It's that time of year to look back at the last twelve months of this blog. And this year has been a double-edged sword, what with the pandemic gripping us last spring and now showing a resurgence. While the year has, to put it mildly, been a disaster, it is also the reason why I am even writing this blog. It was a decision to end this back in January after I recapped the decade of the 2010's, but only when everything shut down and my sometimes-job as a local school district substitute came to a forced end due to distant learning, that I actually had time to continue this blog. And despite the year, the blog seemed to venture into new territory in several ways.
JANUARY: I reveal, in what I thought would be my final blog entry, my top 200 songs of the 2010's, with Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" narrowly beating Fitz & the Tantrums' "Out of My League" for decade honors.........I thanked everyone for their inspiration and support, and graciously signed off. As they say on Seinfeld, "always go out on top". If only I listened.........No sooner than I started moving on, then news came out about the passings of legendary shock jock Don Imus, and Neil Peart, drummer for Rush, and another New York jock legend, Harry Harrison, but I shake it off.............my friend Paul Czekaj, after debuting his video for "The Painter of the Sky" back in October of 2019, personally delivers his new album of the same name..........Mariah Carey, who made history during the last holiday season when her quarter-century old holiday tune, "All I Want for Christmas Is You", finally hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100, setting records. She set another one when the song dropped completely off the Hot 100 from the top spot. Of course by year's end, the ubiquitous song would rise back there.
 |
| Winnetka Bowling League's "CVS" picked up major airplay on Sirius XM's Alt-nation channel. |
FEBRUARY: Still standing my ground, I get tempted with a new song by Winnetka Bowling League, "CVS" which gets airplay on Sirius XM's "Alt Nation" channel........and then more news that some of my favorite indie/locals are recording new music, such as Hegazy, and Shannon Marsyada, while Tom Corea is doing the same with two new bands that he has joined.........I take two getaway weekends this month: A weekend in upstate New York to visit friends in Clintondale, followed by a couple days in Lake George for Winter Carnival, complete with fireworks and single-digit hanging outside, but the only music blaring were oldies......But it was the second weekend, up in Vermont that had me thinking. Seems that the bar that myself and two friends were at, were playing Gary Clark Jr's "Pearl Cadillac" and "Feelin' Like a Million", both from his 2019 This Land. How could I miss this?...but I do for now....The trip ends with geocaching in Rhode Island, but music isn't a part.
MARCH: Still holding out, I am actually considering a revival, until the middle of the March, when the budding Coronavirus, dubbed COVID-19, prevalent overseas starts making inroads in this country, shutting down all but essential service businesses and encouraging all of us to "shelter in place".......Aside from several industries, musicians who rely on live performances are forced to cancel all shows and gigs. The stock market takes a severe dive as well...........But it opens up a new venue: Online performances via Zoom, Facebook Live, Instagram and other social media. Coldplay's Chris Martin was the first to deliver a "concert" online.......But it was the local faves who embraced it: Shannon Marsyada, Hegazy, Winnetka Bowling League, and Karen Wallo's band Jersey Cowgirls post live online performances.......With the spread of COVID, most schools shut down and institute distance learning, effectively putting me out of work, and I retire........The extra time on my hands, and the music intensification finally lead me to bite the bullet and revive the blog, with Michael Kiwanuka and Tennis leading the SNS 100, as they did back in December.....Pop and country legend Kenny Rogers passes away.
