Happy New Year!!!!
Scenes 'n' Soundwaves is back after the usual annual hiatus to bring you some more music that has been on my radar (as well as many others', I hope). I'm not yet sure what the year will bring, and as usual, I'm not sure how long it will last, but I sampled and dug up some really cool music in 2023, and I hope my adventures with new music will continue in 2024. I may try and experiment with a podcast this year, but that remains to be seen.
In my first SNS 100 of the year, singer-songwriter Charlotte Sessions become the first solo artist from the town I grew up in, Roselle Park, New Jersey, to top my chart, as "Should I Be The Man"? rises from #2 to #1 in its 16th chart week (I don't include hiatus weeks in the chart). Ms. Sessions, just 22 years old has had a grassroots following thus far, but I predict good things from her.
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| Roselle Park's Charlotte Sessions ascends to the #1 position on the Scenes 'n' Soundwaves 100, becoming the first solo artist from my hometown to do so. |
It's very hard to pin one type of genre on her. She recently posted her album collection, which includes everyone from Benny Goodman and Sarah Vaughan, to Chicago, Elton John, Carole King, Quincy Jones and Fleetwood Mac, onward to Billie Eilish. And even judging from "Should I Be The Man?", you can detect influences in all of the above artists, plus several more.
She is a young woman of many trades: singer-songwriter, producer, arranger, and musical theater writer. Per her website, charlottesessions.net, "Her music infuses a soulful blend of theatrical and thought-provoking lyrics and sophisticated harmonies that spread across various musical genres, such as jazz, rock, R&B, electronic, film, orchestral and folk".
That is one heck of a spectrum.
And, while she has performed in her hometown at a couple of festivals last year, such as the Roselle Park Arts Festival (where, sadly, due to illness, I was unable to attend), and the town's "Porch Festival" (where artists perform on their own front yards scattered throughout the town), her musical journeys have taken her well away from Roselle Park. She has performed in various venues in New York City and Boston.
The New Year without a doubt will bring new adventures to her artistry; she will debut a new single in the next couple of weeks. I hope to catch a performance of hers this year, and maybe even do an interview with her. The entertainment industry is very wide-spanning with many facets of it, and Charlotte can fit in anywhere she desires.
As I mentioned above, Charlotte is the first solo performer from my hometown to top SNS. The only other to do it was Tom Corea, as a part of The Hounds of Winter back in 2016. Tom has worked with many big artists over the past fifty years in various capacities but never found big chart success himself, although his resume is awesome. Back in 2011 I had done a blog about many Roselle Park artists who have recorded music, and you can read that here:
Still, I haven't yet covered one hometown artist who HAS had national success, with two Top 20 Billboard hits with two different bands: That would be Alan Pasqua, 1970 graduate of Roselle Park HIgh School, who like Charlotte Sessions, excelled in a wide range of genres. He scored as part of the band Giant ("I'll See You in My Dearms", 1990), and Santana ("Winning", 1981) and can be seen in both of those videos. And that doesn't count the other artists that he had backed up, in both the rock and jazz fields. Hopefully soon, I can do a blog on him.
But, while those artists histories go back decades, Charlotte Sessions is here and now, and I look forward to following her musical adventures.
BRENDA WINS THE SEASION: When we last left you, Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You", after yielding to Brenda Lee's 65 year-old "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" for two surprising weeks to start off the holiday season, had retaken the top spot for the following two weeks. However, on the Billboard Hot 100 dated January 6, which includes the final days before Christmas, Brenda Lee re-took the top spot. That gave "Rockin' Around...." three weeks at the top, compared to two weeks for "All I Want...."
Of course, all of the holiday songs dropped off the week of January 13, and the songs that had been displaced return. Jack Harlow's "Lovin' On Me", the last #1 before the holiday blitz, returned there, and is still #1 on the January 20 survey. Songs like "Paint the Town Read", "Last Night", "Snooze", "Fast Car" and "Cruel Summer" are still hanging around, further indicating the listening public's willingness to stream the same songs over and over again for months, while new music---even follow-ups to those hit songs, much less new artists---continued to be ignored.
Okay, I'll get off my soapbox now!
BACK TO THE SNS 100: "Should I Be the Man?", with a comfortable lead, is followed by Thee Sacred Souls' "Easier Said Than Done". "I See Red", by Everybody Loves an Outlaw, which ruled the top spot the final two weeks of 2023, dropped to #3, while a pair of female singer-songwriters, Scotland's Anna Lavigne and the Grand Strand's Marlisa Kay Small, round out the top five.
Two beach music Garys advance as well. Gary Alexander's "There's Always Beach Music" moves 13-10, and Gary Lowder and Smokin' Hot's "Sitting In the Park" grabs the Impact award (22-15). Other entries in the top 20 include a posthumous song from Richard Swift, and pop queens Dua Lipa and Sia.
Colorjoy's seventh song from Golden Age, "Cigarettes and Vanilla" takes Mover honors (72-45).
Many debuts from artists I have been following, plus one that has been on the national radar and enters the Hot 100 Top 10 this week, enter the blog chart.
