Scenes 'n' Soundwaves: Hozier's "Francesca" Evokes Memories of a Departed Friend; Wallen Scores 16th Week atop Hot 100 (SNS week of 8/13/2023)

STILL A LOT going on, with "Last Night" scoring its 16th week on the Billboard Hot 100, but while Hozier still holds to the top spot on the Scenes 'n' Soundwaves 100 with "Francesca" , I wanted to reflect on a person who in the mid 1980's with that name that I had crossed paths with during my life's journey.

While Hozier's song, from his latest album, his third, Unreal Unearth, is an homage to a character, Francesca da Rimini from a 14th century poem by Dante Alighieri, Inferno, in which Francesca finds herself condemned to the second circle of hell for her sins, the song came out as an old friend, Francesca Agliata, who I dated briefly in the mid-80's, lost her battle with cancer, a few weeks ago.

Francesca Agliata (1958-2023) lost her battle with cancer last month. The current #1 song by Hozier, "Francesca" invoked a memory of her.

While you can read the story behind Hozier's song here, this blog is about my old friend, who, while she initially might have gone down the dark path herself as a young adult like her namesake, turned herself around, not only serving her country but becoming an author and movie producer as well as a successful career in the health profession as a Registered Nurse.

Ms. Agliata grew up in Westfield NJ, just a couple towns away from Roselle Park where I grew up. Apparently not known to me, in her early 20's she was member of a cult. I'm not sure exactly which one but one in which can often lead young people down a dangerous path. Luckily, she was brave enough to get out of it after a couple of years. By the mid-80's, when I met her she seemed to straighten her life out. She worked for a while at St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, where my mother had worked as well. While I can't remember specifics, whether it was my mom or her mom, but I got fixed up with her.

We dated a few times, and while she seemed to be a bit naive (after all, she had just been a few years removed from being that cult member), she was very upbeat and fun. One of our dates took place down the Jersey shore. I remembered that she forgot to bring her bathing suit, so she bought one down there, upon trying it on, it barely fit her!. Another outing took us up to the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania at Lake Wallenpaupack and Big Pocono State Park. They were fun times.

I'm not sure why things didn't continue after the month or two that we were together; things just faded away and we both moved on, and I'm sure it was amicable. I wasn't sure what had happened to her after that at the time, but, looking at her obituary that was posted, it sure sounded like all positive things with her life.

Building upon her stint at St. Barnabas, she pursued a Nursing degree, as she relocated in Ocean County in the Shore area. She started volunteering for the fire department in Stafford Township in that county, but more significantly, she enlisted in the Naval Reserves, actively deployed in the Marines, as a Hospital Corpsman. She was eventually stationed in Iraq during Operation Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom.

She was awarded the National Defense Service Medal while in the Naval Reserves, as well as the Armed Forces Reserve Medal W/"M" device, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Navy Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon. Francesca was honorably discharged and finished her studies at Raritan Valley Community College to obtain a nursing degree as a Registered Nurse. She worked at RWJ Barnabas hospital in Toms River.

In her spare time, she was also a movie producer and author. Ms. Agliata produced an independent movie A Familiar Stranger, which was about the final days of Christ, and most recently authored the book Prayers and Wishes, about a young man with Down Syndrome.

I was fortunate enough to reconnect with Francesca on Facebook, and while we never really chatted (pretty much just liking each other's posts), I was able to follow her life through her posts. While she never married, she had pets and loved all kinds of animals. She also had a Roselle Park connection as her sister-in-law was a classmate from high school, Nancy Haupt Agliata, married to her brother Frank Unfortunately, Francesca battled with cancer and fought it well, before finally succumbing to it. She was 64.

Francesca, unlike her 14th century counterpart, was able to turn her life around in such a big way. It so happened that this song, Hozier's second single from Unreal Unearth, was released the same week as her passing. The tone of the song, very sentimental, pretty much enhanced her memory, and in many ways, hit me, especially the lyric "It was too soon / When that part of you was ripped away / a grip taking hold like a cancer that grows / Each piece of your body that it takes", struck a sort of nerve. The song is currently #3 on the Triple-A airplay chart this week.

Rest in peace, Francesca. You were the perfect example of someone who turned their life around in a big way, and you've become an inspiration to all of us.

