SISTERS STILL DOING IT as women hold the top four spots on both the Billboard Hot 100 and my Scenes 'n' Soundwaves chart. In both cases, Ella Langley leads the parade with "Choosin' Texas". It logs a ninth, non-consecutive week on the Hot 100, and third week here on SNS. And on the Billboard chart, she is now also #2 with "Be Her", giving her a sweep of the top two positions. The two Olivias---Rodrigo and Dean are in the #3 and #4 position on the big chart, with "Drop Dead" and "Man I Need", respectively. After Bruno Mars interrupts the party at #5 with "I Just Might", Ms. Dean's "So Easy (To Fall in Love" is at #6. "Ordinary" still hangs in there at #7 in its 64th week, but Ella returns at #8 with her Morgan Wallen duet, "I Can't Love You Anymore". Kehlani's "Folded" remains a presence at #9. A pleasant surprise is at #10 as Tame Impala's "Dracula" moves to that position, thanks to a remix with JENNIE. It's nice to see an alt-rock band these days make the top 10, much less the Hot 100; it reflects a loosening up of the various genres and the variety, now that hip-hop and sparce pop have played less of a role. By the way, "Dracula" also had hit my top 10, peaking at #7 this past January, logging 24 weeks on the chart.
Also, the Michael Jackson influence, which resulted in "Billie Jean" re-entering the charts last week thanks to the current Michael biopic, expands this week. The song moves up to #17, but three other songs..."Human Nature" and "Beat It" from his landmark Thriller set, plus "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough" from the prior Off the Wall album, also re-enter.
Turning to the SNS 100, where the top four spots are also occupied by women, as well as seven of the top 10, Ella Langley holds off a charging Vaughan Penn to claim her third consecutive week at the top. Vaughan holds at #2 with a bullet, while Canadian Ruth Morayniss' "Come the Light" and Scot Brooke Combe's " Tears Won't Lie" hold the 3 and 4 positions. Just as Bruno Mars' interrupts the party on Billboard, sombr does the same as "Homewrecker" is at #5. But Ella Langley's "Be Her" jumps from 14 to 6, and Jennifer James' "Takin' It Easy" (8-7) continue the female blitz. Two male acts, Tim Sidden and The Pink Slips Band enter the top 10 at #8 and 9, before another woman, Anna Lavigne moves 11-10 with "Light".
Two beach music acts enter the top 20 this week: Randy Clay Band's "We Came to Dance" copping the Impact award (22-18), while Rick Strickland and Lesa Hudson's "Too Late" moves 30-19. The Mover of the Week was last week's Top Debut, Deb Browning and Townsend Link's "The Sea, Sand and You", moving 43-23.
STAGNATION NATION: Similar to what the Hot 100 has been going through, we have a similar issue here. I try to add 8 to 10 new songs a week to my chart, but the quality of music from various genres has been awesome this year. I try to keep these songs up high until the appeal starts to wane, but that is slow to happen. Many great songs, as a result, are moving up the chart slowly. This week, especially, the Top Debut is at a lowly #93, one of the lowest lead entries in SNS history. Thus, only three songs enter the big chart, with the remainder entering on the Tremors "bubbling under" listing.
 |
| Boston-based "mod-pop" band, The Chelsea Curve have the Top Debut with "Ride" |
The Chelsea Curve, the Boston-based "mod-pop" band that peaked at #11 earlier this year with "Never Come Down" are back with "Ride". This is another winner, with an up-tempo power popper that combines 1960's garage rock with new wave-sensibilities; the jangly guitar work keeps things going. the band is a mainstay on the indie rock charts these days, and it's making inroads here as well. Think The Cure mixed with Green Day and you have an approximation as to what this band's all about.
Another from the indie charts, The Half-Cubes, coming off two awesome remakes, contribute a third, "Bend Me Shape Me', the follow-up to covers of "Go Back" and "Whenever You're On My Mind". While those two songs were more on the obscure side as far as chart positions go, the new one is a cover of a bona fide hit, that being by The American Breed, which got to #5 in 1967-68. Joining in on the duo is New Jersey's own Glen Burtnik. Glen is noted for playing the New Jersey bar circuit both as a solo and as a member of La Bamba and the Hubcaps. He did hit the Hot 100 once in 1987 with "Follow You" but then joined the reunion of the band Styx for their 1990 album Edge of the Century which scored with the top 3 "Show Me the Way". As for the song, it's faithful to the original, with a bit more of rock edge (thanks to Burtnik's guitar, no less). A good chance for three in a row for the duo; it debuts at #97.
