It's That Time of Year Again....Or Is It? ; "Karen" stays on top; Beach Music; More Holiday Songs Debut (SNS Week of 11/27/2020)

 Hello, everyone.  Well, once again, we are in the bosom of December, the holiday season, where the tree and lights go up, the menorah gets lit, all the decorations come out of the basement, attic or garage, and to be joyous and festive.    The parties are in full swing, carolers stroll from house to house, and........

Wait a minute.....

This is 2020.   While yes, the decorations are going up, and the holiday songs have been on the radio since October, this one isn't going to be the same, of course.   With COVID-19 apparently spiking its second wave, mass gatherings, be it tree lightings, parades and parties---office or otherwise, are not happening this year, sadly.   

But that doesn't mean the world stops.   If The Grinch couldn't stop Christmas from coming, then there's no way that a pandemic can, either.     Perhaps it's not a bad thing to be quarantining at home, especially if the house is decorated.   There's all the holiday shows on, be it on television, via streaming, or a vast DVD collection that you may have.    Settling in for a long winter's nap is very apropos this year.   

But, you can't stop the music, and much of it is still coming out.   Perhaps live performances in arenas and auditoriums are out, but 2020 has proven that you can still make music in the studio, not to mention make records via Zoom or other individuals coming together remotely.    And there's the annual Christmas Tree Lighting at New York's Rockefeller Center, which, as you'd expect, was empty except for a handful of performers, and taped appearances.   But, the tree was lit as scheduled.

The 2020 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, despite no visitors due to the pandemic, was lit as usually on December 2.  Despite the tree looking haphazard when but up, the finished product looks respectable.

A look at my playlist this week perhaps may not suggest as such, but there may be excitement on the near horizon.    Surfer Blood's "Karen" stay atop my SNS 100 list this week, with Devon Gilfillian's 'The Good Life" inching up to #2.   However, the top 9 is pretty stagnant with some small jostling for position.   The next threat to the top appears to be Bakar's "1st Time", but it's probably a couple week's away.   Next week, it could either be "Karen" for a third week, or "The Good Life" making its way to the top.  

As I mentioned last week, it's time for the holiday songs to invade the list.    Three more songs join the two that entered last week.   They are by Sia "Snowman", who seems to release one song as a single and video each year from her 2017 album "Everyday is Christmas", following "Santa's Coming for Us" and "Candy Cane Lane".  Goo Goo Dolls, who have been around some twenty-seven years are so, release their first holiday record, It's Christmas All Over, and the song "This Is Christmas" debuts on the playlist.  They performed that song and others at Rockefeller Center tree lighting. Finally Josh Groban, no stranger to the holidays---his "Believe" from the 2004 picture The Polar Express has been a fixture on my holiday top 100 for a long time---does a take on Kenny Loggins' 1977 "Celebrate Me Home", which, except for a mention of the holiday at the beginning, isn't really a Christmas song, although to me it sounds like it. 

Last week's debuts move up nicely.   Molly Burch's "Holiday Dreaming" grabs Mover of the Week honors (57-27).  While I love the sound of that record, my wife tells me that it doesn't sound "Christmassy".   To each their own, I suppose.   Meghan Trainor, who also was at Rockefeller Center, moves up with her take on "White Christmas" (in a duet with Seth McFarlane, who wasn't present on the special).   It is in the style of The Drifters' doo-wop version.   This week it moves 84-57.

Aside from the three holiday songs mentioned above, five others debut.   It's been awhile since I paid attention to the Carolina Beach Music charts, the main reason being that much of the music I've added this year already has a bit of a throwback to the soul, R&B and psychedelia of the 1960's, thus no real need to turn to the shag music.  But, upon looking at that chart, bands in that genre I've embraced in the past--The James Hunter Six and Too Much Sylvia--have songs currently on that list, thus The Hunter song, "I Can Change Your Mind" is Top Debut this week.   It is indeed what you'd expect...vintage 60's-style R&B you can dance to.    The James Hunter Six has made my top 20 twice before.   Too Much Sylvia's "We Ain't Leaving Carolina", is good listen as well.

Less Than Jake makes its first SNS appearance with "Lie to Me".  They are a ska band from Florida, and the song does invoke the sound of similar bands like 311; The Knocks, the DJ/production duo who have worked with Phoebe Ryan and Matthew Koma, among others,  are back again with Foster the People, this time with the steady rocker "All About You".  It should, at least top FTP's recent "The Things We Do".  Finally, I take another shot to appreciate Billie Eilish, with her latest, "Therefore I Am", which has a shot.   

