
78 |
83 |
6 |
|
|
79 |
84 |
5 |
|
|
80 |
93 |
2 |
|
|
81 |
73 |
11 |
|
|
82 |
70 |
6 |
|
|
83 |
62 |
15 |
|
|
84 |
64 |
15 |
|
|
85 |
69 |
22 |
|
|
86 |
92 |
3 |
|
|
87 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
88 |
67 |
19 |
|
|
89 |
91 |
4 |
|
|
90 |
96 |
4 |
|
|
91 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
92 |
75 |
8 |
|
|
93 |
76 |
14 |
|
|
94 |
82 |
7 |
|
|
95 |
98 |
2 |
|
|
96 |
78 |
17 |
|
|
97 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
98 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
99 |
80 |
15 |
|
|
100 |
87 |
21 |
Tremors:
101. Grace Potter - Belong
102. Wednesday - June 2 (Early Version)
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