APRIL: Back into music, it's time for Discovery #1. Thanks to my longtime hometown friends Diane Carson and Suzanne Logeman, they cue me in on on a live performance by alt-country singer-songwriter C. Lynne Smith. She delivers a couple of great performances from her home, and she becomes a friend. While a planned new album of hers hasn't yet been released, I add a song from her 2006 album, "Real" which hits top 3......Adam Schlesinger , the mastermind behind Fountains of Wayne as well as several other music and movie projects, dies from COVID-19.......We also lose R&B legend Bill Withers, and folk singer-songwriter John Prine......Even though the year is already into its fourth month, Michael Kiwanuka and Tennis still rule the top two--a three month hiatus will do that to you.......I state that the blog will turn its focus on the indie/up-and-comers like Shannon Marsyada, ScreenAge, The Outcrops, Donna Missal, and Christina Alessi. That prophecy would turn out very true by the end of the year, with all of the above making an major playlist impact.........Speaking of The Outcrops, a band I did catch live in 2019, I finally add their "Lost Days", a single they released late that year. It would be a springtime smash for me.......Paul Czekaj's "The Painter of The Sky" finally moves into my top ten........ With the "intimacy" of these online performances, I mention some of my experiences in nightclubs catching some up-and-coming acts of the day...........Similar to what some major stars did in the wake of Superstorm Sandy back in 2012, many artists come together for a televised benefit, called "One World" for the benefit and tribute to the first responders and healthcare workers, playing from their own homes. Included are Paul McCartney, Lady Gaga, The Rolling Stones (with all five members playing from each of their own homes, and Billie Eilish with brother FINNEAS. .......Discovery #2: Once again, thanks to Diane and Suzanne, I discover another artist, Philadelphia's Avi Wisnia, and thus add his 2016 single, "Sky Blue Sky". By year's end, he was soliciting funds for a new album ............Another Jersey band, Sea of Otters, which goes back to the 1990's Shore scene, gets an add with one of their classic songs, "I Tend to Offend", as recorded on their eponymous 2015 album. Leader Nick Ciavatta starts broadcasting live online concerts by Jersey City locals via his Friggin' Fabulous Productions; one of them, John Wilkey, would make my playlist; several others were considered as well.
 |
| Twenty One Pilots' "Level of Concern" references the COVID-19 quarantine. |
MAY: The inevitable songs about COVID start surfacing: Twenty One Pilots come out with "Level of Concern", but it was The Rolling Stones' "Living in a Ghost Town" that captures my interest; it would hit the top spot on my playlist........The Outcrops become the first song I had added in 2020 to hit the top with "Lost Days". It was the first blog topper by a Jersey band in two years, but by no means would be the last........Discovery #3: Back in the day, I worked at Prudential Insurance, and a new Facebook group surfaced with people looking back at their careers with the insurance giant. One of them posted about a new album by their friend, a Jersey artist named Elise Farnsworth. I immediately take to it, and her new album, Turn Her Up would be a source of music to listen to, during the rest of the year, and become friends with her as well........I devote an entire blog to my friend Tom Corea, mastermind of The Hounds of Winter, Bad Attitude and other projects, discussing his musical career. It draws a record number of views.............A friend Camille Serrani Ostrow posted a game, which, each day, there is a certain music category in which you have to post a song which fits.. Originally called the "30 day challenge", the game was so popular with friends that new categories extended the game to 62 days, until July 4........Rock 'n' Roll founder Little Richard passes, as does Bad Company's late-80's era leader Brian Howe, Carlos Santana's brother Jorge, (who fronted Malo of "Suavecito" fame) and R&B singer Betty Wright of "Clean Up Woman"......Billie Joel Armstrong of Green Day records a solo cover of the 1960's gem "I Think We're Alone Now" in his home........I add the latest by Avi Buffalo (who is really Avi Zahner-Isenberg), "Skeleton Painting". I'd soon regret it.
