With this edition, we have reached the halfway mark to 2022. It's been an interesting and even tumultuous six months with this blog for sure. It's been a year that so far, many of the superstars of alternative rock, released music and hit the top ten on my chart, some going to the top. Longtime established acts such as The Black Keys, Florence +the Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Portugal. The Man, reached the top ten, with the Keys getting their seventh number one, and P.TM its third.
There was a rather diverse array of artists hitting the top spot aside from those two bands, though. A worldwide Internet band, Einstein's Dad had a chart topper, as did a neo-glam indie artist from England, Tim Izzard. Classic soul artist Curtis Harding topped the chart with "I Won't Let You Down', and the singer-songwriter LP (Laura Pergolizzi) led with "Angels".
Then there were two other female singer-songwriters, one hailing from the Highlands of Scotland, and one from the Carolinas here in the states. The former had the #1 and #3 songs the first chart of the year, the later posting those same two positions this week. Anna Lavigne dominated the top position seven weeks straight, with two songs, "Dance the Last Goodbye", and "This Time". Deb Browning has had the number one song three of the last four weeks, with "Take Me By the Hand", and the new #1 this week "3 More Minutes".
 |
| Some of the artists topping the SNS 100 this year thus far include (top, L to R): Anna Lavigne, Tim Izzard (center, L to R): LP, The Black Keys, Deb Browning (bottom L to R): Curtis Harding, Portugal. The Man |
But comparing the chart back in January to the one now, there is a very big difference. The story of this half-year has been the domination of Carolina Beach Music, spearheaded by Ms. Browning. On my first blog of 2022, January 16, there was a total of ZERO beach music songs. Well, not quite. Actually there was one, by the British duo of Elton John and Dua Lipa, with "Cold Heart" that was on several beach music lists. It was the #19 song that week, but the song was added late last year due to Hot AC airplay, rather than beach music charts.
A look at this week's list shows exactly HALF of the Top 20 are or were on some beach music chart, and TWENTY-EIGHT songs on the SNS 100 are in that genre. So, how the heck did that happen? Prior to this year, I had occasionally looked at some beach music charts and added a few songs a year. One of these was "Stop Messin' With My Man", by Deb Browning from last year. The song took a life of its own and reached my #7 position, and came in #24 for the year of 2021.
I have, over the years, gone to indie artists' pages that I've been following and mention that their song is on my blog playlist. While many ignore that, and some politely say "thank you", there are others who have embraced the publicity I've given them. Last year's "artist of the year', ScreenAge, is a perfect example of this, where I had gotten to meet and know members of that band as well as some of their parents of that youthful group, and am looking forward to two of those members' release as Colorjoy) but there are many others. When I checked out Ms. Browning's page, and gave her the link to my year-end top 100, she posted it on her timeline and we became Facebook friends, and found she was a very much down to earth person, in spite of her being one of the top beach music singers the last few years. It was the impetus of jumping on her prior music as well as her two new releases this year.
That would soon spread to other artists in the genre, such as Lesa Hudson, Sharon Woodruff of the Main Event Band, Jerry Powell of the Carnival Band, and many others. There are many regions of the country that specialize in certain genres, but I've never encountered a community like the Carolina beach music artists, who activitely support each other. I've friended many of them over the past few months, including a DJ, Pat Gwinn, who hosts many radio shows in syndication, including a beach music countdown and several oldies shows (some of which are broadcast here in New Jersey on WOLD). He even approached me about a radio countdown show based on my Scenes 'n' Soundwaves chart, which I am mulling over!
So, will beach music continue its domination the rest of the year? Who knows? There have been many trends I've jumped on in the almost twelve years of doing this, but none more than this genre. And while alternative rock, with a dash of country, soul, blues thrown in will always be my passion, beach music within itself is rather diverse as well. In the music that I've experienced in recent months, there are country, soul and blues in those songs, and combined with the alt-rock and obscure indie artists that I've supported since day one, I feel I have a nice, well-rounded chart that harkens back to the 1960's and seventies in that you could hear a big variety in the songs that made up the charts each week.
So, who knows what the next six months will bring. Sit back and enjoy the ride.
