Well, I guess there's just one story to focus on this week. Adele returns after a six year absence with her new single, "Easy On Me". The song, released today (October 15, as I am writing this), is from her forthcoming album, 30, due next month. It is the Top Debut this week on my blog playlist, coming in at a high #43.
 |
| Adele breaks a six year silence with her new single "Easy on Me" from her forthcoming fourth album 30; the song is Top Debut this week. |
The song, a ballad in the "Someone Like You" vein, as well as much of her last album, 2015's 25 is off to a good start if YouTube views is any indication. In less than 24 hours, the video has had over 2.2 million views and counting. It's probably a no-brainer that it will debut at #1 on the next Billboard Hot 100. After all, when a beloved artist hasn't released anything in some time, just the anticipation factor is enough to garner strong digital sales and streaming.
But of course, my tastes and that of the general public differ. This is a very good song. When I heard it for the first time yesterday, I liked it, but I thought it was nothing really 'special'. The second time, it grew on me a little. But, can a ballad like this score at pop radio in 2021? No doubt it will invade the Hot AC and Adult Contemporary airplay charts, and I'm sure it's right up there at pop stations. But, aside from being absent from the music scene for years (although her publicized love life---she got divorced a couple years back--- and last year's Saturday Night Live hosting gig kept her in the public eye to an extent), will this song be a hit just from anticipation and subsequent singles suffer? That has happened too many times in this business. Or can she (again) change the course of music?
Let's remember that it was almost eleven years ago, Adele did just that, at least for a while. As with today, hip-hop and sparse pop was pretty much dominating music in the spring of 2011, when along came Adele's "Rolling In the Deep", which was such a contrast to what was out there at the time. That song, along with two others from her 21 set, hit number one on the Hot 100, and she became a household name, with many of her songs--intricate in structure--featured on many of the competition shows like American Idol and The Voice.
If you been reading the above, and think I am rather cynical about all this, you are right. Many artists I've been into heavily at one time, have waned on me, much of it because they got too popular, causing somewhat of a backlash. But, let's remember how I got into her music in the first place. It was October of 2008 and her debut album, 19 came out, and this song and video came on VH-1, "Chasing Pavements", that blew me away. I had given up on following music at that time, but that song, full of soul and feeling, ,just captivated me. That night, she turned out to be the musical guest on Saturday Night Live, the one where then-Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin appeared along with Tina Fey, who played her in SNL sketches.
Adele emerged from a wave of British retro-soul singers, along with Amy Winehouse to have some success and restored my interest in music, and eventually to write this blog. In 2009, I listed my Top 100 songs of that year for the first time since 2003, and two other Adele songs from 19, made the list: "Right as Rain" at #4, and "Cold Shoulder" at #13. I plan on still making a 2008 list and "Chasing Pavements" is in major contention for top honors.
I started my blog in August 2010, and by December of that year, Adele released the lead single from her second album, 21, "Rolling In the Deep". Much like everyone else jumping on "Easy on Me", I did the same with "Rolling", even though her prior success was only sporadic. The song hit #1 on my playlist in January 2011 and stayed in the top 10 for almost half a year. It wasn't until May that the rest of the country joined the party and "Rolling..." hit #1 on Billboard.
Much like ScreenAge this year, Adele dominated my playlist in 2011, with two additional blog toppers, "Someone Like You", and "Rumour Has It". 21 became the first album in the blog era to produce three number one songs, and has only been done four times since: Fitz and the Tantrums did it twice with More Than Just a Dream and their eponymous third album, The Revivalists with Take Good Care, and ScreenAge just recently with DNR. Much of the time, Adele had three songs in my Top 20 simultaneously through August of 2011. She landed the #1 song of 2011 with "Rolling in the Deep", #10 with "Someone Like You", #16 with "Rumour Has It", as well as #39 with "Set Fire to the Rain" on my 2011 year-end list. While 21 perhaps didn't have the retro-soul element that her debut had, it was still awesome music. Altogether, seven songs from 21 made my top 20 in as many tries, six of them top 10. "Rolling in the Deep" went on to take decade honors, landing at the top spot on my Top 200 of the 2010's. Late in 2012, Adele released "Skyfall", the theme to the James Bond movie of the same name, and that reached #2 here.
But, like today, Adele took a while to come up with a follow-up. Finally in November 2015, she released "Hello" in front of her 2015 third set, 25. Somewhat of an "upbeat" album as she had found love (temporarily at it turned out), the anticipation was similar to what's happening now. "Hello" debuted at #1 on the Hot 100 and stayed there ten weeks. On my blog, it entered at #32 with a record 80 points (broken earlier this year by ScreenAge's "Think Again"). It hit #1 here in its third week, tying a record set by The Killers' "I Feel It In My Bones", and equaled by Fitz and the Tantrums' "Out of My League". No other song has attached that since ("Think Again" was blocked out from achieving that by another ScreenAge song, "Northstar"). A slow ballad, it marked Adele's pretty-much current style. The follow-up "When We Were Young" hit #2, and two other songs reached my top 20. Nice, but her heart and soul of her prior music seemed to be more poppish as she was now a mainstream pop star.