JUNE: Social tensions were high after the death of George Floyd, an African-American who died at the hands of a white police officer. Rioting in many cities took place, and elevated the Black Lives Matter movement......I take a look at the issues, as well as related songs, past and present going back to slavery and oppression. I review protest songs in general as well as some of the "charity records' of the 1980's.......One of the latter-day artists of protest, Gary Clark Jr, hits the number one spot with "Pearl Cadillac" that same week....I take a look at the career of long-time pop prognosticator Kal Rudman, who worked at the trade publication Friday Morning Quarterback, of which my friend Virginia Reilly worked for.....Tom Corea, unable to get together with any of his bandmates due to the pandemic, stays active, as he supplies percussion and other instrumentation to projects around the world. They include Israel, Japan, Spain, Poland, Brazil, The UK, Italy, and many others.........More passings: Andy Priest of Sweet, and longtime local WDHA deejay Curtis Kay........Jersey Girl Donna Missal starts releasing tracks from her second album.......Some of the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, enabling outdoor dining, and with it, outdoor performances......With Hawaiian-based Pepper, along with Jersey's King Tappa in my top 20, I take a look at reggae, including its history and other acts in that genre..........Elise Farnsworth, in my top 3 with "Safety Net", reveals she is part of a musical family. Her husband John is a jazz musician who heads a sextet, and other family members are musical as well
JULY: The first blog of the month is entirely devoted to Charlie Daniels, who had passed away................Summer is here, as well as outdoor performances, enabling faves C. Lynne Smith and Elise Farnsworth to perform in open air settings......Pepper rules the summer blog playlist as "Change" tops the list for six weeks, the longest run in five years........Remember Alive 'n' Kickin'? They were a Brooklyn band that was a one-hit wonder in 1970 with "Tighter, Tighter". Leader Pepe Cardonia passed away, I blog about him, the band, and their experiences........"Cousin Brucie", aka Bruce Morrow announces he is leaving his fifteen year stint on Sirius XM's "60's on 6" channel. His next gig? Back to the station that made him famous, WABC, where he would return in September for a three hour Saturday evening weekly show.
AUGUST: MTV turned 39 years old. I look at some of its history, from reviving the top 40 business and its days of playing music videos to its later degradation into reality shows........With Avi Kaplan's "I'll Get By" entering the list, it's "Avi-Mania". The ex-Pentatonix singer joins Avi Buffalo's "Skeleton Painting" and Avi Wisnia's "Sky Blue Sky" on the SNS 100.........Tropical Storm Isaias arrives and knocks out power here for three days.......It's the Jersey Blitz at the top spot, as Ridgewood's Real Estate ascends to the #1 position with "Paper Cup". The lead position would subsequently be replaced by Donna Missal, ScreenAge and Elise Farnsworth, in that order, occupying the number one spot for a combined eight straight weeks........Pop/folk singer Trini Lopez, of "Lemon Tree" and "If I Had a Hammer" fame, passes away......Karen Wallo is another friend that is able to play live again, with her band Jersey Cowgirls. While that band doesn't have an album out, Karen mentions that she had cut a solo album back in 2009, so naturally I add "Rain Away My Sorrow". Turns out that the eleven-year old album has a very 2020 name: We're In This Together..........Discovery #4: While discussing Wallo's career, one of her Facebook friends, David Porfirio friends me and sends me a copy of some of his work. His music, mostly instrumental, is prog, eclectic and rock all at once. The unique sounds garners an add to my playlist........We binge-watch the show Shameless, that has an awesome music soundtrack, and a great throwback garage sound was discovered in the band The Mystery Lights, and their 2016 song, "21 and Counting".......Scenes 'n' Soundwaves turned ten years old this month, thus a retrospective of those 10 years and how my music tastes have changed during that time. I offer links to some of my best blogs over that time span............Donna Missal grabs her second #1 with "How Does It Feel", but it's the next playlist-topping #1 song, "Blue Eyed Addiction" by ScreenAge that garnered some nice attention and positive vibes from that Central Jersey band, who shared my blog both on Facebook and Instagram. They offer a new take on the "garage rock" sound, thus I review their history, as well as some of the classic 1960's era bands that initially defined the genre.
