Scenes 'n' Soundwaves: Strickland #1; Deb, Mariah Invade Charts; "Wrappie" Awards (SNS week of 11/20/2022)

YOU'RE THE (NUMBER) ONE FOR SnS:: It's the Sunday after Thanksgiving as I write this, a rather rainy day up here in New Jersey. I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving!

Beach music singer Rick Strickland, holding a CD for his "Dream Come True" hit, reached the #1 position on both the SNS 100 and The Surf 94.1 radio station countdown this past week with "You're the One For Me".

Probably one person who was thankful was Rick Strickland, who garners his first SNS #1 this week with "You're the One For Me". The Carolina beach music artist, who heads his own band that also includes Lesa Hudson, has had three blog hits this year, but this one is the biggest. The #1 ranking here adds to his top ranking on the latest 94.1 "The Surf" radio station countdown. Meanwhile, Ms. Hudson, who had the #3 on that list, holds here at #24 after 27 weeks on my blog; the song, which peaked here at #11 several months ago has been stubborn in its descent as it has been showing longevity.

But, if there is anyone hotter on the list, it could very well be Deb Browning. Not only does she advance to #2 with her Six Piece Suits duet "It Don't Get Better Than This", but her holiday song "Here Comes Amazon" leaps 59-11 to take Impact Honors. But more on that below.

Juliet Callahan, who led for the past three weeks with "Burning" falls to #3 with that song, while another indie "JC" artist, Jennifer Cintron, moves 6-4 with "Run". Any of the top four songs could claim the #1 position next week. But, for the second week in a row there are no new entries in the Top 10, with some minor jostling for position, notably Steve Shouse's "Back to 69" (10-7), and Doyle Wood & Sylvia Johns Ritchie's "Not Tonight" (8-5), as beach music still controls half the top 10.

Deb Browning's holiday album, "Here Comes Christmas" was released on November 27. The song includes the Impact winner this week, "Here Comes Amazon".

But, as mentioned above, Deb Browning remains the story as her Christmas song "Here Comes Amazon", last week's Top Debut leaps 59-11. The song, from her album Here Comes Christmas has a shot to be only the third holiday blog topper. The album was officially released on November 27 (today as I write this). Aside from "...Amazon" which leads things off, the set also contains another original, "All Over the World", which I plan to add next week. The remaining songs are cool renditions of classics such as "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree", "Jingle Bell Rock", as well as "Santa Claus is Back in Town" which is a duet with deejay and fellow beach music artist/Coastline leader Jim Quick.

Here Comes Christmas is available on all digital platforms.

There are other big movers on the list. King Tappa moves 36-15 with "9 to 5", for his fourth top 20, while Alvvays grabs its third, with "Easy On Your Own". Further down, some significant gains were made by Maneskin's "Loneliest" (39-26), Say She She's "Trouble" (54-27), and Local Natives' "Just Before the Morning", (61-34, Mover of the Week).

HOT 100: Taylor Swift, whose "Anti-Hero" is at #51 here this week, stays at #1 on Billboard for a fourth week. Much of Drake's debuts last week in the top 10, exit, with his "Rich Flex" with 21 Savage remaining at #2, and two others in the nine and ten spots. This enables Sam Smith & Kim Petras, Steve Lacy and Harry Styles to move back into the top five, and Rihanna into the top ten. A new entry in Billboard's Top 10 is Dave Gueretta and Bebe Rexha's "I'm Good (Blue)", which may be a blog add next week.

HERE COMES MARIAH: However, the above-mentioned songs should be prepared for a short stay in the top 10, as the inevitable has happened. Mariah Carey, all thawed out, debuts at #25 with her "All I Want For Christmas Is You". The song has claimed (and re-claimed) the top spot the past three years. Two other holiday songs re-enter the Hot 100: Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" and Bobby Helms' "Jingle Bell Rock". These two songs debut in the same order as they finished last year, at #2 and #3 respectively. It would be nice that, if this year, they would be in a different order and one of these songs, or another on the perennial list, unseat Mariah. I mean, the listening public can't think the same way year after year after year, right?

NEW: Seven debuts this time around, including two holiday entries. But it is Young the Giant taking Top Debut honors for the week, with "The Walk Home". The Irvine California band once hit #1 with "It's About Time" here in 2013 and has had several blog entries since. The new one has that alt-rock/pop sensibility of that former blog-topper and has potential.

