Song of the Summer 2020: Pepper get the brass ring; Jersey artists dominate seasonal top 20 list (SNS week of 9/13/2020)

It's that time of year again....with summer all  but over, it's time to look back at the last four months of music.    Of course, this after all, 2020 thus whoever gets the prize is sort of a 'booby prize' of sorts.   Before I get into my list, let's look briefly (real briefly) at Billboard's "Song of the Summer".

That would be DaBaby's "Rockstar", which pretty much summarizes how low pop and hip-hop music has gone.    The video of the song, for example pretty much sums up the civil unrest that had occurred this summer in the wake of the death of George Floyd.    And the "song" pretty much has the trimmings of what the current pop music generation finds "genius":  Spare beats, rapping as many words as you can in one of those beats---after 40 years, hasn't this genre run its course yet?   And of course, they titled it "ROCKstar", after a genre that it, and top 40 radio has turned its back for over a decade now, except for a "novelty" crossover like Panic! at the Disco or Portugal. The Man.    If you're going to try and make a long-time music form obsolete, at least call your superstar performers "Hip-Hop Stars", okay?   As for the song and video's theme?  That's fine, but Gary Clark Jr's "This Land" said it better, as well as the new add this week from Devon Gilfillan, "The Good Life".  End of rant. 

But anyway, since my reactivation of my blog back in March, due to the quarantine status of COVID-19,, I have jumped head first into exploring new music, much of it in places that  people haven't  even heard of.   In fact, only one song that hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, is even on my playlist, that being Harry Styles' awesome "Watermelon Sugar", which rises 45-31 this week.    The song landed at #6 on Billboard's  Top 20 Summer Songs chart, as it had been out awhile before I added the song to my playlist.  Because of that, the former One Direction singer only landed at #116 on my list, but it is rising on my my currents SNS 100 playlist. 

Only two other songs in Billboard's Summer Top 20 were added by me, both coming from Dua Lipa.  "Don't Start Now" (#13) and "Break My Heart" (#16).   On my list, they were #59 and #128 respectively. 

Accompanying the official Billboard tally were the picks from Billboard's staff.   Aside from "Watermelon Sugar", the only other song that was on my playlist was Phoebe Bridgers "Kyoto", which peaked at #27 on my weekly list and #72 on my summer songs survey. 

So, if none of these popular songs or critical favorites found favor with me, what DID I listen to this summer?     Well, a whole lot of songs, many of them weren't even released in 2020, or even during the 2010's.    It was a matter of, "if you haven't heard it, it's new to you".

My song of the summer 2020 is "Change" by Pepper.   The band, which originated as a reggae-oriented band from Hawaii by way of San Diego, did extrude a nice, summer, upbeat vibe.   The song reigned on my playlist for six weeks, which was the longest such streak in five years.   It stayed a fixture in my top 10 and had no burnout factor.  This week the song finally drops out of my top 10, at #17.

As for the band, Pepper was a favorite going back to the beginning of my blog in 2010.  "I Get Up" reached my #3 that year.  After one more entry in 2013, they seemed to disappear., although they did release an album in 2016, Ohana.   During its reign at the top of my list, I had indicated that "Change' was on their 2019 album, Local Motion.  However, it wasn't the case    The song, which features Collie Buddz, was a standalone single and actually from Buddz's 2020 album Ruddim, which features Buddz with various artists backing him, including this cut with Pepper.

So, what were my trends in listening this summer?   I could sum  it up in three words:  Reggae, women and Jersey.   Aside from Pepper, King Tappa's "No Drama"  at #11 also was in that genre.  Outside of the top 20, Milky Chance's "Don't Let Me Down" (featuring Jack Johnson) at #35 also had that tropical vibe to it.   

Females, or female-led bands accounted for more than half of the top 20---eleven to be exact, led by Donna Missal's #2 "Let You Let Me Down".   She also was the only artist to lift two songs in the top 20, the other being "How Does It Feel" at #18.   

Finally, I had looked inward at New Jersey, which placed eight songs in the top 20.  Aside from Missal and Tappa, making the list were The Outcrops,  ScreenAge, Elise Farnsworth, C Lynne Smith, and Real Estate.

And probably a good testament to the beleaguered Summer of 2020 was the #5 song, "Living In a Ghost Town" by The Rolling Stones, as much of the summer many of us were on the sidelines.   For me,  the first half of the summer was pretty much a blur, with no human interaction aside from my wife, and events with fellow geocachers, and minimal with other friends.

So, what are the prospects of "Change" landing in the #1 spot year end?    Well, a look at previous winners of the summer shows three of the prior ten grabbing end-of-year honors.  That includes "Tighten Up" (The Black Keys, 2010), "Thinking Out Loud (Ed Sheeran, 2015) and "I've Been Waiting" (Lil Peep  featuring ILoveMakonnen and  Fall Out Boy, 2019).   If the year ended right now (wishful thinking), it would land at #2 behind "Lost Days", which is currently ranked lower, but with three months to go, it's anyone's guess.

Here is my Top 20 of Summer 2020.