 |
| Hawaiian reggae band Pepper, now based in San Diego, dominated my summer playlist with "Change", nabbing my "song of the summer" honors. |
SEPTEMBER: Summer is over, and thus it's "Song of the Summer" time. While DaBaby's "Rockstar" is Billboard's winner, mine goes to Pepper's "Change"............Avi Buffalo, aka Avigdor Zahner-Eisenberg, has his past catch up to him, when his former bandmate Rebecca Coleman, now of Pageants, accuses him of rape, sexual abuse and harassment that occurred back in 2009. As a result, the band's old label Sub Pop pulled their two albums from the marketplace. In addition, all of their videos were removed, as well as Zahner-Eisenberg's social media pages. I also remove "Skeleton Paintings" from the playlist.........I make good on my promise to catch some of the local artists embraced by my blog, when I see The Outcrops perform outdoors in Clinton, NJ.....One week later, I see Elise Farnsworth perform in Middletown NJ and meet her in person, just as her "In the Morning Light" tops my playlist.......Tommy DeVito, one of the original Four Seasons, passes away, as do two 1970's pop icons, Mac Davis and Helen Reddy.
OCTOBER: During a weekend road trip, I head over into Pennsylvania to meet and watch Shannon Marsyada perform......Bruce Springsteen releases "Letter to You", and Phoebe Ryan comes out with her first full length album on an indie label; I jump on both "Ring" and "Try It Sober". I try and analyze why this talent, on the verge of stardom just a few years back, still can't cross the line.........Guitar virtuoso Eddie Van Halen dies, and I look back at his career.......Halloween is here and I offer thirteen Halloween songs that many may not equate with the holiday.......David Porfirio's "Driving at Dusk" reaches the top spot. The Queens, NY artist's instrumental becoming only the second such song to head my list.
NOVEMBER: The stormy road that is the presidential election comes to a head. Joe Biden defeats incumbent Donald Trump, despite some controversy over possible election fraud. I analyze the pros and cons of the outcome, and what it might mean to the music industry.......Miley Cyrus transcends her pop image as "Midnight Sky" becomes her second blog number one, following "Malibu" three years ago.......Speaking of Trump, I try to find out whatver happened to Allison Ireheta's band Halo Circus. Seems that the former American Idol star's band, called it quits, but rising out of those ashes is Fuhm, with Alison and some former Halo members. Their lead single "Send Out the Clown" is a vicious attack on the outgoing president........Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek loses his battle with pancreatic cancer. The longtime game show host's career is analyzed, including some music-oriented beginnings. New-wave era band The Fleshtones' "Alex Trebek", released earlier in the year, is added, as a tribute.......Michael Fitzpatrick, aka "Fitz" (of ...and The Tantrums) releases a solo single, "Head Up High"......Winnetka Bowling League keeps pumping out the songs. "Congratulations" is the band's sixth song to chart on my playlist this year.... Longtime friend Gia Ness performs on her ukulele at a holiday craft festival at a tree farm in New York and has a CD of the songs she has performed. I add one of them, a cover of The Beatles "Across the Universe" that features her niece on double bass.
 |
| New Jersey's Bryan Hansen Band featuring Kim Boyko posted a 2020 version of the classic "Christmas Wrapping" by The Watrresses with revised pandemic-related lyrics. |
DECEMBER: I write about being careful what aspiring artists can wish for mainstream success, if it's what they really want......It's the holiday season, and the barrage of seasonal songs are added to my playlist, headed by Molly Burch's "Holiday Dreaming". But it's a new version of one of my all time holiday faves---The Waitresses' "Christmas Wrapping", by Jersey artists Bryan Hansen Band with Kim Boyko, that attracts notice. "Christmas Wrapping 2020" is geared to the pandemic of this year with revamped lyrics. Other pandemic-related holiday items come from The Hounds of Winter ("Is It Over Yet?", with Tom Corea gathering his bandmates from various locations remotely) and Twenty One Pilots ("Christmas Saves the Year"). Speaking of The Waitresses, that vintage band's leader Chris Butler holds a contest to see who hears that song in public or on the radio for the first time, with the winner getting $400 in their name to the Akron Ohio Children's library...........Discovery #5: Thanks to my iPod randomly playing The Hounds of Winter's "Christmas At Our House" from the studio outfit's 2017 Christmas Party album, searching the video reveals that the original version was from British artist Ian Roberts, who the Hounds backed up in that 2015 record......Roberts, along with his band Tinkers Lane, share their music with me.........Despite her saying she's quitting, Shannon Marsyada releases both a new single, "The Road" as well as a holiday song and video "Winter Birds"......Country legend Charley Pride passes away......And finally, Mariah Carey is back at the top with "All I Want For Christmas Is You". Some things just never change!