TOP OF THE CHART: Deb Browning has her second number one blog song this week as "3 More Minutes" rises to the top. The song is still climbing many of the beach lists and is actually competing with her duet with The Six Piece Suits, "Take Me By the Hand". That song, which had a two-week run at the top, holds at #3 this week, behind My Morning Jacket's "In Color", last week's blog topper. Thus, it's the second beach music song to lead the list since I started following the beach music charts in 2018.
Harry Styles' "As It Was" moves 5-4. While I thought it might have had a chance at the top, the growth was slowed a bit as it dropped to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 after a seven-week run. But that's because there was a surprise Drake album that came out last week, and "Jimmy Cooks", which features 21 Savage debuted at the top. Two other Drake songs debuted in the Billboard Top 10, and three others in the top 20. While that is impressive, it paled to the Canadian hip-hopper's last album release which saw nine of its songs debut in the Top 10, including the top five. However, the Styles song is still bulleted on the alternative and triple-A lists and is heard all over; thus it's blog topping prospects remain intact. Lesa Hudson inches into the top five with "Sunny Days" (and its follow-up "Breathless" advances to #14). My Chemical Romance moves to #7, and Kate Bush's 1985 song "Running Up That Hill" makes the top 10. While it drops to #9 on the Hot 100 (from #4), it's moving up the alternative and triple-A listings, as well as on other formats. It'll be interesting to see where this one winds up.
Also entering the blog Top 10 is "Poor Side of Town" by The Main Event Band featuring Sharon Woodruff, advancing from 11 to 8. As I hinted at last week, it's the fifth time a remake of a song originally released in the 1960's has gone top 10 blog. Johnny Rivers hit #1 on Billboard with this song in 1966, his only chart topper. Others who reached my top ten with 60's remakes include Rachel Allyn, who did it twice: "Dear Prudence", a 1968 album cut from The Beatles' self-titled album (also known as 'The White Album'), reached #4 in 2013; and "For What It's Worth", a #7 1967 hit for Buffalo Springfield, also hit #7 on my blog in 2016. Another from 1967, Tommy James & the Shondells, "I Think We're Alone Now", which hit #4 that year (as well as a #1 cover from Tiffany in 1987), was covered by none other than Tommy James himself; an acoustic version of that song reached #8 here in 2019.
Finally, the Italian band Maneskin's cover of "Beggin'" a #16 song for The Four Seasons, also in 1967, made it all the way to the top last fall, (as well as a long run on the alternative chart) and a Billboard top 20 hit.
The Main Event Band is also climbing the SNS 100 with their prior single, "Hello Stranger", which hit #3 in 1963 for Barbara Lewis. It moves 38-29 so it, too, has a shot at the top 10.
Speaking of Maneskin, the band's follow-up to "Beggin'", "Supermodel"' moves 27-18 to grab Impact Honors, but the big mover is another beach music group, The Carolina Coast Band, featuring Rhonda McDaniel, moving 58-19 to snag the Mover of the Week prize. Other big movers in the mid section of the chart include Lizzo, still #5 on Billboard with "About Damn Time" (30-23, and moving up John Hook's Beach Music Top 40 Chart); Orbis Max with Tim Izzard's "Back of the Shelf" (33-25) "2am" by Foals (50-32), and last week's Top Debut, Fitz and the Tantrums' "Sway" (46-30).
NEWBIES: Eight new songs debut this week, plus two others that were in Tremors (my version of "bubbling under") last week. They are led by the second single from The Black Keys' latest album Dropout Boogie, "It Ain't Over" (#59). This is another winner, a different sound of sorts for the duo, but within their usual neo-garage framework. Lush production and cool instrumentation remind me a bit of Electric Light Orchestra's "Showdown", sans of course, the strings, but there's enough variation in sounds (and tempo for that matter) that it doesn't really matter. Harmonic choruses makes this song complete. It seems that the band can't do any wrong. It definitely has a shot at an eighth #1 song. It will be interesting to see this battle with the latest Fitz and the Tantrums (who have #12 number ones) as it nears the top.
Next is the latest from Halsey, "So Good". The Edison NJ artist hit #1 blog her last time out with "You Asked For This" and got a lot of alternative airplay. Her new song is a step back of sorts to her pop past with her voice autotuned and rather sparse beats. But she definitely picked up a lot of tips from her prior song. Halsey sings with a lot of soul and emotion. While it borders on something that, say, Billie Eilish would record, the instrumentation is more richer than the average pop song. And I can see comparisons to say, a Bebe Rexha. While this might not make the alternative chart like it's predecessor, this should be a major chart entry here as I am now on board the Halsey train.
The Regrettes are one of those bands who seem to always derail in the middle of my chart, (although they do have two top tens here) are back with "Barely On My Mind". This has an eighties-style vibe to it and is very catchy. Their best since 2020's #8 "What Am I Gonna Do Today".
The top beach music entry this week is "In My '64" by a band with an interesting name: Rev. Bubba D. Liverance and the Cornhole Prophets. Bubba contacted me about this song, and it's a good one. While it is in the country lane, it's a good example of Carolina beach music meeting the Jersey Shore sound as it has elements reminding me of a Bruce Springsteen or a Southside Johnny. It's on many beach music lists already, so it'll be fun to watch this one rise.
Another "beach" group, if in name only, Beach House is back to follow it's #6 blog hit "One Twice Melody" from earlier this year, with "Superstar". This is neither the Leon Russell-Bonnie Bramlett penned/Carpenters/Luther Vandross/Tennis hit, nor the theme from Jesus Christ Superstar, but an original. Its lush sound reminds me a bit of the Alan Parsons Project. Very dreamy song could put them back up there.
Tim Izzard, still climbing with the list with "Back of the Shelf" with Orbis Max, is back solo with "The Night I Played Ziggy's Guitar". As you can tell from the title, the British artist, who has saluted David Bowie many times with his neo-glam sound, jumps headfirst into the heyday of the genre as well as the artist himself. Bowie's landmark album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, was released fifty years ago this past month. The album was Bowie's true breakthrough as an artist, especially on these shores. The song is based on a book by David Colworth, "I Played Ziggy's Guitar", about a Bowie concert that took place on May 11, 1972 at Worthing Assembly Hall in England. This is definitely a vintage Bowie sound. Izzard sounds very comfortable doing this kind of music. The song is sung from a latter-day point of view looking back half a century about what had transpired on that night. With his former #1 "Empty My Head" falling off the chart this week, this is a perfect replacement here and should follow all his other songs up the list.
Both of these artists are already on the list, but beach music artist Teddy Swims teams up with country star Thomas Rhett for "Broke", which, as you'd expect is a beach/country hybrid (there seems to be a lot of those lately). The song is very melodic and yet rhythmic, and should surpass both artists' current songs on the chart, "Blowin' Smoke" and "Slow Down Summer", respectively.
Speaking of country hybrids, Elle King is back with "Worth A Shot", a duet with Dierks Bentley. While Ms. King is best known for her Billboard top 10 rock-oriented song "Ex's and Oh's", she has scored very well on here on my list, with 3 blog number ones (none, incidentally was "Ex's and Oh's"; that peaked here at #2!). Her last release was "Drunk (And I Don't Want to Go Home", which hit #9 last year, but more significantly, it was her foray into country music, teaming up with Miranda Lambert, and going to the top spot on the country chart. It appears that Ms. King is abandoning her Triple-A rock roots and going Nashville. It's definitely in the contemporary country-pop mode and will probably do well in the country format with a good shot here as well.
Finally there are two debuts on the SNS 100 which were Tremors last week. Delbert McClinton, best known for his 1980 song "Giving It Up For Your Love", has been on the beach music ride the last several years, and moves onto the list with "One Scotch, One Burbon, One Beer", a 1953 blues hit for Amos Milburn, but probably more well known from George Thorogood & the Destroyers' 1977 version, this new one has sort of a honky-tonk piano vibe to it. The other entry is the blog debut from the legendary band Chicago, "If This is Goodbye". The band, still with a few original members has been around continuously since 1968, but a listen to this song sounds like it could be their swan song. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group has always been one of my favorites. I should do a blog on this band very soon.
THE LIVIN'S EASY: As we delve into the heart of summer, it's a reminder that my 13th annual "song of the summer" contest is on. Similar to an award that Billboard has done for decades and still does, my award is based on chart performance from mid-May (May 15th this year) to mid-September. Last year's winner was "Think Again" by ScreenAge, which also became the #1 song of the year. Who will it be this year? Stay tuned!
Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist
June 26, 2022 (Week ending July 2)
|
This
Week |
Last
Week |
ARTIST-Title |
Weeks
on List |
|
1 |
2 |
NUMBER ONE:  (Single Only) |
8 |
|
2 |
1 |
11 |
|
|
3 |
3 |
15 |
|
|
4 |
5 |
12 |
|
|
5 |
6 |
11 |
|
|
6 |
4 |
12 |
|
|
7 |
8 |
6 |
|
|
8 |
11 |
5 |
|
|
9 |
9 |
8 |
|
|
10 |
17 |
3 |
|
|
11 |
13 |
Jerry Powell and The Carnival Band ft. Dave Sandy - Merry-Go-Round |
7 |
|
12 |
7 |
12 |
|
|
13 |
10 |
11 |
|
|
14 |
18 |
8 |
|
|
15 |
15 |
14 |
|
|
16 |
20 |
6 |
|
|
17 |
16 |
8 |
|
|
18 |
27 |
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:  (Single Only) |
5 |
|
19 |
58 |
MOVER OF THE WEEK:  CAROLINA COAST BAND featuring RHONDA MCDANIEL (Single Only) |
2 |
|
20 |
12 |
16 |
|
|
21 |
21 |
15 |
|
|
22 |
14 |
11 |
|
|
23 |
30 |
4 |
|
|
24 |
23 |
22 |
|
|
25 |
33 |
5 |
|
|
26 |
26 |
19 |
|
|
27 |
31 |
10 |
|
|
28 |
25 |
8 |
|
|
29 |
38 |
6 |
|
|
30 |
46 |
2 |
|
|
31 |
22 |
10 |
|
|
32 |
50 |
3 |
|
|
33 |
29 |
28 |
|
|
34 |
37 |
8 |
|
|
35 |
19 |
13 |
|
|
36 |
24 |
15 |
|
|
37 |
44 |
3 |
|
|
38 |
40 |
12 |
|
|
39 |
28 |
17 |
|
|
40 |
43 |
6 |
|
|
41 |
47 |
6 |
|
|
42 |
39 |
13 |
|
|
43 |
45 |
7 |
|
|
44 |
36 |
16 |
|
|
45 |
52 |
5 |
|
|
46 |
35 |
16 |
|
|
47 |
51 |
7 |
|
|
48 |
53 |
5 |
|
|
49 |
34 |
18 |
|
|
50 |
48 |
10 |
|
|
51 |
32 |
13 |
|
|
52 |
41 |
16 |
|
|
53 |
55 |
5 |
|
|
54 |
65 |
4 |
|
|
55 |
54 |
11 |
|
|
56 |
60 |
Winnetka Bowling League & The Knocks - I Like
to Hide in the Bathroom at Parties |
4 |
|
57 |
63 |
4 |
|
|
58 |
56 |
5 |
|
|
59 |
--- |
TOP DEBUT:  Album: Dropout Boogie |
1 |
|
60 |
42 |
17 |
|
|
61 |
59 |
13 |
|
|
62 |
66 |
6 |
|
|
63 |
49 |
11 |
|
|
64 |
72 |
3 |
|
|
65 |
79 |
2 |
|
|
66 |
67 |
4 |
|
|
67 |
69 |
5 |
|
|
68 |
57 |
9 |
|
|
69 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
70 |
80 |
2 |
|
|
71 |
85 |
2 |
|
|
72 |
64 |
22 |
|
|
73 |
76 |
7 |
|
|
74 |
73 |
4 |
|
|
75 |
84 |
3 |
|
|
76 |
98 |
2 |
|
|
77 |
61 |
25 |
|
|
78 |
91 |
2 |
|
|
79 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
80 |
96 |
2 |
|
|
81 |
--- |
Rev. Bubba D. Liverance and the Cornhole Prophets - In My '64 |
1 |
|
82 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
83 |
81 |
6 |
|
|
84 |
83 |
4 |
|
|
85 |
77 |
42 |
|
|
86 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
87 |
93 |
3 |
|
|
88 |
71 |
7 |
|
|
89 |
90 |
4 |
|
|
90 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
91 |
102 |
1 |
|
|
92 |
62 |
7 |
|
|
93 |
68 |
15 |
|
|
94 |
78 |
10 |
|
|
95 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
96 |
70 |
17 |
|
|
97 |
89 |
9 |
|
|
98 |
101 |
1 |
|
|
99 |
74 |
20 |
|
|
100 |
82 |
17 |
|
|
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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