We've come to yet another year where we look back at the music we listened to in 2023. I know everyone has their own personal favorites as to the "best" of the year. My annual list, which I have been keeping track on and off since the 1970's, is actually based on the Scenes 'n' Soundwaves 100 chart action over the last twelve months, which in itself is a good snapshot of favorites during any one particular week.
This year, it seems to be a case of deja vu, as beach music singer/songwriter Deb Browning scores the #1 song of 2023 with "Think I Found Forever". Having previously notched the top spot in 2022 with "3 More Minutes", the CBMA Female Vocalist of the Year becomes on the third artist to score back-to-back number one year-end songs. She joins The Beatles, who did the trick in 1964 with "She Loves You", and '65 with "Help", and ScreenAge who accomplished this just two years ago, first with "Blue Eyed Addiction" in 2020, followed by "Think Again" in 2021. Ms. Browning is also the sixth artist to score multiple year-end #1's. The Beatles lead with 3 (1964-65-68), followed by Tommy James and the Shondells (1966-69), Stone Temple Pilots (1994-2000), Ed Sheeran (2015-17), and ScreenAge (2020-21), with two each
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| Bech music artist Deb Browning scores the top song of 2023 with "Think I Found Forever". |
And just like last year, Deb had an additional entry in the year-end Top Ten, once again with The Six Piece Suits. The Florida sextet accompanied Deb with "It Don't Get Better Than This"; last year they scored with "Take Me By the Hand".
For the second year in a row, Carolina beach music dominated, grabbing six positions in the top ten and more than a quarter of the top 100. Eight songs from that genre hit #1 on the SNS 100 during the year, with a ninth coming from the aforementioned "It Don't Get Better Than This" which topped the chart late last year but hung around strongly this year. That was the only song from the 2022 list to return this year.
But shag music was just one of the trends that marked my blog year in 2023. The year saw the emergence of neo-soul, with psychedelic overtones. Leading the way was Say She She, which scored three number ones, all coming before the middle of the year, then added two more top tens from the outfits' second album, Silver; Thee Sacred Souls, and the return of Black Pumas. Others that were soul influenced included Devon Gilfillian, and Arlo Parks.
Meanwhile, New Jersey artists, all of the indie variety made their presence felt. Colorjoy, the duo of Emily MacMahon and Sam Novotny who were originally in ScreenAge, released their debut album Golden Age, and hit number one twice, and six songs hit the top ten. Charlotte Sessions, from my hometown of Roselle Park, who played this year's Arts Festival in town (as did Colorjoy in 2021), emerged as an awesome and promising talent. And while several Jersey indie bands emerged this year on the SNS 100, only Pollyanna was able to make the year-end list.
But it was the year of the female artist. Acts either solo, female-fronted or male-female duets took eight of the top ten slots, and 48 overall on the entire chart. A cool trend was the eclectic woman singer-songwriter, which made its presence felt. Among the artists who scored on the list in 2023 included Arlo Parks, Goldie Boutilier, Hannah Goodall, Ria Mae, Hannah Jadagu, and Allison Ponthier.
While much of these "new" sounds hit the list, the year-end top 100 also had sort of a nostalgic feel as well. The Beatles and The Rolling Stones both made the top 100 for the first time since 1969, with the Stones releasing "Angry" from their new album Hackney Diamonds. As for the Fab Four, "Now and Then", the final "new" single that was derived from a 1977 John Lennon demo, and thanks to AI, incorporated his voice and George Harrison's guitar work, accompanied by Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr's enhancement, scored four weeks at #1 on SNS, hit the top on Triple-A and debuted in Billboard's top ten. The song, only out for eight weeks still managed to make the list at #91. In addition, beach music remakes of "Love Makes the World Go Round", "Mr. Dream Merchant", and "The Shoop Shoop Song" hit the top regions of the chart. And Stephen Sanchez's "Until I Found You", though new, SOUNDS like it came from the early part of the decade.
But don't slight the 1970's, either. Starbuck, famous for its 1976 hit "Moonlight Feels Right" and which returned last year, with "You're the Reason", hit #1 this year with "On the Sand", making the year-end top 30. Seventies remakes, again from beach artists, like "I'll Be Around" and "Love Really Hurts Without You" hit the list.
Even 1980's songs and artists got into the action. "Fast Car" and "We Didn't Start the Fire" made a return to the top 100, while John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band and Depeche Mode scored, with the former's first recording since 1989.
Unlike many year-end lists, the tally is not just limited to songs released this year, and 2023 was no exception. Many of the songs were several years old, including "I See Red", "Valentine", "Under the Moonlight" and most significantly, "Cruel Summer" were released in the 2010's, and one song, "Mr. Dream Merchant" by beach outfit The Castaways, came out in 1981.
Many artists were able to score multiple entries on the year-end list. Colorjoy scored six songs, followed by Say She She with five. Orbis Max and Bubba D. Liverance each nabbed three songs, although you could also include Deb Browning, Marlisa Kay Small, and Lesa Hudson who participated in the all-star Carolina Queens "Shoop Shoop" project to make it three entries. Others with multiple entries include Arlo Parks, Miley Cyrus and Cannons.
Of course, every year, pop songs scoring on the Billboard Hot 100 cross over to Scenes 'n' Soundwaves, and this year wasn't any exception. Billboard chart-toppers like Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift, Jason Aldean, Morgan Wallen and Doja Cat made my list, while runners-up Luke Combs and SZA did as well. Country made one of its strongest showings in recent memory on the chart. Aside from Combs, Wallen and Aldean, Lainey Wilson and Blake Shelton also scored.
Below you will find the Top 100 of 2023 chart but you can also view a video montage that I had posted on my Facebook page, right here:
HOT 100 UPDATE: Since I won't resume my blog until sometime next month, I am giving you an update on the Billboard chart. Mariah Carey scores again with "All I Want For Christmas is You", the second week this season, and now 14 overall. Ms. Carey becomes the first artist to garner 14 weeks with three different songs. Brenda Lee, who made news earlier in the holiday season as the 65-year-old "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" hit #1 for two weeks, settles in at the familiar #2 spot. "Jingle Bell Rock" and "Last Christmas" once again nab positions 3 and 4. 33 vintage songs made the top 50 and finally two new songs debut: Cher's "DJ Play a Christmas Song" enters at #94, while Meghan Trainor makes the chart, not with her Jimmy Fallon duet, but with her version of "Jingle Bells".
WISHING EVERYONE A VERY HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SAFE NEW YEAR!
Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves Top 100 of 2023
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1 |
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(Single) |
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2 |
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Rick Strickland and Lesa Hudson
- Got it Right (The First Time) |
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3 |
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6 |
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Rev. Bubba D. Liverance and the
Cornhole Prophets - Ti Ta Ti Ta Ti Ta Ta |
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7 |
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Marlisa Kay Small and Jerry
Thomas West - Love Really Hurts Without You |
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8 |
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Deb Browning and Six Piece Suits - It Don't Get Better Than
This |
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13 |
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The Main Event Band ft. Sharon
Woodruff - Love Makes The World Go Round |
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The Carolina Queens - The Shoop
Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss) |
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24 |
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Jimmy Ogburn's Salt Luvs Pepper
ft. David Cornelius - Love Me Like I Love You |
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Sir Prize and the Twomorrow
Knightz - Automatic Satin Circus |
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Gary Lowder and Smokin' Hot ft.
Bridger Warlick - Picture of You |
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Rev. Bubba D. Liverance and the
Cornhole Prophets - Dreamsicle |
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100 |
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