THE FINAL: The last new blog of the year finds Bakar's "1st Time" holding on to an impressive lead on my SNS 100 playlist. Chris Stapleton advances to the runner-up spot which his bluesy "Cold", up from 5-2. And it looks like the winner of the holiday sweepstakes is Molly Burch, whose "Holiday Dreaming" advances 6-3; unless there's some upward post-holiday movement, it looks like it'll be the only top 20 holiday entry this year. The biggest mover into the top 20 this week is Shannon Marsyada's "The Road" (44-16), but others are on the move as well.
As for the holiday entries, it looks like Ian Roberts has clinched the runner-up spot with a 34-21 move for "Christmas At Our House". But by far the biggest debut is the band that backed him up on that song, The Hounds of Winter. The song, "Is It Over Yet?" debuts at a very high #36. Tom Corea made the song available as a free download on Reverbnation. Despite it being close to Christmas, the song, about how the pandemic has claimed 2020 might be more of a New Year's song than Christmas, although there are references to that holiday as well. Depending on when my next new blog is, it still could ramp up into my top 20.
Aside from the Hounds, the other new holiday entry is by another Jersey band. Jonas Brothers, who won the holiday race last year with the #13 "Like It's Christmas", are back this year with "I Need You Christmas". It's a rather indirect reference to the pandemic, but it has a nice, laid back, lush setting, and very somber but in a holiday-ish sort of way. Like Miley Cyrus, one tends to take these three brothers for granted, but they have talent.
The addition of these two songs, makes sixteen holiday entries on my playlist this year, probably the most in the eleven holiday seasons I've been doing this blog. And, with a few exceptions ("White Christmas", "All I Want For Christmas Is You", "Celebrate Me Home"), most of these are either originals, or seldom-heard, obscure songs.
There are two non-holiday entries, both by country artists. Blake Shelton featuring Gwen Stefani are back together again for "Happy Anywhere" which lives up to its name (and just hit #1 on the country chart); and Morgan Wallen follows his "7 Summers" with "More Than My Hometown", another good song.
WHAT'S AHEAD: As I mentioned before, this is the last new blog of 2020. I will now tabulate all the songs on the playlist to compile my annual Top 100 list which I'll publish next week. As for beyond, it's anyone's guess. I usually take several weeks hiatus (and last year it turned out being three months). With the plethora of great music out there and with a rapport with some aspiring artists, that hiatus may be more brief. On the other side of the coin, many long time friends have pretty much turned away from new music and with it, the blog. Stay tuned.
In the meantime, have a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy Holiday Season!
Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist
December 20, 2020
|
This Week |
Last
Week |
ARTIST-Title |
Weeks
on List |
|
1 |
1 |
NUMBER ONE:  "1st Time" (Single Only) (2 weeks at #1) |
7 |
|
2 |
5 |
8 |
|
|
3 |
6 |
5 |
|
|
4 |
4 |
15 |
|
|
5 |
8 |
6 |
|
|
6 |
3 |
16 |
|
|
7 |
2 |
15 |
|
|
8 |
16 |
9 |
|
|
9 |
7 |
7 |
|
|
10 |
9 |
12 |
|
|
11 |
10 |
23 |
|
|
12 |
15 |
Christina Alessi & the Toll Collectors - Where the River Flows |
9 |
|
13 |
20 |
6 |
|
|
14 |
21 |
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:  Album: We Will Always Love You |
9 |
|
15 |
22 |
6 |
|
|
16 |
44 |
MOVER OF THE WEEK:  "The Road" (Single Only) |
2 |
|
17 |
17 |
9 |
|
|
18 |
14 |
11 |
|
|
19 |
19 |
10 |
|
|
20 |
23 |
10 |
|
|
21 |
27 |
6 |
|
|
22 |
34 |
3 |
|
|
23 |
25 |
7 |
|
|
24 |
26 |
7 |
|
|
25 |
13 |
17 |
|
|
26 |
18 |
16 |
|
|
27 |
31 |
5 |
|
|
28 |
11 |
14 |
|
|
29 |
12 |
13 |
|
|
30 |
30 |
5 |
|
|
31 |
35 |
8 |
|
|
32 |
37 |
7 |
|
|
33 |
52 |
2 |
|
|
34 |
45 |
4 |
|
|
35 |
24 |
13 |
|
|
36 |
--- |
TOP DEBUT:  (Single Only) |
1 |
|
37 |
42 |
6 |
|
|
38 |
28 |
21 |
|
|
39 |
43 |
11 |
|
|
40 |
29 |
17 |
|
|
41 |
51 |
3 |
|
|
42 |
47 |
6 |
|
|
43 |
46 |
5 |
|
|
44 |
32 |
12 |
|
|
45 |
33 |
16 |
|
|
46 |
48 |
4 |
|
|
47 |
40 |
19 |
|
|
48 |
49 |
Goo Goo Dolls - This
is Christmas |
4 |
|
49 |
55 |
3 |
|
|
50 |
59 |
3 |
|
|
51 |
61 |
3 |
|
|
52 |
80 |
2 |
|
|
53 |
39 |
16 |
|
|
54 |
38 |
16 |
|
|
55 |
36 |
11 |
|
|
56 |
41 |
18 |
|
|
57 |
50 |
Christina Alessi & the Toll Collectors - Whatever Gets You
Through |
12 |
|
58 |
54 |
6 |
|
|
59 |
53 |
19 |
|
|
60 |
69 |
4 |
|
|
61 |
64 |
4 |
|
|
62 |
67 |
5 |
|
|
63 |
56 |
19 |
|
|
64 |
66 |
12 |
|
|
65 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
66 |
85 |
2 |
|
|
67 |
57 |
10 |
|
|
68 |
58 |
20 |
|
|
69 |
63 |
32 |
|
|
70 |
62 |
17 |
|
|
71 |
71 |
4 |
|
|
72 |
75 |
4 |
|
|
73 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
74 |
60 |
8 |
|
|
75 |
78 |
Billie Eilish -
Therefore I Am |
4 |
|
76 |
73 |
10 |
|
|
77 |
81 |
3 |
|
|
78 |
79 |
3 |
|
|
79 |
70 |
24 |
|
|
80 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
81 |
72 |
30 |
|
|
82 |
65 |
6 |
|
|
83 |
68 |
8 |
|
|
84 |
74 |
14 |
|
|
85 |
88 |
16 |
|
|
86 |
89 |
Gwen Stefani ft Blake Shelton - You Make It Feel
Like Christmas |
11 |
|
87 |
76 |
20 |
|
|
88 |
77 |
14 |
|
|
89 |
84 |
35 |
|
|
90 |
83 |
9 |
|
|
91 |
93 |
20 |
|
|
92 |
82 |
7 |
|
|
93 |
86 |
31 |
|
|
94 |
92 |
11 |
|
|
95 |
87 |
23 |
|
|
96 |
91 |
25 |
|
|
97 |
90 |
22 |
|
|
98 |
94 |
10 |
|
|
99 |
99 |
34 |
|
|
100 |
RE ENTRY |
36 |
|
|
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment