Once again, a very active week, with the continuing story of "Try That In A Small Town", but also this week, the nominations for the Carolina Beach Music Awards came out on August 4 (yesterday, as I am writing this). While I will post below the nominee list in pertinent categories with a few comments, I will try to write more in-depth commentary in November just before the winners are announced.
 |
| Nominations for the 2023 Carolina Beach Music Awards (CBMA) were announced this week. |
FEMALE VOCALIST:
If I remember correctly, this is the exact same list as those nominated last year, with Karen Clayton winning. I don't remember Karen releasing a song this year, other than participation in the Ladies of Beach Music's "Shoop Shoop Song", but I could be wrong. Actually, all on this list but Ms. Gore sang on that charity song. Deb Browning and Lesa Hudson (with Rick Strickland) both hit the top spot on my blog this year, with Laura Kepley's band reaching #4 with The Tonez. Rhonda McDaniel landed a solo top 20 this year as well. While The Castaways had a recent top ten blog song with "Mr. Dream Merchant", that was recorded back in 1982 before Ms. Clayton was a member.
MALE VOCALIST:
Both Strickland and West hit #1 on the blog chart this year as half of duets, with Lesa Hudson and Marlisa Kay Small, respectively. Lowder and Quick also had major chart entries with their respective bands, and Steve Long's band is currently in my top 20. However, some noticeable omissions are Rev. Bubba D. Liverance and Jerry Powell, both who should be in there with major beach and blog hits this year. Bubba hit the top with "Ti Ta Ti Ta Ti Ta Ta" and the top 20 (so far) follow-up, "Dreamsicle" with his band the Cornhole Prophets, while Powell had a #6 blog hit with "One More Summer Night", which is currently atop Don Mark's chart, and still top ten on several others. Glaring omissions.
RISING STAR:
While I-42 had a sizable blog hit recently, and Sylvia has made the top ten in a duet, I am ecstatic to see Marlisa's name on here. I had the awesome pleasure of meeting her in person when I was down that way in the spring, performing, as always with Deb Browning, who won this award two years ago. Plus, Ms. Small has two top ten blog hits, including a #1 duet with Jerry West, and of course, participation with the Carolina Queens.
SONG OF THE YEAR:
A great selection list here. The Jim Quick & Coastline song will be an add in the coming weeks, but all the others hit the SNS 100, with both "Got It Right", and "The Thing About You" hitting #1 here. The others were major chart entries, with the Too Much Sylvia currently in the top 20.
MUSIC VIDEO:
All I can say here is, if Deb's award-winning video doesn't win here, something isn't right. But I also want to say that I think more beach music artists should make videos. They really enhance the experience and appreciate the song more. Kudos to all those nominated above and any other artist who made a video this year.
There are, of course, other categories. Starbuck's "You're the Reason", top 3 here is among the nominees for Best National Dance Song; Rick Strickland and Lesa Hudson's awesome Power of Two, for Group Album of the Year; Lesa herself is up for Entertainer of the Year, while her partners' "You're the One For Me", a #1 blog hit, is nominated in the "Smoothie" category. Finally, Danny Kimrey, who I had the pleasure of briefly talking with last summer, is a nominee in the Internet DJ category.
Best of luck to all the nominees!
TRY THAT ON A BILLBOARD CHARTTOPPER: So much for a quick drop-off. "Try That In A Small Town", the song that has been raising controversy, particularly with the left, which debuted at #2 on the Hot 100 last week, actually moved up to the top spot on the Billboard chart this week, as the debate as to whether the song is racist or not. As you know, the video was released over two weeks ago, and was banned from the CMT cable network. Liberals accused the song and video of being racist--even though race was never mentioned in the song, and the video showed acts of violence, some of it belonging to the since-removed Black Lives Matter rioting. Some artists, namely singer songwriter Sheryl Crow, and Americana artist Jason Isbell, formerly of Drive-By Truckers, have accused the song of "inciting violence". That's funny, since I gather that the song is combating it. It seems like it's the typical case of punishing the victim fighting back rather than the bully who started things. But anyway....
