Saturday, February 27, 2021

Jersey's Emily MacMahon Scores Top Blog Song with New Take on Doo-Wop Era Ballads (SNS week of 2/21/2021)

 Picture yourself somewhere in the late 1950's, perhaps at a high school sock hop, and at the end of the night, they play a nice, slow, dreamy romantic ballad to slow dance to.   Or perhaps in the same era, driving to something like "inspiration point" or watching the "submarine races" in your convertible with your significant other and a song like "I Only Have Eyes For You" comes on.

If you're too young to remember that era (and I pretty much was), then how about the 1970's, with Art Garfunkel's remake of that song?    Or maybe Chicago's "Colour My World", or Heatwave's "Always and Forever"?   I think you got the gist of what I am talking about.   

Fast forward to last summer, amidst all the pandemic, quarantines and social distancing, comes a ballad that owes so much to that romantic era.    Except one thing.    The song, a very much dreamy ballad in that vein, has a fresh spin to it and it was written and performed by a young talent barely twenty years old.    A song that brings chills to you every time you hear it.

Emily MacMahon grabs the pole position on this week's blog playlist.  The Edison singer-songwriter was the recipient of the Lyrics for Lucas Foundation Scholarship for Advancing the Performing Arts.


Well, that type of song hits the #1 position on my Scenes 'n' Soundwaves 100 playlist this week, as Emily MacMahon, from Edison, NJ, tops the blog list with "Only Us".    The very talented singer-songwriter, who also fronts ScreenAge, directed the accompanying video as well, no doubt shot at the Jersey Shore.

Aside from being a talented musician, Emily also champions many causes.  Currently attending Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, where her major is music technology, she recently received a prestigious award, from the Lyrics for Lucas Foundation Scholarship, for Advancing the Performing Arts. The Foundation's mission is to build awareness of sudden unexplained death in childhood (SUDC).  The award is given in honor of Lucas DiGuilio, who passed away unexpectedly at just 22 months old.  Emily had mentioned that students apply for the award, to "demonstrate their love for the performing arts, its beneficial and healing powers, and how they use their powers to benefit others".   

Ms. MacMahon's blog-topping achievement puts her into a elite circle, of artists who've hit my top spot both as a solo act and part of a band.   ScreenAge topped my list late last summer with "Blue Eyed Addiction", which also topped my 2020 year-end list.    She joins another pair of locals, Staten Island twins Leila and Omnia Hegazy, who each scored number ones individually as well as with their band Hegazy.   


ACTIVITY LIST:  While "Only Us" climbs to the top, hot on its heels is Tinkers Lane's "Honey Honey", which keeps pace and advances to the #2 spot.  That forces Jade Bird's "Headstart" down to the three spot after three weeks at number one, despite only losing a few points. Those three songs are bunched together and well ahead of the pack, but landing at #4 is David F. Porfirio's "That Night on Bergenline Avenue", followed closely by Aaron Frazer's "Over You" and Frances Forever's "Space Girl".  And moving up right behind those songs are Kings of Leon's "Bandit" (19-8) which spends a second week at the top on the Billboard Triple-A listing.  

WHATS IN A NAME?  A few weeks back, I had added a song called "One More Time", which was a product of an app tool called SoundBlend, which enables musicians from remote places to play and record music from those various locations to create a studio-perfect collaboration.    Several musicians, including Tom Corea got together to write and record many songs via SoundBlend.    I had, at the time added "One More Time" to the list, but since there was no name for the contingent, I reverted to the name The Hounds of Winter, Corea's studio band, as most of the musicians on it, also did the recent holiday song "Is It Over Yet?", with the intention of changing it once the official name became known.   

Well, the "band" officially has a name now.  Called Einstein's Dad, the outfit, with a multitude of musicians in various combinations on each track, have released an album, called Einstein's Dad (Remote Ready), with ten tracks on it.   I have changed the listing on my chart to reflect the new name.  In addition, "One More Time" is listed as simply "OMT" on the track listing, thus the title has been changed on the list as well.   This week, the song moves 34-29 in its fifth week on the chart.

NEW STUFF:  Nine adds this week, including two more Jersey acts, some from the left coast and a few from across the pond, many making their SNS debut.  Midnight Sister, a contingent from LA, makes its blog debut with "Foxes", which garners Top Debut honors.   It's a modern mid-tempo rock ballad that is very listenable and infectious as well.   Good prospects for this one. Next is the Jersey Band The Happy Fits, hailing from Pittstown with the proto-punkish "Hold Me Down".  A cool video to this one, taking a place at a "battle of the bands" at Asbury Park's Asbury Lanes club.....  Temples, who had a couple entries on my list back in 2014, return with "Paraphenalia".  The English band has that awesome full Brit 80s-type sound going for this one.

It's back to Jersey for the next act, Tytillidie, with "Doomsday".  Tytillidie is Tyler Jones, who hails from Sayreville, a town familiar to music fans as also the home of Jon Bon Jovi.   The song is from Jones' four-song EP Nocturnal.   It is pure, unadulterated hip-hop, and is awesome to listen to.   It's hip-hop for those who don't really like the genre, it's professionally done, and might make a good introduction for those who don't follow it, but a must listen for those who are into it.   Nicely done.

Taylor Swift seems to be everywhere these days and she appears to be transcending many genres as well.   She has returned to her country roots on two charting tracks in that genre, had a number one Billboard Hot 100 debut a couple months back with "Willow" and another new entry, her take on the classic movie theme "Love Story", not to mention an alternative presence with "Coney Island" moving from 55-42 that features alt band The National.   And yet, here she is again on "Gasoline" as featured vocalist on sister group Haim's latest.   Her sound blends in well with the girls' on this song.   

Also debuting are another from Britain, Sports Team, with "Fishing", their blog debut, Animal Island's follow-up to its top five blog hit "Tonight" with "We're Already Home", Echosmith's "Tell Her You Love Her" (featuring Mat Kearney), and finally Babeheaven, yet another Londoner and new to SNS, with "Human Nature".   All worth checking out.  


Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist

February 21, 2021


This Week

Last Week

ARTIST-Title

Weeks on List

1

2

NUMBER ONE:



EMILY MACMAHON

"Only Us"

(Single Only)

8

2

3

Tinkers Lane - Honey Honey

8

3

1

Jade Bird - Headstart

14

4

7

David F. Porfirio - That Night on Bergenline Avenue

5

5

9

Aaron Frazer - Over You

7

6

11

Frances Forever - Space Girl

5

7

4

Ariel Pink - Crybaby

7

8

19

Kings of Leon- The Bandit

5

9

5

Bakar - 1st Time

15

10

12

The Mystery Lights - It's Alright

13

11

16

Bryan Hansen Band - Waiting For Tomorrow

6

12

14

Gwen Stefani - Let Me Reintroduce Myself

11

13

8

Elise Farnsworth - Pixie Dust

14

14

18

Surfer Blood - Parkland (Into the Silence)

7

15

17

Molly Burch ft. Wild Nothing - Emotion

8

16

13

Django Django - Spirals

19

17

6

Cannons - Fire For You

10

18

20

Blake Shelton ft. Gwen Stefani - Happy Anywhere

9

19

10

Gia Ness ft Ariel Walton - Across the Universe

13

20

21

TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:


JAMES HUNTER SIX

"I Can Change Your Mind"