Starbuck, which is original lead singer and founder Bruce Blackman, has had a great last couple of years, with several beach hits, and coming off a blog #1 with "On the Sand", grabs the Top Debut with the follow-up, "Coldest Night of the Year" at #64.
The song was originally written to be the lead single from Starbuck's third album in early 1978, but the band's label, Private Stock Records, folded. Another artist on that label, Blondie, whose debut came on Private Stock, moved to Chrysalis and broke through. Starbuck landed on Capitol Records (and later United Artists), and the band's third album Searching For a Thrill was released. The title track peaked in the mid 50's on Billboard, but "Coldest Night of the Year", on the album was never released.
One listen to the song takes you back to 1978. Interesting that Blackman, who recorded a version of "Winter Wonderland" for the holidays, continues with the winter theme, perfect for these cold January nights! Love the harmonica in the middle of the song, as well as the synthesizer interspersed throughout.
It's been an awesome last two years for Blackman. While he is the only remaining member of Starbuck (four members of the original band have passed; the two other surviving members are still alive, living in Atlanta, although reportedly not involved with the new material), Blackman does promise a new Starbuck album this year ti keep the band's legacy alive.
I know I had done a blurb on Blackman a few months back, but here's an interesting tidbit I found: Blackman charted on the Billboard Hot 100, billed three ways in three decades. I had mentioned that the band had temporarily changed its name to Korona and charted in 1980 with "Let Me Be", and of course, Starbuck's mid-70's success topped by the #3 "Moonlight Feels Right". But three members of Starbuck, including Blackman also charted in 1968, as Eternity's Children, with the song "Mrs. Bluebird" which landed at #69 in that year.
Speaking of many billings, Tim Izzard--already billed twice on this week's chart with the Sir Prize and the Twomorrow Knightz project, along with the Freecloud collaboration, re-joins forces with Orbis Max for the Internet band's latest single, "Here and Now". Orbis itself had an awesome year in 2023 with three entries on the SNS Top 100 of 2023, but it was with Izzard that I was able to discover them in the first place, having two blog hits in 2022. While the new song sounds more like what Orbis would do, it was Izzard who wrote the melody, chords and guitar hook. It was then that he decided it would be a great Orbis song. It is indeed a different sound for Izzard, but even, in a way for Orbis Max. The harmonies are impressive, and the melodies take you back, but you can't decide what it reminds you of, only something you may or may not have heard before. Should be another winner for Dw. Dunphy, Tim Izzard and the long-distance gang. It enters at #66.
Reggae artist King Tappa returns with "Trouble". Teaming up with Los Tercermundistas Backingband, this is pure reggae heaven. Tappa (real name Curtis Prince) always seems to add a melodic flair to his jams, and it makes you feel like you're in the tropics It's a bit topical as well, as he talked about "trouble in the world", but it doesn't take chart of the whole song.
Next is "Lose Control" by Teddy Swims. The song is a big crossover smash, landing in the Top Ten of Billboard this week. There is extreme buzz to both the song and artist. The song is very bluesy and soulful, and definitely not what you'd expect from a pop hit these days. Swims has been on my list before, and he had a big national beach music hit a couple years ago with "Blowin' Smoke". That song reached #60 here in 2022, and he also peaked at #64 that same year with "Broke", a duet with Thomas Rhett. Yet another SNS song from 2022 was "Bad For Me", with Meghan Trainor peaking at #95, but "Lose Control" should be his blog breakthrough. It comes in at #70.
While the Carolina Blue Dots are charting on regional beach lists with new material, I remain focused on the contingent's music from a few years back. Having hit top 10 blog with the slow dance "Under the Moonlight", I got back to the band's 2017 album Those Summer Days for another gem, "Coolin' Out". A bit more uptempo, this is the classic beach sound. It's songs like this that makes it easy to fantasize being on the beach in North Myrtle. A good-time sound, indeed! Another with a tropical sound to boot!
Another band coming off an awesome year is Rev. Bubba D. Liverance and the Cornhole Prophets, with three songs on the year-end list. They start off 2024 with "Still Waiting", the third single from the band's current EP, Expect No Mercy Pt 1. While "Edisto", Bubba and company's previous single, was a bit laid back and bordered on country, this chugger returns the Prophets squarely in the beach music realm. The soulfulness of songs like "Ti Ta Ti Ta Ti Ta Ta" and "Dreamsicle" are captured, complete with horns and great guitar work.
Similar to the Blue Dots, I've been exploring past work by Everybody Loves An Outlaw. Having hit #1 with the several years old "I See Red", completing its across-the-board acclaim, featured in both movies and talent-show performances, I moved on to the 2022 single release "Still Waiting". While not as immediate as the prior song, this is a mid-tempo song where Bonnie Sims' vocal is still pleasing, if not explosive. Has possibilities.
Finally, we come to a local "supergroup" of sorts, Mirrors on the Moon. The band is the brainchild of frontman Donny Dykowsky. He is also a member of the band Chesterwhite which also includes band member Freddie Pastore on guitar and in a producer role. The band is rounded out by keyboardist Dave Archer, from the band UNI and the Urchins), drummer John Hummel, who has worked with Lady Gaga, and last and definitely not least none other than Emily MacMahon of Colorjoy with background vocals and guitar. Emily and John recently worked together in the cover band August Rage with Stephen DeAcutis a couple years back. Despite the band being from the Garden State, it really sounds more laid-back West Coast oriented psych-rock mixed with Americana. It is not yet known if this is a one-shot collaboration--there were three single releases in 2023 or will Dykowsky recruit others, but it's cool to enjoy the members' talents.
Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist
January 14, 2024
|
This Week |
Last Week |
ARTIST-Title |
Weeks on List |
|
1 |
2 |
NUMBER ONE:  (Single release) |
16 |
|
2 |
3 |
8 |
|
|
3 |
1 |
11 |
|
|
4 |
6 |
5 |
|
|
5 |
9 |
7 |
|
|
6 |
10 |
9 |
|
|
7 |
4 |
9 |
|
|
8 |
7 |
12 |
|
|
9 |
11 |
9 |
|
|
10 |
13 |
7 |
|
|
11 |
5 |
13 |
|
|
12 |
14 |
12 |
|
|
13 |
16 |
9 |
|
|
14 |
8 |
11 |
|
|
15 |
22 |
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:  (Single Release) |
10 |
|
16 |
24 |
7 |
|
|
17 |
19 |
14 |
|
|
18 |
30 |
6 |
|
|
19 |
17 |
15 |
|
|
20 |
34 |
8 |
|
|
21 |
15 |
17 |
|
|
22 |
36 |
8 |
|
|
23 |
33 |
10 |
|
|
24 |
18 |
10 |
|
|
25 |
23 |
8 |
|
|
26 |
35 |
7 |
|
|
27 |
38 |
7 |
|
|
28 |
27 |
23 |
|
|
29 |
26 |
11 |
|
|
30 |
29 |
11 |
|
|
31 |
46 |
4 |
|
|
32 |
48 |
3 |
|
|
33 |
40 |
9 |
|
|
34 |
43 |
6 |
|
|
35 |
31 |
16 |
|
|
36 |
32 |
14 |
|
|
37 |
47 |
8 |
|
|
38 |
45 |
8 |
|
|
39 |
55 |
8 |
|
|
40 |
12 |
6 |
|
|
41 |
58 |
6 |
|
|
42 |
51 |
31 |
|
|
43 |
25 |
18 |
|
|
44 |
44 |
11 |
|
|
45 |
72 |
MOVER OF THE WEEK:  Album: Golden Age |
2 |
|
46 |
28 |
5 |
|
|
47 |
42 |
18 |
|
|
48 |
56 |
21 |
|
|
49 |
52 |
14 |
|
|
50 |
68 |
2 |
|
|
51 |
61 |
18 |
|
|
52 |
21 |
5 |
|
|
53 |
41 |
3 |
|
|
54 |
50 |
14 |
|
|
55 |
57 |
17 |
|
|
56 |
59 |
11 |
|
|
57 |
20 |
6 |
|
|
58 |
39 |
6 |
|
|
59 |
53 |
9 |
|
|
60 |
69 |
2 |
|
|
61 |
54 |
18 |
|
|
62 |
73 |
3 |
|
|
63 |
49 |
11 |
|
|
64 |
--- |
TOP DEBUT:  (Single Release) |
1 |
|
65 |
67 |
40 |
|
|
66 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
67 |
87 |
2 |
|
|
68 |
65 |
25 |
|
|
69 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
70 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
71 |
66 |
17 |
|
|
72 |
78 |
4 |
|
|
73 |
37 |
Sir Prize and the Twomorrow
Knightz - A Glittering Christmas |
5 |
|
74 |
79 |
4 |
|
|
75 |
86 |
2 |
|
|
76 |
64 |
16 |
|
|
77 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
78 |
--- |
Rev. Bubba D. Liverance and the
Cornhole Prophets - Something In the Water |
1 |
|
79 |
70 |
18 |
|
|
80 |
74 |
8 |
|
|
81 |
84 |
34 |
|
|
82 |
85 |
5 |
|
|
83 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
84 |
90 |
2 |
|
|
85 |
60 |
3 |
|
|
86 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
87 |
77 |
11 |
|
|
88 |
88 |
19 |
|
|
89 |
91 |
5 |
|
|
90 |
92 |
9 |
|
|
91 |
71 |
4 |
|
|
92 |
93 |
2 |
|
|
93 |
63 |
4 |
|
|
94 |
81 |
22 |
|
|
95 |
89 |
38 |
|
|
96 |
101 |
2 |
|
|
97 |
62 |
5 |
|
|
98 |
83 |
12 |
|
|
99 |
97 |
28 |
|
|
100 |
RE ENTRY |
23 |
|
|
Songs
with the greatest increase in favorite points over the prior week.
▲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. To qualify, the song must be currently or
have peaked in the top 40.
|
|
Holiday
Songs
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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