Making her blog debut is Danielle Ponder, with "The Only Way Out". This R&B and soul artist took an unusual path to her musical artistry. From Rochester, New York, she had been a lawyer, a public defense attorney, but she had been raised on gospel music thanks to her father who was a pastor. You can add blues to her repertoire as one of her biggest influences was Big Mama Thornton. You can hear all of those influences, all within a current pop framework on "The Only Way Out", from her debut album Some of Us Are Brave. Gets better with each listen.

Santigold follows her "High Priestess" blog hit with "Shake". This is a rhythmic romp and a soulful and bluesy one at that, which is persistent. The song was inspired by the civil rights protesters being squashed by authorities with water hoses.

As I promised a couple weeks ago, I add country songstress Lainey Wilson's "Heart Like a Truck". With the influx of male country singers (which sadly have excluded many females on the country charts), Ms. Wilson's voice is a refreshing change-of-pace. While I still lament that artists like Christina Taylor being ignored by country radio, Lainey, who made an impression at the recent CMA's, does an excellent job with this song. Matt Maeson enters with "Cut Deep", a rhythmic rock excursion.

There are two holiday debuts. I had never heard of Elizabeth Chan before, but apparently, she's the "Queen of Christmas" (I wonder if Mariah Carey....or Darlene Love for that matter...has a problem with that! Actually, and I don't know if this is true, but Ms. Carey did "officially" try to grab that title, but the request was refused. Personally, I think it should go to Ms. Love). Ms. Chan's songs and releases are geared towards the holiday season. She is picking up airplay on "Merry Merry". It's definitely a joyous song, which repeats the title ad infinitum, but somehow never says the word "Christmas", but you know what she's referring to from the video and tone of the song.

The other holiday debut is from the beach music community, that being a unique, rather ambience-filled rendition of "Little Drummer Boy" by the Cat5 Band. Ed Sheeran and Elton John's "Merry Christmas" returns to the chart this year after peaking at #34 in a six-week run in 2021.

Christopher Butler, who was in the band The Waitresses, awards the first person to hear the band's classic holiday song "Christmas Wrapping" on the radio, TV, or in a public place.

AND, WRAPPING IT UP: Finally, while we are on the subject of Christmas music, it is time for the annual "Wrappie" Award. This is an honor given to the person who first hears "Christmas Wrapping" by The Waitresses on the radio or in a public place each holiday season. The song, which has dominated the #1 position on my Christmas Top 100 lists since its inception was written by member Christopher Butler, who awards the person who first hears the song. The contest started on November 25 (Black Friday) this year, and the winner, Glenn Peterhansen of Cugahoga Falls, Ohio, heard it as part of a Guardians of the Galaxy holiday special, at 12:15 on that day. Butler will donate a $500 award in Peterhansen's name to the Akron (Ohio) Main Library's Children's Collection.

Incidentally, I will update my holiday Top 100 in a few weeks and will (hopefully) present a new way of introducing it (although still listing it in my blog). Stay tuned for that.

Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist

November 20, 2022 (Week ending November 26)

