More Hot 100 Drama as Completely Unknown Artist Oliver Anthony Debuts at #1 on Hot 100 (SNS Week of 8/20/2023)

 Just when you thought it was safe to talk about other things besides the Billboard Hot 100, we have this.  And to be honest, I didn't see it coming.

Well, last week I mentioned all sorts of possibilities of which song will hit the top spot this week on the national chart.    First, I pondered whether Morgan Wallen could hold on for a seventeenth week at the top spot with "Last Night" even though it seemed unlikely according to preliminary indications.    And I was correct; it drops to #3.

Oliver Anthony with a debut at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Rich Men North of Richmond", becomes the first person to enter the top of the chart with no prior chart experience.  The song enters the SNS 100 at# 87.

Okay, then it looked like Taylor Swift's "Cruel Summer" could ascend to the top position.   After all, it IS summer, with the season winding down, and the momentum was increasing for this song.    But alas, it drops to #4 this week, although still gaining points on the chart.     Well, then there's Luke Combs' cover of the Tracy Chapman song "Fast Car", which has been playing bridesmaid to "Last Night" for weeks.   Well, good news, it's now ahead of the Wallen song.   The bad news, it's still #2.

Then, there were thoughts that the new Olivia Rodrigo song, "Bad Idea, Right?" would debut at that position.   But, nope, it enters at #10.

The number one song?   Oliver Anthony's "Rich Men North of Richmond".    And like the previous new number one song, "Try That In A Small Town", it is attracting controversy with the left, while being supported by the right.    But there is one difference.

While "Try That...." singer Jason Aldean has had a full music chart resume, including many country hits, and one previous Hot 100 top ten song, this is Anthony's first chart song....ever.    Anthony (real name: Christopher Anthony Lumsford) becomes the first artist to debut at the top spot without any prior chart history, and only the third unsigned artist to hit the number one spot (Lisa Loeb, and The Chainsmokers were the others).  

The song, which is pretty much an acoustic country/Americana hybrid is low-key, but is in fact, a protest regarding the morals of this country which have been declining.     The singer, despite the viral success that he's been enjoying in the wake of the song, never wanted to be famous, and actually has turned down $8 million in offers thus far.   He wrote, "People in the music industry give me blank stares when I brush off eight million dollars." And while the song has resonated with conservatives (and protested by liberals.... sound familiar?), he describes himself as a moderate.   He is from the Piedmont area of Virginia, and lives in a $750 camper, off the grid.  

Anthony has been performing at small clubs and venues in his area for two years, and his message has hit home with many people.   He had been struggling with alcohol abuse and mental health issues for several years and has vowed to remain sober now.  Much of his music, including "Rich Men...." wasn't recorded in a studio, but on his phone with just him and his guitar.  No editing as well, what you hear is what he directly was singing.    

The song takes on issues such as welfare, taxes, and politicians with respect to the working man and woman, and their struggles just to make a living.   As for Anthony himself, he has had several blue collar-oriented jobs, in factories and manufacturing, as well as paper mills and other industrial jobs.   

Despite the good-willed intention of the song, liberals are again protesting this song.   In the lyrics, there are allusions to low wages, poverty, inflation, child trafficking, and loss of control to others.  But Joseph Hudak of the left-based Rolling Stone magazine, says that "Anthony delves into Reagan-era talking points about welfare".    The New Yorker magazine's Jay Caspian Kang writes that "depending on your politics, [Anthony] is either a voice sent from Heaven to express the anger of the white working class, or he is a wholly constructed viral creation who has arrived to serve up resentment with a thick, folksy lacquering of Americana".

But all politics aside, between this song and "Try That In A Small Town" (which, several weeks after being at the top of the charts, is still a respectable #25), it has sent a message that right-based-appearing songs have struck a nerve with the music listening community.   Along with "Last Night", and "Fast Car", country songs are dominating the upper parts of the charts, as for the second time this month, country music has the top three songs on the chart.    In addition, Billboard mentions that we have gone a full year without a rap song hitting number one; the most recent being Nicki Minaj's "Super Freaky Girl" which held the top spot for one week, ending August 27, 2022.     Rap superstar Travis Scott, for example, only managed a #3 debut a couple weeks back.    While it seems that rap, and hip-hop in general is still the dominate listening genre out there---it seems that in my travels, some non-descript song like that is blaring, with no emotion, soul or instrumentation, as far as resting at the top of the charts, it's fallen off a bit..  I guess I just don't get the genre; to be honest, it hasn't been this good for thirty years.  There, I said it.

"Rich Men North of Richmond" debuts on the SNS 100 at #87 this week.

SNS 100:  It's a battle for the top spot as Hozier--whose album Unreal Unearth dropped last week, holds on for a third week with "Francesca", but just barely ahead of Iration's "Daytrippin'".    The Tonez' "Caught Up" moves to #3, and Morgan Wallen's "Last Night", drops to #4 as it appears its chart-topping days are over.

 Taylor Swift's "Cruel Summer" moves 7-5  (her all time blog best), while Lesa Hudson's "Count On Me" goes 8-7.   Jersey indie band Pollyanna enters the top 10 in a 14-10 advance for "Good For You".    SZA's "Snooze" grabs the Impact award for biggest entry into the top 20 (21-15), while Elle King and Say She She also enter that region.    For Say She She, "Astral Plane" is the outfit's fifth time in the top 20, tying Colorjoy for most songs there.    However, that duo's latest, "Apathy" moves 43-27 and could make it their sixth in the top echelon as early as next week.

Carolina Beach Music accounts for both the Mover of the Week and Top Debut.  The latter belongs to Rivermist's "Right Place, Right Time".   The song, which appeared on the bubbling under Tremors list last week, enters the SNS 100 at #65.  Last week's Top Debut, "I'll Be Around" by Michael McMeel (with backing vocals by Marlisa Kay Small) moves 86-54 for Mover honors.    

Fall Out Boy updates the Billy Joel #1 song from 1989, "We Didn't Start the Fire"

THEY DIDN'T START THE FIRE, EITHER:   Of note is the highest debuting new add this week, "We Didn't Start the Fire" by Fall Out Boy.   This is, in fact, a cover of the #1 Billy Joel hit from 1989, in which Joel, in rapid succession, sang the major events, news, trends, and movies from 1948 to the then-present.   Fall Out Boy updates the lyrics with items from 1989 to the present-day.    Although there isn't a video from the band chronicling the events (nor was Joel's for that matter, instead showing a household evolving from the 1940's to the 80's, however, Fall Out Boy's video does show the lyrics on a kiosk to follow along), there is a video on YouTube by Patricia Gonzalez, that shoes a montage of events, including over the intro, then syncing with the lyrics.

It's a nice rendition, but I have two concerns.  Unlike Billy Joel's version, the events are not chronological, but 33 years scattered about.   And secondly, it is sometimes hard to hear what lead singer Patrick Stump is singing between the guitars and rapid-fire lyrics (but the band's video, mentioned in the last paragraph makes that easier to follos).     Nonetheless, it is a good rendition, and it's doing well on the Hot AC and alternative airplay charts.    It's a rock song, which explains why it's not on the Hot 100.   As happy as I am that country seems to be replacing hip-hop on the charts, it's still a vast emptiness for rock songs.    Debuting at #78, it's sure to top the recent "Love From the Other Side" which stalled at #60 blog.

Two reggae-oriented acts debut this week.   King Tappa follows his top 10 "9 to 5" with "One Day".  this is standard reggae with Tappa's soulful and heartfelt voice added to it.   He manages to make every song fresh.   How can you not like this?     Meanwhile, Pepper, last heard from with their blog #1 "Change" during the pandemic-summer of 2020, return with "Get Me Ready".  This is actually more ska than reggae, but the tropical influences are still present.    Not as heart wrenching as "Change" or their 2010 #3 hit "Wake Up", but as the song goes on, it still grabs hold of you.    After a few listens, it sounds like another hit.    Like Iration, Pepper was originally from Hawaii but is now based on the West Coast.   The two bands have been similar, but they've never been on the chart at the same time.   Until now.