SWEET SIXTEEN: A look at the Billboard Hot 100 shows Morgan Wallen racking up a 16th week at the top of that chart with "Last Night". It breaks a tie with last year's "As It Was" by Harry Styles to become the longest running #1 by a single artist (no collaboration). It is tied with "One Sweet Day" (Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men) and "Despacito" (Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber) for second longest in the chart's history, behind only "Old Town Road" (Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus), with 19. Will it stay another week? Preliminary predictions indicate that it may not, as a new single by Olivia Rodrigo may debut at the top spot, or maybe Taylor Swift's "Cruel Summer", currently #3, might do the trick. And don't count out "Fast Car" by Luke Combs which has been playing bridesmaid to "Last Night" the last several weeks. Incidentally, Jason Aldean's "Try That In A Small Town", which dropped from #1 to #21 last week, levels off at that same 21 position this week.

On the SNS 100, the top three Billboard songs are now all in my top 10. Just behind Hozier at #2 is "Last Night" in a close battle; if the song holds on for a 17th week on Billboard, it's an odds-on favorite to take the top spot here. Iration's "Daytrippin'" gets pushed down to #3 despite bulleting, and The Tonez' "Caught Up" moves back to #4 as it seems to be on every beach music chart now, having debuted on the Smokin' 45 chart last week.

Taylor Swift grabs her second blog top 10 as "Cruel Summer" moves 12-7. That matches her peak blog position of "Shake It Off" which also hit #7 in 2015. Luke Combs moves 10-9 here with "Fast Car", giving, as mentioned above, the top three Billboard songs in my top 10. Three other songs in Billboard's Top 10 are on my chart as well: "Vampire" by Olivia Rodrigo (#6 Billboard, #51 SNS), "Dance The Night" by Dua Lipa (#7 Billboard, #29 SNS), and "Snooze" by SZA (#10 Billboard, #21 SNS). In addition, Miley Cyrus' "Flowers" moves back to #9 on the Hot 100, and has reappeared on the Tremors list here, after the song hit #1 earlier this year and enjoyed a 26-week run. I can't remember the last time that seven of the Billboard top 10 were on my list.

New Jersey indie band Pollyanna scores the Impact award with "Good For You"

Three new entries into the top 20, headed by "Good For You" by Jersey indie band Pollyanna which nabs the Impact award. The band is self-described as power-pop, bubble grunge and punk-influenced. It is one of several such bands that I have been giving a shot on my charts. While these bands aren't making national noise, it's great to see that the indie pop and rock scene in the Garden State is alive and well. I will continue to support bands like this. The Faithful Brothers, a contingent from Israel which was featured on the Beach Music Facebook page several weeks back with "Dance My Hurt Away" but hasn't as of yet debuted on any beach chart, moves 22-16, while LP's "One Like You" moves 21-17 to become their fourth blog top 20.

Further down the list, Colorjoy's "Apathy", the sixth entry from the duo's Golden Age set, gets the Mover award (60-43).

Michael McMeel, former drummer for Three Dog Night, as well as several kid-oriented TV shows, grabs Top Debut with a cover of the Spinners' "I'll Be Around".

WHENEVER YOU CALL ME: The Top Debut this week is "I'll Be Around" by Michael McMeel. This is a cover of a 1972 pop and R&B hit by The Spinners and is given the beach treatment to a great degree. McMeel was the drummer for the successful 70's pop band Three Dog Night for a couple of years before that band's initial breakup; he played on the last two albums released by the band in its original run, and drummed on the band's final top 40 hit, 'Til The World Ends" in 1975. Following the band's breakup, McMeel was the drummer on the Saturday morning Kroftt Supershow, with the band "Kaptain Kool and the Kongs" in the role of "Turkey", for two seasons before being replaced by the Bay City Rollers. He was also featured in shows like Donny and Marie and The Brady Bunch Hour. Since then, he has appeared in such movies as Xanadu (with Olivia Newton-John), and Hard to Kill (with Steven Segal). After that, he founded The Inner City Slickers, a non-profit organization based in Tennessee to help youth learn trust and character.