1		Pepper - Change●
2		Donna Missal - Let You Let Me Down
3		Delacey  - Chapel
4		Screen Age - Blue Eyed Addiction
5		The Rolling Stones - Living in a Ghost Town
6		The Outcrops - Lost Days●
7		Eliza and the Delusionals - Pull Apart Heart
8		MGMT - In the Afternoon
9		Neon Trees - Used to Like
10		Best Coast - Everything Has Changed
11		King Tappa - No Drama
12		MyKey ft. Cavetown -Was It Something I Said?
13		Elise Farnsworth - Safety Net
14		Real Estate ft Sylvan Esso - Paper Cup
15		C. Lynne Smith - Real
16		Gary Clark Jr - Pearl Cadillac
17		Winnetka Bowling League - Kangaroo
18		Donna Missal - How Does It Feel
19		Caroline Rose - Feel The Way I Want
20		Benee - Glitter

Here are my prior "songs of the summer":

 2010: The Black Keys, "Tighten Up"
2011: Rachel Allyn, "Say Hello to Goodbye"
2012: The Shins, "The Rifle's Spiral"
2013: Paul Czekaj, "At the Beach"
2014: The Black Keys, "Fever"
2015: Ed Sheeran, "Thinking Out Loud"
2016: Red Hot Chili Peppers, "Dark Necessities"
2017: Miley Cyrus, "Malibu"
2018: Neko Case, "Bad Luck"
2019: Lil Peek & ILoveMakonnen featuring Fall Out Boy, "I've Been Waiting"

2020: Pepper featuring Collie Buddz, "Change"

As we head into the fall, it's a fourth week for ScreenAge, as "Blue Eyed Addiction" holds off "In the Morning Light" by Elise Farnsworth once again.   The two songs are actually tied in points, but ScreenAge wins the tiebreaker as it led last week.   There are many other prospects vying for the top , such as Winnetka Bowling League, Michael Kiwanuka, The Mystery Lights, Shannon Marsyada, and  My Morning Jacket, but all are at least a week or two away from consideration.  It's anybody's guess next week what will happen.   Stay tuned. 

NEW THIS WEEK:  Sort of an "off week" for new adds, with Miley Cyrus' "Midnight Sky" grabbing Top Debut honors.   While we pretty much always list Cyrus as an artist you love to hate and the epitome of pop music these days---and much of that is valid---she does have more talent than she is given credit for, witness her "Malibu" which, as shown above, was my 2017 Summer Song.   As for "Midnight Sky", while it's trapped with current sparse trappings, her voice and soulfulness shine through on this track, which makes it her "song most likely" to return her to my Top 20.  It debuts at #72.   The next highest is the latest by Billie Eilish,   "My Future", which is a rather somber outing from her, along the lines of her "idon'twannabeyouanymore".   The latest by Foster the People, "The Things We Do" is a more upbeat song in contrast to their rather recent sulky entries, Sylvan Esso, an electropop duo from Durham North Carolina who were featured on the recent Real Estate #1; Devon Gilfillan's topical "The Good Life", and Phoenix's "Identical", the French band's first in quite awhile, from the movie On the Rocks.  It's a departure from their usual style; they were known for their 2009 hit "1901" as well as their blog topper "Trying to Be Cool"  . 

PERFORMANCES:  Last week's feature on The Outcrops failed to mention a concert at The Great Divide campground in Newton, NJ on September 19 (tomorrow as I write this).  However, it is a private event for those camping on the grounds that evening.   If you're lucky to have reserved a spot, you're in for a treat.   Otherwise, after the Massachusetts gigs at the beginning of October, they will return to the area, playing at Roy's Hall in Blairstown NJ on October 17th. 

Elise Farnsworth, with a "song of the summer" listing as well as the #2 song on my playlist this week, will be part of a multi-artist bill down in Middletown NJ on September 27, at MAC Music Café at Poricy Park from 4 to 6 PM.

If you're looking for something this coming weekend, my hometown of Roselle Park has a Food Truck festival at Mauri Park in the town's square, tomorrow (Saturday) at 2 PM.    While last year's Arts Festival (in which ScreenAge played) was canceled due to the pandemic, this essentially takes its place.   The band performing is Locked and Loaded, and while they are a cover band (and I am unable to  find any commercially recorded music by them), they are a fun party band that will  keep you continuously dancing and rocking.    Worth checking out.   

Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist

September 13, 2020

This Week	Last Week	ARTIST-Title	Weeks on List
1	1	NUMBER ONE: SCREEN AGE "Blue Eyed Addiction" (Single Only) (4 weeks at #1)	18
2	2	Elise Farnsworth - In the Morning Light	9
3	4	Delta Spirit - How About It	9
4	3	Bakar - Hell N Back	11
5	6	Winnetka Bowling League - Come to the Beach	6
6	9	Michael Kiwanuka - You Ain't The Problem	5
7	5	Eliza and the Delusionals - Pull Apart Heart	16
8	17	The Mystery Lights - 21 & Counting	5
9	15	The Regrettes - What Am I Gonna Do Today	11
10	19	Shannon Marsyada - A Love That Doesn't Hurt	7
11	20	My Morning Jacket - Feel You	8
12	8	Donna Missal - Let You Let Me Down	17
13	12	Best Coast - Everything Has Changed	22
14	18	Christina Alessi - So In Love With You	10
15	22	TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK: DAVID F. PORFIRIO "Driving at Dusk" Album: Overactive Imagination	5
16	13	Delacey  - Chapel	21
17	7	Pepper - Change●	20
18	11	Ray LaMontagne - Strong Enough	14
19	10	Donna Missal - How Does It Feel	12
20	16	Colony House - Original Material	15
21	23	Guards - So It Goes	10
22	28	Karen Wallo - Rain Away My Sorrow	5
23	14	Real Estate ft Sylvan Esso - Paper Cup	13
24	26	Black Pumas - Colors	13
25	21	MyKey ft. Cavetown -Was It Something I Said?	15
26	30	Tennis - How To Forgive	7
27	24	Milky Chance and Jack Johnson - Don't Let Me Down	12
28	33	The Jayhawks - This Forgotten Town	8
29	37	Chicano Batman - Blank State	5
30	27	AJR - Bang!	21
31	45	Harry Styles - Watermelon Sugar	4
32	36	Neon Trees - New Best Friend	7
33	56	MOVER OF THE WEEK: ELLE KING "The Let Go" Album: Isolation	2
34	25	King Tappa - No Drama	16
35	43	Gary Clark Jr -Feelin' Like a Million	4
36	31	Finneas - Let's Fall in Love For the Night	15
37	35	The Head and the Heart - Honeybee	10
38	32	The Milwaukees - No Way Out	9
39	41	Major Lazer ft Marcus Mumford - Lay Your Head On Me	16
40	39	Mallrat -Groceries	15
41	42	The Outcrops - Lost Days●	25
42	29	Pretenders - The Buzz	12
43	51	Animal Island - Tonight	3
44	38	Weezer - Hero	13
45	47	Amy Shark - Everybody Rise	6
46	50	The Backseat Lovers - Kilby Girl	9
47	46	Kathleen Edwards - Options Open	6
48	54	James Bay - Chew  On My Heart	3
49	48	Semisonic - You're Not Alone	6
50	66	Iration - Right Here Right Now	3
51	49	Dreamers - Heat Seeker	9
52	34	The Rolling Stones - Living in a Ghost Town	20
53	62	Sea Wolf - Blood Pact	6
54	63	Dan Croll - Away From Today	2
55	53	Echosmith - Lonely Generation	10
56	74	Surfer Blood - Karen	2
57	78	Real Estate - The Main Thing	2
58	52	Norah Jones - I'm Alive	15
59	40	Nick Waterhouse - Wreck the Rod	14
60	55	Silversun Pickups - Toy Soldiers	4
61	76	Pickwick - Never Gonna Be Enough	2
62	44	ZZ Ward - Break Her Heart	14
63	59	Dua Lipa - Break My Heart	6
64	68	Arkells - Years In the Making	4
65	69	Tame Impala - Is It True	3
66	65	Sia - Together	6
67	72	Moon Taxi - Hometown Heroes	3
68	75	Michael Franti and Spearhead - I Got You	3
69	70	The 1975 - If You're Too Shy	9
70	61	Jeff Rosenstock - State Line	5
71	73	Cayucas - Yeah Yeah Yeah	4
72	---	TOP DEBUT: MILEY CYRUS "Midnight Sky" Album: She Is Miley Cyrus	1
73	77	Avi Kaplan - I'll Get By	7
74	82	Saint Motel - A Good Song Never Dies	8
75	57	Phoebe Bridgers - Kyoto	11
76	85	OK Go - All Together Now	5
77	---	Billie Eilish - My Future	1
78	87	Avett Brothers - Victory	2
79	67	Awolnation - Mayday Fiesta Fever	10
80	---	Foster the People - The Things We Do	1
81	58	Avi Wisnia - Sky Blue Sky	16
82	81	Grouplove - Inside Out	5
83	---	Sylvan Esso - Ferris Wheel	1
84	---	Devon Gilfillan - The Good Life	1
85	90	Car Seat Headrest - Hollywood	4
86	---	Phoenix - Identical	1
87	71	Winnetka Bowling League - Kangaroo	17
88	84	John Wilkey - Giddy	8
89	88	The Beths - Dying to Believe	12
90	60	Foster the People - Lamb's Wool	15
91	83	Avi Buffalo - Skeleton Painting	19
92	91	Maroon 5 - Nobody's Love	3
93	64	MGMT - In the Afternoon	18
94	79	Kjband - Life Without Complications	18
95	80	The Lumineers - Salt and the Sea	11
96	86	Halsey - You Should Be Sad	19
97	89	Gary Clark Jr - Pearl Cadillac	24
98	93	Elise Farnsworth - Safety Net	19
99	94	C. Lynne Smith - Real	22
100	92	Neon Trees - Used to Like	21

Songs with the greatest increase in favorite points over the prior week.   ● Songs with 25 or more plays on iTunes/iPods ▲   Songs with 50 or more plays.