It should be interesting to follow her path for 30, both on a national level as well as for me personally. With my interest in mainstream pop music (as discussed last week) back on the upswing, it would be a natural for Adele to be a part of it. But, we shall see.
TOP OF THE POPS: We have a new #1 song, "Beggin'" by the Italian band Maneskin which rises to the top spot. It's #1 for the second week on the Alternative chart, #6 on the Top 40 list, #14 on Hot AC, and #16 on the Hot 100. It's the first remake of a pop hit on my blog to reach the top, the original being by The Four Seasons in 1967. The only other blog-topper that was a remake of sorts was Rachel Allyn's cover of "Say Hello to Goodbye" which hit #1 in 2011. The original by Shontelle hit #33 here but didn't chart on the Hot 100. Hot on its tale is Dua Lipa's "Love Again" moving from 5-2. Vivian Girls' "Sick" drops a notch to #3, Middle Kids grab their second top fiver with "Stacking Chairs" and last week's #1, "Bad Habits" by Ed Sheeran drops to #5. It's a rather quiet top 20 with the only other major movers being Halsey's "You Asked for This" (18-12), Bakar's "The Mission" (19-17) and Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats' "Survivor" (21-20, Impact award).
BOWLING FOR FANS: Winnetka Bowling League grabs the Mover of the Week honors for a second week with "Pulp", which moves 42-27, aided by a friend and apparentl fan, Kelly Ann Harris. She has the band's prior song "Barcelona" (the acoustic version) on repeat on her playlist, which causes that song, featuring Sasha Sloan to re-enter my chart at #98. She also notes that WBL leader Matthew Koma recently drummed on a performance by the band Chvrches and had recommended bands like Heartless Bastards as well. Now THAT'S what this blog is all about, discovering music from friends. Thank you, Kelly!
DEBUTING: Aside from Adele at #43 with her latest, the other seven debuts include many "local faves" and a few national acts. Anna Lavigne, the songstress from Scotland, had posted that she is working on a new album, Roses for the Ride, her second, and previewed a killer track, "Mindblown" which sends chills down my spine. The album is not yet readied for release, so in the meantime, I am going back to her first album, Angels in Sandshoes for "Dance the Last Goodbye". Highlighting that well rounded set and following three top 10 blog songs from it, this one takes on a vocal style reminiscent of Lesley Gore. Her voice, as usual is awesome and this one should put her right back in the top echelon and whet appetites for the new product. Another winner!
Speaking of faves across the pond, Tinkers Lane is back with a third track off of The Noise is Beautiful,"It's Called Love", which follows two top 20's and frontman Ian Roberts' "So Fine Summertime" blog hit. Much like Ms. Lavigne's album mentioned above, the styles on this set are very distinctive. While "Honey Honey" had that pop sound, and "I Do Love You" had a dash of country,, this one dabbles in reggae, a genre that has landed on my playlist before, including the current Iration and King Tappa entries. "It's Called Love" has more of a pop slant to it, more like the Iration song and is different enough to move up to the top once again.
Although Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats are still moving up the list with "Survivor", it has peaked at the top spot on Triple-A and still sits at #1 in its fourth week there, thus the gang follows it up with "Love Don't". This one combines their bluesy sound with a vintage 60's Motown beat, and the combination is killer; I took to it immediately and added it. The song also echoes Southside Johnny's "Love on the Wrong Side of Town"...The Regrettes have been blog staples for several years now, getting the occasional blog hit along with some mid charters, but regardless, they've yet to have a big national hit. Their new one, "Monday" is creating some buzz on Alternative stations. It's pretty much a bit of everything: Early-era Vivian Girls and recent Pageants with some exploratory avant-garde thrown in for good measure. Definitely has potential.
David F. Porfirio follows his "1986" with "Egyptian Fantasy", and as usual, it's pretty much two songs in one. The first half is a departure from prior efforts, with a mesmerizing synth keyboard amidst a steady beat. Then, at the three minute ark, the songs slows down and the rock guitars take over while still containing the mystifying element and even some prog echoes. They hold sway until the final seconds, when the bells chime in. I always wonder if Porfirio would be better off splitting these efforts into separate songs, but apparently that is his "schtick" and it has worked well so far. I've said it before, but he is an awesome guitarist, but who is still an obscure one. But, time will tell.