But it seems that the listening public, in particular, the right, have embraced the song in the wake of the controversy, remarkable that many songs that had dealt with similar issues, fall down and off the charts the second week of chart activity. In addition, Aldean has maintained that the song condemns violence (he references in the song about all the troubles of the big city that this violence won't be tolerated in his small town) and has nothing to do with race. The incident has found a life of its own; while there were rumors that Aldean is suing the left-wing talk show The View and in particular, its co-host Whoopie Goldberg, this was actually false (the rumor was actually from a satirical website).
Regardless of any controversy, this week marks a first, in the sixty-five-year history of the Billboard Hot 100: Songs by country artists have the Top 3 song in the country. Morgan Wallen's "Last Night" moves back up to #2, the song had garnered 14 weeks in the top spot; and Luke Combs' cover of the 1988 Tracy Chapman hit, "Fast Car", inches back up to #3. Incidentally, last week's top song, BTS' member Jung Kook's "Seven", featuring rapper Latto, drops to #9, as pretty much expected.
All three songs are now on my top 20 on the Scenes 'n' Soundwaves 100 chart. "Last Night" moves up a notch to #6, "Fast Car" one position to #16, and significantly, "Try That In A Small Town" leaps 44-8 for Aldean's first top 10 blog song. My chart reflects, in part, what friends and others on social media are thinking, and the big rise is mostly due to friends defending the song. It's been years since anyone rallied around a particular song. And I haven't noticed any posts--negative or otherwise-- from my left-leaning friends. Further down, country artists such as Lainey Wilson, Gabby Barrett and Jon Pardi are also moving up the SNS 100.
It all sets up an interesting scenario for next week. It's the end of the week, and it seems things are dying down now. So, will "Try That In A Small Town" drop off? Also in consideration is that a new album from key rapper Travis Scott was released last week, thus tracks are eligible to debut on the Hot 100. Many are predicting that one of them debuts at #1, but if Aldean---or a return by Wallen---holds on to number one, that would send a big statement, since hip hop (and its derivative pop) has dominated for several years. So, it's another "stay tuned" thing.
 |
| Sinead O'Connor passed away last week at the age of 56. |
DID ANYTHING COMPARE 2 HER: I mentioned this briefly last week, but we had lost Irish singer Sinead O'Connor, who was 56. There had been no cause of death reported as of last week. O'Connor was very outspoken and active on social issues. She first came to prominence in 1987 with her first album, The Lion and the Cobra, with a track, "Mandinka" which got some radio play and landed on the Billboard Dance chart, but it was her follow-up album, I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got that brought her huge success. That album features her biggest hit, "Nothing Compares 2 U", written by Prince, that netted her one and only #1 song on the Hot 100. The follow-up single, "The Emperor's New Clothes", also charted; both songs also hit #1 on the Modern Rock chart. Subsequent albums charted on the Billboard 200, up to her last release, 2014's I'm Not Bossy, I'm The Boss.
She was noted for her actions, some controversial. I saw her in concert at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ in the summer of 1990. Normally, concerts start off with the playing of the National Anthem, but Ms. O'Connor requested it not be played during that evening's performance. Some, like Frank Sinatra, vehemently criticized this action, threatening to "kick her in the ass". Outside her New York record company, listeners destroyed her albums on the street with a steamroller.
O'Connor caused more controversy on Saturday Night Live. Originally, she backed out of a scheduled performance because vulgar comedian Andrew Dice Clay was the scheduled host, she eventually came back in 1992 as the musical guest. However, after her performance, she held up a picture of Pope John Paul II, ripped it, saying "Fight the real enemy", in protest to alleged child sexual abuse taking place in the Catholic church. A few weeks after that incident, she was one of the performers at a Bob Dylan tribute concert, where she was roundly booed. Time magazine named her the most influential person of 1992. O'Connor continued her activism during her career for various causes, mostly abuse in the Catholic church, and participated in various tribute concerts and albums, including that for The Who's Pete Townshend, and Dolly Parton. In 2020 she released a cover of Mahalia Jackson's "Trouble of the World", with the proceeds going to Black Lives Matter. She did record one last album, No Veteran Dies Alone, in 2022, but she had announced she was canceling a tour and withholding release of the album. That was changed to indefinitely when her son Shane committed suicide at the age of 17. Earlier this year she recorded a version of the song "The Skye Boat Song", which is also the theme to the series Outlander.