As mentioned above, Oliver Anthony debuts with "Rich Men North of Richmond".   Meanwhile Rev. Bubba D. Liverance follows up his top 15 "Dreamsicle" with "Edisto".     While Bubba's voice is unmistakable, he shifts direction slightly; this is more of a country/Americana effort rather than overt beach, but it works.  However, it's still a beach song as the "Edisto" in the title refers to an island off of South Carolina.   I want to thank Bubba for a copy of this song.    Should make it four in a row for Bubba and the gang. 

BUBBLING:  Several songs enter the Tremors chart, headed by the latest by Starbuck, "On the Sand".  The band---actually original lead singer Bruce Blackman these days, has caught on with the beach crowd scoring top tens on several beach charts including John Hook's Beach Music Top 40.  Definitely again in the beach lane, with a mid-70's disco/soul/funk beat.     Should be another hit, both here and on beach charts.    I also want to thank Bruce for a copy of this song, as well.  

Also debuting on Tremors, are Portugal.  The Man, featuring Mortal Unknown Orchestra, with "Summer of Luv" (there's an awful lot of summer-themes songs this year, and not just by beach music artists), The Struts, with "Too Good at Rasing Hell", and Noah Kahan's indie-folkish "Dial Drunk" which is topping Triple-A charts.  Finally, New Jersey-based Bryan Hansen Band, who hit top 10 in 2021 with "Waiting For Tomorrow" and who put out that cool, pandemic version of "Christmas Wrapping", are back with "Death of a Yes Man".  Nice mix of rock, blues and laid-back soul.

Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist

August 20, 2023

This Week	Last Week	ARTIST-Title	Weeks on List
1	1	NUMBER ONE: HOZIER "Francesca"● Album: Unreal Unearth (3 Weeks at #1)	8
2	3	Iration - Daytrippin'●	9
3	4	The Tonez - Caught Up	14
4	2	Morgan Wallen - Last Night	19
5	7	Taylor Swift - Cruel Summer	8
6	6	Kesha - Only Love Can Save Us Now▲²	10
7	8	Lesa Hudson - Count On Me	11
8	5	Say She She - Reeling	13
9	9	Luke Combs - Fast Car	9
10	14	Pollyanna - Good For You●	9
11	16	The Faithful Brothers - Dance My Hurt Away	7
12	17	LP - One Like You	8
13	15	Too Much Sylvia - It Still Is	13
14	11	Miley Cyrus - Jaded	14
15	21	TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK: SZA "Snooze" Album: SOS	6
16	10	Say She She - Don't You Dare Stop▲	13
17	13	Orbis Max with Lisa Mychols ft. Ed Ryan - R U OK	21
18	18	Jason Aldean - Try That In A Small Town●	5
19	23	Elle King - Jersey Giant	8
20	27	Say She She - Astral Plane	4
21	20	John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band - Day In the Sun	12
22	19	Arlo Parks - Devotion	10
23	24	Jerry Powell - One More Summer Night	17
24	12	Rev. Bubba D. Liverance and the Cornhole Prophets - Dreamsicle	11
25	29	Dua Lipa - Dance The Night	12
26	30	Marlisa Kay Small and Jerry Thomas West - Love Really Hurts Without You●	16
27	43	Colorjoy - Apathy	4
28	32	Lana Del Rey - Say Yes To Heaven	8
29	22	Einsteins Dad - Anytime Blues	13
30	31	Deb Browning - Think I Found Forever▲	23
31	25	Orbis Max - No Hero	13
32	36	Sir Prize and the Twomorrow Knightz - Automatic Satin Circus	8
33	44	Lainey Wilson - Watermelon Moonshine	5
34	37	Jon Pardi - Your Heart Or Mine	6
35	50	The Record Company - Talk To Me	5
36	26	Cannons - Loving You	12
37	38	Danielle Ponder - Roll The Credits	8
38	41	Roger Smith - Baby Boomers	8
39	28	Colorjoy - Vacant Side●	16
40	53	Thee Sacred Souls - Running Away	4
41	40	Cat5 Band - What's Love Got To Do With You	10
42	34	The Main Event Band ft. Sharon Woodruff - Love Makes The World Go Round	17
43	42	The Holiday Band - Happy Music	8
44	39	Randy Clay Band - Wildflower	7
45	51	Olivia Rodrigo - Vampire	7
46	49	Highwind - Never Sitting Pretty	10
47	48	Jenny Lewis - Psychos	18
48	33	Rhonda McDaniel - Say A Prayer	14
49	57	Gary Lowder and Smokin' Hot ft. Bridger Warlick - Picture of You	4
50	54	Nick Waterhouse - Hide and Seek	6
51	35	Beach Weather - Sex, Drugs, Etc.	9
52	47	Thee Sacred Souls - Love Is The Way	16
53	46	Frankie Cosmos - Abigail	9
54	86	MOVER OF THE WEEK: MICHAEL MCMEEL "I'll Be Around" (Single Only)	2
55	60	Gabby Barrett - Glory Days	6
56	65	Jim Quick and Coastline - Eight Four Three	3
57	56	Say She She - In My Head●	25
58	45	Pageants - Worse	13
59	55	Allison Ponthier - Hollywood Forever Cemetary	15
60	58	Halogens - Without Warning	10
61	62	Molly Burch - Physical	5
62	52	Eddie Testa Band - Feel The Love	10
63	72	Allison Ponthier - Character Development	5
64	74	Demi Lovato - Swine	5
65	103	TOP DEBUT: RIVERMIST "Right Place Right Time" (Single Only)	1
66	69	Grace Potter - Good Time	7
67	70	Orbis Max - The North	4
68	81	David F. Porfirio - No Way Out	4
69	77	Loverboy - Release	7
70	80	Beck and Phoenix - Odyssey	4
71	64	Rick Strickland and Lesa Hudson - Got it Right (The First Time)●	30
72	92	Metric - Just the Once	2
73	59	The Arcs - Heaven Is a Place	12
74	98	Queens of the Stone Age - Paper Machete	2
75	68	Hannah Goodall - The Girl Who Once Loved You●	19
76	85	Phillip Phillips -- Dancing With Your Shadows	3
77	99	Juliet Callahan - Heal	2
78	---	Fall Out Boy - We Didn't Start The Fire	1
79	89	The Revivalists - Good Old Days	2
80	63	Colorjoy - Blue Eyed Addiction (Renewed Version)	16
81	66	The Linda Lindas - Too Many Things	7
82	67	Jonas Brothers - Waffle House	5
83	---	King Tappa - One Day	1
84	61	Prairie Fire - Death of An Artist	12
85	76	The Carolina Queens - The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)	21
86	79	Arlo Parks - Weightless▲	27
87	---	Oliver Anthony Music - Rich Men North of Richmond	1
88	---	The Struts - Too Good at Raising Hell	1
89	---	Pepper - Get Me Ready	1
90	71	Gwen Stefani - True Babe	6
91	---	Rev. Bubba D. Liverance and the Cornhole Prophets - Edisto	1
92	75	I-42 Band - Beach Fever On My Mind	19
93	95	Thirty Seconds to Mars - Stuck	3
94	94	Donna Missal - God Complex	3
95	97	Billie Eilish - What Was I Made For	2
96	83	Miya Folick - Bad Thing	20
97	96	Lauren Daigle - Thank God I Do	2
98	102	The Hives - Bogus Operandi	1
99	73	boygenius - Not Strong Enough	16
100	100	Fishbone - Cubical	2

Tremors:

101. Starbuck, On the Sand

102. The Struts, Too Good At Raising Hell

103. Portugal. The Man featuring Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Summer of Luv

104. OneRepublic, Run Away

105. Marisa Kay Small, Anyway

106. Bryan Hansen Band, Death of a Yes Man

107. Noah Kahan, Dial Drunk

108. Ariel Pink, I'll Be Around

 Tremors: Songs which have steady or increasing points but not enough to chart on the SNS 100.

▲Song garnered most plays on Spotify, for the  month, with a superscript following the symbol if most played for multiple months ● Song among top 5 most plays on Spotify.  Awards given during the last blog of each month.

 

 

Songs on the SNS 100 are included on the following public Spotify playlists

 

Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves Top 40:  Contains songs in positions 1-40 on the SNS 100

Scenes Up and Coming:  Songs below #40 that are moving up the chart.

Scenes Recurrents: Songs which have dropped below the top 40 but are still on the SNS 100