Album: Nick of Time

12

21

15

Shannon Marsyada - The Road

10

22

22

Miley Cyrus ft. Dua Lipa - Prisoner

11

23

25

Delacey - Unlovable

8

24

24

Kitten  - WhatYear Are We In

8

25

29

Morgan Wallen - More Than My Hometown

9

26

23

Fitz - Head Up High

15

27

26

Miley Cyrus - Midnight Sky

23

28

32

Illiterate Light ft. Devon Gilfillan - Freedom

6

29

34

Einstein's Dad - OMT

5

30

31

I Don't Know How But They Found Me - Leave Me Alone

7

31

35

Maybird - Dreamcatcher

4

32

36

Iration - Coastin

6

33

27

Brittany Howard - You'll Never Walk Alone

14

34

38

Future Islands - Plastic Beach

4

35

28

Winnetka Bowling League - Congratulations

14

36

30

Chris Stapleton - Cold

16

37

33

The Blue Stones - Let It Ride

18

38

39

Ed Sheeran - Afterglow

8

39

37

Cage the Elephant - Skin and Bones

17

40

40

The Black Keys - Keep My Name Outta Your Mouth

6

41

42

Paul McCartney - Find My Way

5

42

55

Taylor Swift ft The National - Coney Island

3

43

46

Kjband - Rock Star

7

44

53

The Weeknd - Save Your Tears

3

45

41

Glass Animals - Heat Waves

7

46

48

Harry Styles - Golden

6

47

45

Peach Tree Rascals - Mariposa

7

48

67

MOVER OF THE WEEK:


BOY PABLO

"Hey Girl"

Album: Wachita Rico

2

49

44

ZZ Ward - Giant

11

50

50

Cold War Kids - 1 X 1

5

51

47

The Backseat Lovers - Kilby Girl

31

52

70

The Avalanches - The Divine Chord

2

53

60

Sunflower Bean - Moment in the Sun

4

54

61

Clairo - Sofia

4

55

79

Olivia Rodrigo - Drivers License

2

56

43

Fleshtones - Alex Trebek

15

57

58

Awolnation - Radical

5

58

63

The Beths - Mars, the God of War

3

59

51

Surfer Blood - Karen

24

60

75

Beebadoobee - Charlie Brown

2

61

69

Gracie Abrams - Friend

4

62

65

Wallows - Are You Bored Yet?

8

63

66

Baby Strange - More! More! More!

5

64

78

Dayglow  - Close To You

2

65

49

The Avalanches - Wherever You Go

17

66

56

Iration - Right Here Right Now

25

67

73

Weezer - All My Favorite Songs

4

68

--- 

TOP DEBUT:



MIDNIGHT SISTER

"Foxes"

Album: Painting the Roses

1

69

74

Black Coffee ft. Maxine Ashley and Sun El Musician - You Need Me

3

70

76

The Jacks - Just a Little Bit

5

71

77

Two Feet - Think I'm Crazy

3

72

54

Deep Sea Diver ft. Sharon Van Etten - Impossible Weight

17

73

62

Billie Eilish - Therefore I Am

12

74

59

Donna Missal - Just Like You

14

75

--- 

The Happy Fits - Hold Me Down

1

76

71

All Time Low ft. Black Bear - Monsters

20

77

 ---

Temples - Paraphenalia

1

78

68

New Order - Be A Rebel

18

79

80

Bleachers ft Bruce Springsteen - Chinatown

2

80

52

Caamp - Officer of Love

16

81

--- 

Tytillidie - Doomsday

1

82

--- 

Haim ft. Taylor Swift - Gasoline

1

83

--- 

Sports Team - Fishing

1

84

57

David F. Porfirio - Evening At the Pier

15

85

64

Meg Myers - Any Way You Wanna Love

15

86

83

Nothing Nowhere - Fake Friend

3

87

--- 

Animal Island - We're Already Home

1

88

86

Clean Bandit and Mabel ft 24KGoldn - Tick Tock

4

89

87

Lana Del Rey - Chemtrails Over the Country Club

2

90

--- 

Echosmith ft. Mat Kearney - Tell Her You Love Her

1

91

--- 

Babeheaven - Human Nature

1

92

72

Elle King - Another You

7

93

82

The Knocks ft Foster the People - All About You

12

94

81

Mabel - Mad Love

21

95

91

Screen Age - Blue Eyed Addiction

40

96

84

The Strokes - The Adults are Talking

14

97

85

Foo Fighters- Shame Shame

13

98

88

Bright Eyes - Mariana Trench

20

99

89

The Hold Steady - Family Farm

5

100

90

Black Pumas - Black Moon Rising

22


 

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.






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