SNS 100: Kesha stays atop the Scenes 'n' Soundwaves 100 for a third week, just holding off Hozier's "Francesca" which remains at a bulleted #2. Say She She remains a force on the list, holding at #3 with "Don't You Dare Stop" and #5 with "Reeling", and now has the Top Debut (see below). The biggest mover, of course is this week's Impact winner, Jason Aldean's "Try That In A Small Town", the current #1 Billboard leader, going from 44-8 here. How the reception of this song fares this week will determine how much more it can move up; it's a possibility it could hit #1, which would become only the fifth song to top my chart in three weeks. But if the song popularity has peaked, it could also drop. That remains to be seen. Further down, The Faithful Brothers' "Dance My Hurt Away" is the Mover of the Week (41-26), with Pollyanna's "Good For You" also a good mover (46-32).
NEWBIES: As mentioned above, Say She She grabs Top Debut honors with "Astral Plane". It's another winner, with a laid-back funky sound with awesome harmonies. The soulfulness continues here and should follow the other songs in the top ten. Next is Colorjoy's "Apathy", in which the duo slow it down a bit. Emily MacMahon's voice is understated but soulful. She knows all the techniques to every kind of song. Vaguely reminiscent of her prior band ScreenAge's "North Star", this one has several changes during the course of the song. This is my first add since the release of the duo's Golden Age set, but it should make it six-for-six in top ten blog hits.
Speaking of "North", that is in the name of Orbis Max's next added single (I don't say latest, because that outfit has now released two songs since......slow it down boys!), entitled "The North". After two big blog hits, the sentimental ballad "R U OK", and the follow-up rocker, "No Hero", the app/tech contingent offers a rather grandiose psychedelic-tinged bluesy ballad. Thee Sacred Souls, sort of a male counterpart to Say She She, follow up their #2 "Love Is the Way", with "Running Away", which has the early 70's urban soul sound that should complement their prior hit. Moving up the Triple-A chart, it should do the same here. It even has a beach music sound, kind of cross between Archie Bell and the Drells, Marvin Gaye with a splash of Kool and the Gang thrown in. Carolina DJs should pay attention to this one. Gary Lowder and Smokin' Hot's latest, "Picture of You" is a bouncy, up-tempo song. Featuring vocals by Bridger Warlick, this is much better than their last, "I Will Love You Always", and it's already exceeded it on the charts. Should put the beach contingent back in the top 20 which they occupied with "Don't Let Her Go". Beck, coming off his top 20 ballad, "Thinking About You", teams up with French band Phoenix with "Odyssey". This one has a late-80's new jack swing vibe at times, further enhancing Beck's versatility. Has possibilities.
Finally, "No Way Out", by David F. Porfirio debuts at the #100 spot. Originally released in 2020 in a ten-minute version, he had just released the "single version" video of the song on YouTube last week that clocks in at 3:16. As of now, the long version is the only one available on Spotify, but either way, the song is a showcase of this guitarist's talents, with a late 60's bluesy vibe to it. Definitely recommended.
Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist
July 30, 2023
|
This Week |
Last Week |
ARTIST-Title |
Weeks on List |
|
1 |
1 |
NUMBER ONE:  Album: Gag Order (3 Weeks at #1) |
7 |
|
2 |
2 |
5 |
|
|
3 |
3 |
10 |
|
|
4 |
8 |
6 |
|
|
5 |
5 |
10 |
|
|
6 |
7 |
16 |
|
|
7 |
4 |
11 |
|
|
8 |
44 |
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:  (Single Only) |
2 |
|
9 |
6 |
13 |
|
|
10 |
9 |
11 |
|
|
11 |
11 |
18 |
|
|
12 |
12 |
10 |
|
|
13 |
10 |
10 |
|
|
14 |
14 |
8 |
|
|
15 |
13 |
9 |
|
|
16 |
16 |
Rev. Bubba D. Liverance and the
Cornhole Prophets - Dreamsicle |
8 |
|
17 |
18 |
6 |
|
|
18 |
19 |
10 |
|
|
19 |
20 |
11 |
|
|
20 |
25 |
7 |
|
|
21 |
29 |
5 |
|
|
22 |
21 |
9 |
|
|
23 |
15 |
14 |
|
|
24 |
27 |
5 |
|
|
25 |
24 |
20 |
|
|
26 |
41 |
MOVER OF THE WEEK:  (Single Only) |
4 |
|
27 |
26 |
Marlisa Kay Small and Jerry
Thomas West - Love Really Hurts Without You● |
13 |
|
28 |
23 |
The Main Event Band ft. Sharon
Woodruff - Love Makes The World Go Round |
14 |
|
29 |
28 |
10 |
|
|
30 |
17 |
13 |
|
|
31 |
31 |
5 |
|
|
32 |
46 |
6 |
|
|
33 |
43 |
3 |
|
|
34 |
35 |
9 |
|
|
35 |
22 |
13 |
|
|
36 |
40 |
6 |
|
|
37 |
36 |
9 |
|
|
38 |
38 |
7 |
|
|
39 |
30 |
13 |
|
|
40 |
52 |
5 |
|
|
41 |
37 |
12 |
|
|
42 |
48 |
9 |
|
|
43 |
42 |
22 |
|
|
44 |
50 |
10 |
|
|
45 |
56 |
4 |
|
|
46 |
58 |
Sir Prize and the Twomorrow
Knightz - Automatic Satin Circus |
5 |
|
47 |
54 |
7 |
|
|
48 |
39 |
13 |
|
|
49 |
55 |
6 |
|
|
50 |
53 |
7 |
|
|
51 |
57 |
15 |
|
|
52 |
66 |
3 |
|
|
53 |
60 |
5 |
|
|
54 |
33 |
16 |
|
|
55 |
49 |
Rick Strickland and Lesa Hudson
- Got it Right (The First Time)● |
27 |
|
56 |
63 |
5 |
|
|
57 |
65 |
5 |
|
|
58 |
32 |
16 |
|
|
59 |
34 |
10 |
|
|
60 |
64 |
7 |
|
|
61 |
62 |
6 |
|
|
62 |
47 |
17 |
|
|
63 |
--- |
TOP DEBUT:  (Single Only) |
1 |
|
64 |
45 |
16 |
|
|
65 |
67 |
7 |
|
|
66 |
61 |
The Carolina Queens - The Shoop
Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss) |
18 |
|
67 |
76 |
3 |
|
|
68 |
51 |
15 |
|
|
69 |
69 |
24 |
|
|
70 |
90 |
2 |
|
|
71 |
78 |
4 |
|
|
72 |
81 |
3 |
|
|
73 |
100 |
2 |
|
|
74 |
59 |
Jimmy Ogburn's Salt Luvs Pepper
ft. David Cornelius - Love Me Like I Love You |
22 |
|
75 |
72 |
Deb Browning and Six Piece Suits - It Don't Get Better Than
This |
38 |
|
76 |
77 |
4 |
|
|
77 |
80 |
4 |
|
|
78 |
89 |
3 |
|
|
79 |
92 |
2 |
|
|
80 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
81 |
93 |
2 |
|
|
82 |
87 |
3 |
|
|
83 |
88 |
4 |
|
|
84 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
85 |
68 |
7 |
|
|
86 |
96 |
2 |
|
|
87 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
88 |
71 |
14 |
|
|
89 |
--- |
Gary Lowder and Smokin' Hot ft.
Bridger Warlick - Picture of You |
1 |
|
90 |
85 |
21 |
|
|
91 |
99 |
2 |
|
|
92 |
70 |
11 |
|
|
93 |
84 |
23 |
|
|
94 |
86 |
19 |
|
|
95 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
96 |
83 |
20 |
|
|
97 |
75 |
19 |
|
|
98 |
91 |
16 |
|
|
99 |
73 |
14 |
|
|
100 |
--- |
1 |
Tremors:
101. Say She She, "Trouble"
102. Royel Otis, "Oysters In My Pocket"
103. P!nk, "Trustfall"
104. Donna Missal, "God Complex"
105. Phillip Phillips, "Dancing With Your Shoulders"
106. Maroon 5, 'Middle Ground"
107. Jody Medford, "American Proud"
108. Moon Taxi, "Classics"
Tremors:
Songs which have steady or increasing points but not enough to chart on the SNS
100.
▲Song garnered most plays
on Spotify ● 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
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