Donna Missal follows up her disappointing "Sex Is Good" with another somber piece, the ironically-titled "Happy People". The song is from the soundtrack to the new movie The Addams Family 2. Again, Ms. Missal tries to be Billie Eilish. The song is worth a few spins and is good for a few weeks on the playlist. But I prefer her more bluesy and rock stances....the final add this week is the blog debut by The Heavy Hours, a four-piece band from Cincinnati, with "Wildfire", a title track from their new five-song EP. Definitely center in the rock lane and with exposure could catch on.
Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist
October 10, 2021
|
This Week |
Last
Week |
ARTIST-Title |
Weeks
on List |
|
1 |
3 |
NUMBER ONE:  "Beggin'" Album: Chosen |
8 |
|
2 |
5 |
9 |
|
|
3 |
2 |
10 |
|
|
4 |
7 |
10 |
|
|
5 |
1 |
14 |
|
|
6 |
8 |
13 |
|
|
7 |
4 |
13 |
|
|
8 |
6 |
13 |
|
|
9 |
9 |
9 |
|
|
10 |
10 |
23 |
|
|
11 |
11 |
13 |
|
|
12 |
18 |
6 |
|
|
13 |
12 |
9 |
|
|
14 |
15 |
10 |
|
|
15 |
17 |
12 |
|
|
16 |
14 |
19 |
|
|
17 |
19 |
5 |
|
|
18 |
16 |
10 |
|
|
19 |
13 |
16 |
|
|
20 |
21 |
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:  NATHANIEL RATELIFF and the NIGHT SWEATS "Survivor" Album: The Future |
7 |
|
21 |
23 |
Christina Alessi and the Toll Collectors - Stone Meets the Sea |
11 |
|
22 |
34 |
3 |
|
|
23 |
28 |
6 |
|
|
24 |
22 |
19 |
|
|
25 |
31 |
7 |
|
|
26 |
20 |
12 |
|
|
27 |
42 |
MOVER OF THE WEEK:  "Pulp" Album: Pulp (EP) |
3 |
|
28 |
24 |
10 |
|
|
29 |
30 |
10 |
|
|
30 |
37 |
7 |
|
|
31 |
39 |
5 |
|
|
32 |
40 |
8 |
|
|
33 |
27 |
21 |
|
|
34 |
25 |
14 |
|
|
35 |
45 |
4 |
|
|
36 |
38 |
14 |
|
|
37 |
44 |
5 |
|
|
38 |
26 |
15 |
|
|
39 |
50 |
6 |
|
|
40 |
29 |
13 |
|
|
41 |
35 |
10 |
|
|
42 |
32 |
13 |
|
|
43 |
--- |
TOP DEBUT:  Album: 30 |
1 |
|
44 |
33 |
20 |
|
|
45 |
41 |
14 |
|
|
46 |
51 |
6 |
|
|
47 |
54 |
8 |
|
|
48 |
36 |
12 |
|
|
49 |
56 |
7 |
|
|
50 |
47 |
15 |
|
|
51 |
49 |
24 |
|
|
52 |
61 |
3 |
|
|
53 |
46 |
18 |
|
|
54 |
70 |
3 |
|
|
55 |
43 |
7 |
|
|
56 |
73 |
2 |
|
|
57 |
64 |
9 |
|
|
58 |
69 |
3 |
|
|
59 |
48 |
20 |
|
|
60 |
65 |
5 |
|
|
61 |
57 |
20 |
|
|
62 |
58 |
18 |
|
|
63 |
55 |
19 |
|
|
64 |
68 |
4 |
|
|
65 |
52 |
15 |
|
|
66 |
72 |
3 |
|
|
67 |
63 |
5 |
|
|
68 |
78 |
2 |
|
|
69 |
87 |
2 |
|
|
70 |
81 |
2 |
|
|
71 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
72 |
53 |
15 |
|
|
73 |
74 |
4 |
|
|
74 |
83 |
2 |
|
|
75 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
76 |
77 |
4 |
|
|
77 |
80 |
4 |
|
|
78 |
88 |
2 |
|
|
79 |
60 |
19 |
|
|
80 |
62 |
14 |
|
|
81 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
82 |
79 |
5 |
|
|
83 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
84 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
85 |
59 |
9 |
|
|
86 |
93 |
2 |
|
|
87 |
66 |
11 |
|
|
88 |
85 |
3 |
|
|
89 |
95 |
4 |
|
|
90 |
67 |
13 |
|
|
91 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
92 |
75 |
17 |
|
|
93 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
94 |
76 |
21 |
|
|
95 |
86 |
11 |
|
|
96 |
71 |
17 |
|
|
97 |
84 |
6 |
|
|
98 |
RE ENTRY |
16 |
|
|
99 |
82 |
8 |
|
|
100 |
92 |
19 |
|
|
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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