Nowadays, McMeel runs the studio/online outlet "Mickey's Place", in which the video was recorded at. This is the same place that Marlisa Kay Small recorded her top ten blog hit and video "Anyway". In fact, it was Ms. Small who encouraged McMeel to record and release this for the beach music community. McMeel takes the Spinners classic and adds a new soulful dimension to it. With the same production team behind only not only Marlisa but also Deb Browning, this should catch on with the shag crowd. Great job.

I also want to thank both Melissa Hinson and Wayne Troutman for providing me with a copy of this song!

Also debuting is "Good Old Days" by The Revivalists, following up "Kid". While the prior song was a big hit on alternative radio, it was a disappointment here, considering the band that three straight #1's from their prior album. "Good Old Days", however, continues in that vein, it's a mid-tempo, driving, persistence song that could score with several listens.

Next are perennial favorites Metric, with "Just the Once", a catchy, danceable alt-pop song that should do well; Queens of the Stone Age, with "Paper Machete", probably the most rocking' song I've had in quite a while. I sort of forget that was the face of alternative several years ago. Should do well here. Fishbone had much success in the early 1990's and was one of the first black alternative bands to get exposure (along with Living Colour) on rock radio. "Cubical" is a great soul/ska effort, kind of reminds me of mid-90's acts like Reel Big Fish and 311. A fun song that is different enough for a good chart run here.

Juliet Callahan, now based in New York City, follows up her top 30 "Depth of Soul" with "Heal". She goes back to a dreamy hip-hop/pop realm previously visited by her "Spotlight" earlier this year. It's got psychedelic elements to it. Her style is very similar here to what Donna Missal is doing now; these artists are very similar. It would be cool to see some collaborations in the future.

Bubbling in the Tremors section are the long-awaited song from The Hives, "Bogus Operandi". The band was one of the bands that woke up the alternative rock scene in the early 2000's after nu metal almost ruined the format, along with the likes of The White Stripes, The Killers, The Vines and The Strokes, in the neo-garage subgenre. It's the Swedish bands' first release in 11 years. It's a harder approach than I seemed to remember, but, like the Queens of the Stone Age mentioned above, it's a great attempt to bring rock back in the forefront.

Beach music band Rivermist has been near the top of the shag charts with "Right Place, Right Time", and gets a shot here. A great song about a chance meeting and a budding relationship.

Finally, when I saw Michael McMeel's "I'll Be Around" on YouTube, I also saw what appears to be another new cover of the Spinners classic, by Ariel Pink. While it's not yet available on Spotify, it gets a mention here. This seems more along the lines of the original, and not as adventurous as McMeel's version. Still, it's been 12 years since I had a cover battle on my chart. Could it happen again?

Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist

August 13, 2023

This Week	Last Week	ARTIST-Title	Weeks on List
1	1	NUMBER ONE: HOZIER "Francesca"● Album: Unreal Unearth (2 weeks at #1)	7
2	3	Morgan Wallen - Last Night	18
3	2	Iration - Daytrippin'●	8
4	5	The Tonez - Caught Up	13
5	6	Say She She - Reeling	12
6	4	Kesha - Only Love Can Save Us Now▲	9
7	12	Taylor Swift - Cruel Summer	7
8	8	Lesa Hudson - Count On Me	10
9	10	Luke Combs - Fast Car	8
10	7	Say She She - Don't You Dare Stop▲	12
11	9	Miley Cyrus - Jaded	13
12	13	Rev. Bubba D. Liverance and the Cornhole Prophets - Dreamsicle	10
13	11	Orbis Max with Lisa Mychols ft. Ed Ryan - R U OK	20
14	23	TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK: POLLYANNA "Good For You" Album: Sugar Coat	8
15	18	Too Much Sylvia - It Still Is	12
16	22	The Faithful Brothers - Dance My Hurt Away	6
17	21	LP - One Like You	7
18	16	Jason Aldean - Try That In A Small Town	4
19	20	Arlo Parks - Devotion	9
20	17	John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band - Day In the Sun	11
21	27	SZA - Snooze	5
22	14	Einsteins Dad - Anytime Blues	12
23	28	Elle King - Jersey Giant	7
24	25	Jerry Powell - One More Summer Night	16
25	19	Orbis Max - No Hero	12
26	24	Cannons - Loving You	11
27	37	Say She She - Astral Plane	3
28	15	Colorjoy - Vacant Side●	15
29	31	Dua Lipa - Dance The Night	11
30	29	Marlisa Kay Small and Jerry Thomas West - Love Really Hurts Without You●	15
31	30	Deb Browning - Think I Found Forever▲	22
32	36	Lana Del Rey - Say Yes To Heaven	7
33	26	Rhonda McDaniel - Say A Prayer	13
34	32	The Main Event Band ft. Sharon Woodruff - Love Makes The World Go Round	16
35	34	Beach Weather - Sex, Drugs, Etc.	8
36	40	Sir Prize and the Twomorrow Knightz - Automatic Satin Circus	7
37	43	Jon Pardi - Your Heart Or Mine	5
38	44	Danielle Ponder - Roll The Credits	7
39	41	Randy Clay Band - Wildflower	6
40	42	Cat5 Band - What's Love Got To Do With You	9
41	46	Roger Smith - Baby Boomers	7
42	48	The Holiday Band - Happy Music	7
43	60	MOVER OF THE WEEK: COLORJOY "Apathy" Album: Golden Age	3
44	55	Lainey Wilson - Watermelon Moonshine	4
45	33	Pageants - Worse	12
46	45	Frankie Cosmos - Abigail	8
47	35	Thee Sacred Souls - Love Is The Way	15
48	47	Jenny Lewis - Psychos	17
49	50	Highwind - Never Sitting Pretty	9
50	63	The Record Company - Talk To Me	4
51	61	Olivia Rodrigo - Vampire	6
52	38	Eddie Testa Band - Feel The Love	9
53	65	Thee Sacred Souls - Running Away	3
54	57	Nick Waterhouse - Hide and Seek	5
55	51	Allison Ponthier - Hollywood Forever Cemetary	14
56	52	Say She She - In My Head●	24
57	73	Gary Lowder and Smokin' Hot ft. Bridger Warlick - Picture of You	3
58	56	Halogens - Without Warning	9
59	39	The Arcs - Heaven Is a Place	11
60	69	Gabby Barrett - Glory Days	5
61	49	Prairie Fire - Death of An Artist	11
62	78	Molly Burch - Physical	4
63	53	Colorjoy - Blue Eyed Addiction (Renewed Version)	15
64	62	Rick Strickland and Lesa Hudson - Got it Right (The First Time)●	29
65	90	Jim Quick and Coastline - Eight Four Three	2
66	77	The Linda Lindas - Too Many Things	6
67	80	Jonas Brothers - Waffle House	4
68	71	Hannah Goodall - The Girl Who Once Loved You●	18
69	79	Grace Potter - Good Time	6
70	81	Orbis Max - The North	3
71	72	Gwen Stefani - True Babe	5
72	82	Allison Ponthier - Character Development	4
73	54	boygenius - Not Strong Enough	15
74	85	Demi Lovato - Swine	4
75	68	I-42 Band - Beach Fever On My Mind	18
76	75	The Carolina Queens - The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)	20
77	83	Loverboy - Release	6
78	58	Jim Quick and Coastline - Those Summer Days	12
79	76	Arlo Parks - Weightless▲	26
80	87	Beck and Phoenix - Odyssey	3
81	88	David F. Porfirio - No Way Out	3
82	66	Wayne Free - Our Paradise	15
83	64	Miya Folick - Bad Thing	19
84	67	Colorjoy - Drops of Honey▲	18
85	89	Phillip Phillips -- Dancing With Your Shadows	2
86	---	TOP DEBUT: MICHAEL MCMEEL "I'll Be Around" (Single Only)	1
87	59	Miley Cyrus - River	8
88	70	Taylor Swift - Karma	9
89	---	The Revivalists - Good Old Days	1
90	74	Sunny War - No Reason	12
91	93	Maroon 5- Middle Ground	2
92	---	Metric - Just the Once	1
93	86	Deb Browning and Six Piece Suits - It Don't Get Better Than This	40
94	95	Donna Missal - God Complex	2
95	99	Thirty Seconds to Mars - Stuck	2
96	101	Lauren Daigle - Thank God I Do	1
97	104	Billie Eilish - What Was I Made For	1
98	---	Queens of the Stone Age - Paper Machete	1
99	---	Juliet Callahan - Heal	1
100	---	Fishbone - Cubical	1