This Week	Last Week	ARTIST-Title	Weeks on List
1	2	NUMBER ONE: RICK STRICKLAND "You're the One For Me" (Single Only)	7
2	3	Deb Browning and Six Piece Suits - It Don't Get Better Than This	6
3	1	Juliet Callahan - Burning	13
4	6	Jennifer Cintron - Run	9
5	8	Doyle Wood and Sylvia Johns Ritchie - Not Tonight (I Have a Heartche)	11
6	5	Steve Lacy - Bad Habit	11
7	10	Steve Shouse - Back to 69	10
8	9	Carolina Dreamers - Hey Girl Hey Boy	10
9	4	Starbuck -You're the Reason	10
10	7	The Black Keys - It Ain't Over●	20
11	59	TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK: DEB BROWNING "Here Comes Amazon" Album: Here Comes Christmas	2
12	13	Ryan Chatelain - Static	9
13	12	Orbis Max with Tim Izzard - Elvis Has Left the Building	13
14	17	Blake Shelton - No Body	8
15	36	King Tappa - 9 To 5	3
16	16	beebadoobie - The Perfect Pair	10
17	25	Alvvays - Easy On Your Own	8
18	21	Elton John and Britney Spears -Hold Me Closer	9
19	22	Randy Clay Band - Carolina Night	9
20	23	Jim Quick and Coastline - Sadie Mae	8
21	15	Carolina Coast Band ft Rhonda McDaniel - The Thing About You●	21
22	28	Panic! At the Disco - Don't Let the Light Go Out	9
23	11	Santigold - High Priestess	11
24	24	Lesa Hudson - Breathless●	27
25	27	Sam Hunt - 23	26
26	39	Maneskin - The Loneliest	3
27	54	Say She She - Trouble	4
28	30	Fitz and the Tantrums - Moneymaker	8
29	18	Carolina Blue Dots - Cruzin' Down the Boulevard●	13
30	31	The AZIZ Project - Time to Forget You Again	10
31	33	Lovelytheband - Sail Away	9
32	20	Deb Browning - 3 More Minutes●	27
33	14	OneRepublic - I Ain't Worried	13
34	61	MOVER OF THE WEEK: LOCAL NATIVES "Just Before the Morning" (Single Only)	2
35	35	Scooter Lee - Shama Lama Ding Dong	6
36	26	Rev. Bubba D. Liverance and the Cornhole Prophets - In My '64	20
37	19	Ellie Goulding ft Big Sean - Easy Lover	14
38	38	Orbis Max with Tim Izzard and Martin Holt - Infatuated With Your Love	8
39	41	Mitski - Should've Been Me	5
40	32	Tim Izzard - The Night I Played Ziggy's Guitar	20
41	42	Wet Leg - Wet Dream	6
42	58	Sharon Van Etten - Mistakes	3
43	40	The Weeknd - Die For You	6
44	43	David F. Porfirio - Random Stranger	8
45	29	Øff Guard - B.L.U.	15
46	37	Harry Styles - As It Was●	31
47	34	Isn't It Always - Rock Star	17
48	51	Rihanna - Lift Me Up	4
49	47	The Struts - Fallin' With Me	7
50	50	Cole Swindell - She Had Me at Heads Carolina	7
51	55	Taylor Swift - Anti- Hero	4
52	49	Morgan Wallen - You Proof	7
53	56	Luke Combs - The Kind of Love We Make	6
54	45	Sia - Unstoppable	27
55	48	Foals - 2am	22
56	79	Bruce Springsteen - Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)	2
57	60	Barns Courtney - Supernatural	6
58	74	Øff Guard - October	3
59	44	Red Hot Chili Peppers - Tippa My Tongue	10
60	73	Keith Urban - Texas Time	4
61	46	Weezer - Records	13
62	68	Arctic Monkeys - I Ain't Quite Where I Think I Am	4
63	53	Gizmo Varillas - Lonely Heart	12
64	77	The Backseat Lovers - Growing/Dying	7
65	72	Paramore - This Is Why	5
66	52	The Blue Stones - What's It Take to Be Happy	8
67	62	Lizzo - About Damn Time	23
68	71	Alvvays - Belinda Says	5
69	81	The Holiday Band - Big Bad Batch of the Blues	3
70	88	Giant Rooks - Morning Blue	2
71	57	Lizzo - 2 Be Loved	11
72	89	Blink-182 - Edging	2
73	84	All Time Low - Sleepwalking	3
74	---	TOP DEBUT: YOUNG THE GIANT "The Walk Home" Album: American Bollywood	1
75	63	Soak - Swear Jar	14
76	64	Jimmy Hall - Jumpin' For Joy	7
77	---	Danielle Ponder - The Only Way Out	1
78	66	Main Event Band ft Sharon Woodruff - Poor Side of Town	24
79	---	Elizabeth Chan - Merry Merry	1
80	---	Lainey Wilson - Heart Like a Truck	1
81	69	Rick Strickland - Sandy	23
82	80	Alvvays - Pharmacist	14
83	87	U.S. Girls - So Typically Now	4
84	91	Talk - Run Away to Mars	3
85	--	Santigold - Shake	1
86	65	Deb Browning and Six Piece Suits - Take Me By The Hand▲	34
87	97	Pink - Never Not Gonna Dance Again	2
88	70	Main Event Band ft Sharon Woodruff - Hello Stranger	25
89	92	Jack White - A Tip From You and Me	3
90	---	Cat5 Band - The Little Drummer Boy	1
91	---	Matt Maeson - Cut Deep	1
92	67	The Killers - Boy	13
93	100	The National - Weird Goodbyes	2
94	95	Wayne Free - Tequila On Ice	22
95	82	David F. Porfirio - Hathor	16
96	102	Ed Sheeran and Elton John - Merry Christmas	7
97	78	King Tappa - Are You Feeling It?	16
98	83	Nick Waterhouse - Monterey	12
99	86	Metric - All Comes Crashing	21
100	90	Curtis Harding ft Jazmine Sullivan - Our Love	16