Finally, entering at #100 is the latest from the James Hunter Six, "Believe It When I See It". The group was one of the first beach music groups to chart and recently was coming off a duet with Van Morrison, "Ain't That a Trip" which spent 17 weeks on SNS. That song, as well as the new one, are both on John Hook's Top 40 national beach music chart. The new one is sort of a tango-inspired song that does have the beach sound. A nice throwback song that should throw itself back up the chart.
BUBBLING UNDER: That leaves five new songs on the Tremors list. Fitz and the Tantrums maintain their recent bubbly pop sound with "Good Morning California". As usual, Michael Fitzpartrick voice guides the song.....Indie rockers rosecoloredworld follows up their top 20 "Rock Bottom Has a Basement" with "Die Here with You". They slow it down a bit here with somewhat of an emo sound reminiscent of Off Guard. Their sound is appealing....Dexter and the Moonrocks follow last year's "Sad in Carolina" (no, NOT a beach music song), with "Freakin' Out", sort of a slow beginning then morphing into a mid-tempo rock song, sort of in a Pearl Jam mode......Yellowcard teams up with Good Charlotte with "Bedroom Posters", a recent #1 alternative song. Another sort of in the Green Day mode that is appealing enough to make some noise here...finally Dominick Fike's "Babydoll", currently #21 on the Hot 100 has rock and hip-hop overtones combined here with an underlying bassline.
LAST WEEK, I mentioned that singer and artist Karen Wallo is involved in a contest to The People's Artist, a competition sponsored by actor Johnny Depp. The winner of the competition gets $25,000 and their work is displayed in the Art of Elysium's Salon. I am happy to say that Karen came in first in the initial competition in her group and has advanced to the next round of 20. This round ends May 21 when they cut the finalists to 15. Definitely keep voting for her: Karen Wallo | The People's Artist presented by Johnny Depp . To see her work, check out her page: Artist,Vocalist, Animal Advocate| home|karenwallo-fineart.com/
Karen also fronts the Rendezvous band which plays the Grand Strand area. This weekend, she and her band will be playing at Surfside Charlies this Saturday and McEisley's Tavern on Sunday.
LET THE SUMMER GAMES BEGIN: This week starts my annual "Song of the Summer" contest, which runs through mid-September. Last year, the winner was "Dance With Me" by Jerry Powell.
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| Legendary soul and blues singer Clarence Carter died this past week at age 90. |
FINALLY, another passing, that of R&B/soul/blues legend Clarence Carter. Carter had a long career, with numerous hits on the R&B chart, some of which had become beach music classics. He did have two pop crossover hits, "Slip Away" (1968) and "Patches" (1970). But many party-goers, especially at the Jersey Shore, but nonetheless elsewhere probably know him from the song "Strokin'" from 1986, played numerously in the club scene there. Carter was born in Alabama and was blind at birth. His first hit, "Tell Daddy" from 1967 inspired Etta James' answer record "Tell Mama". He racked up many R&B hits over the next several years. "Patches" was actually done first by Chairmen of the Board, but Clarence's cover became the hit. He also covered beach music classics such as "Sixty Minute Man". He continued recording well into the 1990's. Clarence Carter died of pneumonia complications. He was 90.
Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist
May 10, 2026
|
This Week |
Last Week |
ARTIST-Title |
Weeks on List |
|
1 |
1 |
NUMBER ONE:  Album: Dandelion (3 weeks at #1) |
17 |
|
2 |
2 |
6 |
|
|
3 |
4 |
7 |
|
|
4 |
5 |
6 |
|
|
5 |
3 |
13 |
|
|
6 |
14 |
11 |
|
|
7 |
8 |
7 |
|
|
8 |
13 |
6 |
|
|
9 |
12 |
10 |
|
|
10 |
11 |
13 |
|
|
11 |
15 |
11 |
|
|
12 |
10 |
12 |
|
|
13 |
6 |
12 |
|
|
14 |
7 |
15 |
|
|
15 |
9 |
13 |
|
|
16 |
17 |
14 |
|
|
17 |
20 |
10 |
|
|
18 |
22 |
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:  (Single Release) |
10 |
|
19 |
30 |
4 |
|
|
20 |
18 |
14 |
|
|
21 |
29 |
5 |
|
|
22 |
21 |
11 |
|
|
23 |
43 |
MOVER OF THE WEEK:  DEB BROWNING and TOWNSEND LINK (Single Release) |
2 |
|
24 |
16 |
15 |
|
|
25 |
24 |
17 |
|
|
26 |
19 |
10 |
|
|
27 |
23 |
34 |
|
|
28 |
28 |
9 |
|
|
29 |
25 |
12 |
|
|
30 |
34 |
7 |
|
|
31 |
33 |
8 |
|
|
32 |
37 |
8 |
|
|
33 |
39 |
9 |
|
|
34 |
38 |
7 |
|
|
35 |
26 |
14 |
|
|
36 |
44 |
5 |
|
|
37 |
27 |
14 |
|
|
38 |
35 |
14 |
|
|
39 |
32 |
15 |
|
|
40 |
31 |
14 |
|
|
41 |
50 |
7 |
|
|
42 |
36 |
16 |
|
|
43 |
47 |
9 |
|
|
44 |
63 |
3 |
|
|
45 |
40 |
11 |
|
|
46 |
41 |
15 |
|
|
47 |
48 |
9 |
|
|
48 |
55 |
7 |
|
|
49 |
56 |
6 |
|
|
50 |
45 |
17 |
|
|
51 |
69 |
3 |
|
|
52 |
76 |
3 |
|
|
53 |
65 |
4 |
|
|
54 |
77 |
3 |
|
|
55 |
58 |
6 |
|
|
56 |
42 |
17 |
|
|
57 |
68 |
4 |
|
|
58 |
79 |
2 |
|
|
59 |
46 |
14 |
|
|
60 |
62 |
5 |
|
|
61 |
61 |
8 |
|
|
62 |
49 |
8 |
|
|
63 |
51 |
Rev. Bubba D.
Liverance and the Cornhole Prophets - Wish You Were Here |
13 |
|
64 |
53 |
9 |
|
|
65 |
64 |
6 |
|
|
66 |
70 |
16 |
|
|
67 |
78 |
4 |
|
|
68 |
67 |
10 |
|
|
69 |
71 |
5 |
|
|
70 |
75 |
4 |
|
|
71 |
87 |
2 |
|
|
72 |
52 |
14 |
|
|
73 |
54 |
12 |
|
|
74 |
57 |
7 |
|
|
75 |
89 |
2 |
|
|
76 |
66 |
18 |
|
|
77 |
80 |
5 |
|
|
78 |
81 |
9 |
|
|
79 |
72 |
18 |
|
|
80 |
59 |
18 |
|
|
81 |
82 |
4 |
|
|
82 |
84 |
3 |
|
|
83 |
83 |
4 |
|
|
84 |
86 |
3 |
|
|
85 |
60 |
29 |
|
|
86 |
85 |
6 |
|
|
87 |
96 |
2 |
|
|
88 |
73 |
7 |
|
|
89 |
92 |
3 |
|
|
90 |
97 |
2 |
|
|
91 |
95 |
2 |
|
|
92 |
99 |
2 |
|
|
93 |
--- |
TOP DEBUT:  "Ride" Album: The Rideout |
1 |
|
94 |
91 |
30 |
|
|
95 |
98 |
2 |
|
|
96 |
101 |
1 |
|
|
97 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
98 |
74 |
16 |
|
|
99 |
102 |
1 |
|
|
100 |
--- |
1 |
Tremors:
101. Fitz and the Tantrums, Good Morning California
102. Rosecoloredworld, Die Here With You
103. Dexter and the Moonrocks, Freakin' Out
104. Yellowcard ft. Good Charlotte, Bedroom Posters
105. Dominick Fike, Babydoll
Tremors: Songs which have steady or increasing points but not enough to chart on the SNS 100.
Murmurs:
Ruth Morayniss - You Don't Know/Another Tragic Love Story
Starbuck ft. Elsie B - Sleeping in the Rain and Thunder/Doo Wop Bop
Jennifer James and Brad Cox - Suspicious Minds
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