Of course, I add holiday music every year, and much of it I get is from the Adult Contemporary charts, based on radio airplay from those types of stations which usually are all-Christmas now (such as New York's Lite-FM).    Which of course, excludes any rock-oriented songs, which I have to find on my own.  I am usually successful as I've added entries from Grace Potter, The Regrettes and Dropkick Murphys in year's past.   Aside from the Molly Burch song, which really is more singer-songwriter than rock, I haven't stumbled onto anything yet, but I have a few more weeks to do so.

Jersey artist Kim Boyko is featured on a new holiday video with The Bryan Hansen Band, on a 2020-ized version of "Christmas Wrapping".

ON THE HORIZON:  Some of the coolest holiday stuff around hasn't been officially released as of yet, but if and when it does, they should move up my chart quickly.    New Jersey-based The Bryan Hansen Band, featuring Kim Boyko has released an update version of The Waitresses' classic "Christmas Wrapping" which has been perennially number one on my holiday list (will it continue this year?).  The remake is purely 2020, as the holiday season meets the pandemic.   It is not yet available commercially, but when it does, it's a breakout hit.   Another potential song mixing the holidays with COVID-19 is hinted via a Tom Corea post.   The leader of The Hounds of Winter, which hasn't graced my playlist for almost three years now, offers "Is It Over Yet?", containing lyrics such as "It's Christmas time and I won't live in fear" and "I gave up going out, ages ago / but in the New Year I'll be ready to go".  

Meanwhile, I have been waiting all year for Shannon Marsyada's Christmas album.   There is bad news and good news on it, however.   It seems that the album won't be ready for this holiday; however, she does plan to release a single or two from it.  In addition, Shannon also released a video for a new original song, "The Road", which is awesome.

Let us hope that Shannon's song, Tom Corea's effort plus the "Christmas Wrapping" re-make are available commercially very soon.  Finally, one of my artist discoveries this year, Philadelphia jazz-pop singer Avi Wisnia, who reached #22 this year with his 2015 single "Sky Blue Sky" is recording his first full-length album since 2010's Something New.  He is soliciting funds via KickStarter (similar to what Shannon Marsyada did for her 2019 Oceans).   You can access his KickStarter page here: Avi Wisnia Studio Album #2 by Avi Wisnia — Kickstarter.

Finally, two local indie acts have recently released albums.  Christina Alessi & the Toll Collectors offer their first EP (Christina did a solo effort in 2018), Raindrops and Watercolors, which contains their two singles currently on my playlist, "Where the River Flows" and "Whatever Gets You Through".   And David F. Porfirio, who seems to release both singles and albums every few weeks, offers his latest,  When Words Fail.  Though it does not include his currently rising song "Evening at the Pier", no doubt, it's a worthy listen, given his musical style.    I plan on checking both of these albums soon. 

Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist

November 29, 2020

This Week	Last Week	ARTIST-Title	Weeks on List
1	1	NUMBER ONE:  SURFER BLOOD "Karen" Album: Carefree Theatre (2 weeks at #1)	13
2	3	Devon Gilfillan - The Good Life	12
3	2	Miley Cyrus - Midnight Sky	12
4	4	Shannon Marsyada - A Love That Doesn't Hurt	18
5	5	Animal Island - Tonight	14
6	9	Black Pumas - Black Moon Rising	11
7	6	Real Estate - The Main Thing	13
8	8	Fleet Foxes - Can I Believe You	9
9	12	Mabel - Mad Love	10
10	21	TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK: BAKAR "1st Time" (Single Only)	4
11	11	Iration - Right Here Right Now	14
12	16	Fleshtones - Alex Trebek	4
13	10	Dan Croll - Away From Today	13
14	15	The Backseat Lovers - Kilby Girl	20
15	13	Pickwick - Never Gonna Be Enough	13
16	7	Elle King - The Let Go	13
17	18	Tennis - Superstar	8
18	20	Bright Eyes - Mariana Trench	9
19	23	The Blue Stones - Let It Ride	7
20	29	Chris Stapleton - Cold	5
21	14	Harry Styles - Watermelon Sugar	15
22	25	Cage the Elephant - Skin and Bones	6
23	24	Phoebe Ryan - Ring	10
24	26	Christina Alessi & the Toll Collectors -  Where the River Flows	6
25	17	David F. Porfirio - Driving at Dusk	16
26	27	The Avalanches - Wherever You Go	6
27	57	MOVER OF THE WEEK: MOLLY BURCH "Holiday Dreaming" Album: The Molly Burch Christmas Album	2
28	19	The Mystery Lights - 21 & Counting	16
29	31	New Order - Be A Rebel	7
30	37	Deep Sea Diver ft. Sharon Van Etten - Impossible Weight	6
31	39	Brittany Howard - You'll Never Walk Alone	3
32	49	Elise Farnsworth - Pixie Dust	3
33	22	Michael Kiwanuka - You Ain't The Problem	16
34	42	Winnetka Bowling League - Congratulations	3
35	35	Phoebe Ryan - Try It Sober	8
36	41	David F. Porfirio - Evening At the Pier	4
37	44	Fitz - Head Up High	4
38	32	Christina Alessi & the Toll Collectors - Whatever Gets You Through	9
39	38	Of Monsters and Men - Visitor	7
40	30	Pretenders - Didn't Want to Be This Lonely	11
41	33	Tame Impala - Is It True	14
42	47	Caamp - Officer of Love	5
43	28	Morgan Wallen - 7 Summers	11
44	36	Screen Age - Blue Eyed Addiction●	29
45	40	Guards - So It Goes	21
46	45	Django Django - Spirals	8
47	34	Winnetka Bowling League - Come to the Beach	17
48	56	Jade Bird - Headstart	3
49	51	The Shins - The Great Divide	5
50	52	Meg Myers - Any Way You Wanna Love	4
51	72	Gia Ness - Across the Universe	2
52	54	Middle Kids - R U 4 Me	5
53	50	Sea Wolf - Blood Pact	17
54	46	Eliza and the Delusionals - Pull Apart Heart	27
55	71	The Strokes - The Adults are Talking	3
56	66	Arlo Parks - Hurt	3
57	84	Meghan Trainor ft. Seth McFarlane - White Christmas	2
58	68	Donna Missal - Just Like You	3
59	48	Black Pumas - I'm Ready	7
60	43	My Morning Jacket - Feel You	19
61	59	All Time Low ft. Black Bear - Monsters	9
62	63	Lana Del Rey - Let Me Love You Like a Woman	4
63	70	Lake Street Dive -Making Do	3
64	75	The Mystery Lights - It's Alright	2
65	58	Bon Jovi -ft. Jennifer Nettles - Do What You Can	7
66	53	Eliza and the Delusionals - Sentimental	7
67	65	Delacey  - Chapel●	32
68	---	TOP DEBUT: JAMES HUNTER SIX "I Can Change Your Mind" Album: Nick of Time	1
69	64	The Regrettes - What Am I Gonna Do Today	22
70	69	Donna Missal - Let You Let Me Down●	28
71	55	The Jayhawks - This Forgotten Town	19
72	78	Royal Blood - Trouble's Coming	6
73	82	Foo Fighters- Shame Shame	2
74	62	Elise Farnsworth - In the Morning Light	20
75	61	Dermot Kennedy - Giants	6
76	---	Sia - Snowman	1
77	77	The Regrettes - I Love Us	8
78	---	Goo Goo Dolls - This is Christmas	1
79	---	Less Than Jake - Lie To Me	1
80	67	Bakar - Hell N Back	22
81	---	The Knocks ft Foster the People - All About You	1
82	---	Too Much Sylvia - We Ain't Leaving Carolina	1
83	60	Karen Wallo - Rain Away My Sorrow	16
84	79	Kurt Vile ft John Prine - How Lucky	5
85	76	James Bay - Chew  On My Heart	14
86	---	Billie Eilish - Therefore I Am	1
87	81	Pepper - Change●	31
88	74	The Beths - I'm Not Getting Excited	10
89	---	Josh Groban - Celebrate Me Home	1
90	73	Delta Spirit - How About It	20
91	87	Donna Missal - How Does It Feel	23
92	80	Bebadoobee - Care	8
93	83	Ava Max - Kings and Queens	8
94	86	Kathleen Edwards - Hard on Everyone	7
95	85	The Rolling Stones ft. Jimmy Page- Scarlet	11
96	91	Fuhm - Send Out the Clown	5
97	88	The Go-Go's - Club Zero	10
98	89	AJR -Bummerland	6
99	90	The Strokes - Brooklyn Bridge to Chorus	9
100	92	Nothing But Thieves - Real Love Song	11

 

 

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.