Deb & Marlisa Re-take Top Spot on SNS; Kate Hudson Debuts; Post Malone/Morgan Wallen Still Atop Hot 100 (SNS week of 6/16/2024)

 THAT DYNAMIC DUO OF BEACH MUSIC is back at the top of the SNS 100 as Deb Browning and Marlisa Kay Small return to the #1 ranking on this week's Scenes 'n' Soundwaves 100 with "Sunshine and Summertime".   It's very appropriate since the official start of summer occurred this week.   The song originally spent two weeks at the top in May, only to yield to Jalen Ngonda's "If You Don't Want My Love" for three frames.      The song is still atop several beach charts, and predictions of it being the "song of the summer" seem to be realized, at least thus far.    Ngonda, Juliet Callahan, Sylvia Johns Ritchie and Anna Lavigne complete the top five.

Deb Browning and Marlisa Kay Small re-take the top spot this week with "Sunshine and Summertime", for a third non-consecutive week.

The rest of my top 10 is pretty quiet, with no new entries, and only one, Kacey Musgraves' "Cardinal" that is bulleted (8-6).   Most of the action is in the second ten, with 8 of the 10 songs bulleted.    Three of them are new to the Top 20:  Einsteins Dad, which sees two of the musicians on the song, debut on their own with side projects (more on that below), grab the Impact honors with "To the Moon" (21-18).  Sabrina Carpenter, probably is one of the hottest performers around these days, enters with "Feather" (24-19), which joins "Espresso" (holding at #11) in the Top 20.    She is equally hot on the Billboard Hot 100, as "Espresso" at #3 is joined by a debut of a new single, "Please Please Please" which debuts at #2 on the big chart.  Meanwhile, "Feather" is no slouch either, moving to #22 on the Hot 100, #7 on John Hook's Beach Music Top 40, and #6 on the Hot AC chart.    Suki Waterhouse's "My Fun" is the other newbie in the Top 20 (25-20), following her Top 10 "OMG".  

Prime movers include Starbuck's "Beach A Go Go" (42-27), Teddy Swims' "The Door" (46-37), Travis' "Gaslight" (51-40),  Mover of the Week Billie Eilish's "Lunch" (67-44), and last week's Top Debut, Foster the People's "Lost in Space" (57-46).

NEW AND NOTEWORTHY:   There are nine debuts this week.   There should have been ten (or even eleven), but two of the proposed beach music adds apparently aren't available anywhere.    Stipulation of an inclusion on the SNS 100 includes the track being available either as a YouTube video, availability of download (Amazon, iTunes, or artist-provided) or streamed on Spotify.    Thus, I had to hold back on R. Mark Black's "End to End" (despite Black indicating that, as of this writing, the songs are on the download sites).    I am still including it on my "Murmurs" lists of songs to be added when they are available.

The other song was "I Don't Want to Cry" by The Holiday Band.  However, in searching for that song, I came upon another by that outfit, "Got it Bad For You", which takes Top Debut honors, entering at #54.   With Mike Taylor coming off his Top Ten duet with Karen Clayton, a cover of "I'm Your Puppet" (still hanging in at #92), his contingent follows up "Drowning in the Sea of Love", with this song, which to me is ultimate Carolina beach music, the kind I do remember back in the day.   This is a great-feeling song that for those who dream of being at the Grand Strand, it will take you there in an instant.   The keyboard and horns supplement Taylor's voice.    But one drawback:

While Spotify shows that the song was added there on January 1 of this year, the video for the song came out 10 years ago!     However, I am treating the song as "new", similar to Gary Lowder & Smokin' Hot's "Sitting in the Park", which was several years old and made the top ten.    The song sends chills down my spine.      As is the case with R. Mark Black's "End to End", I will add "I Don't Want to Cry" if it's ever available.

It's a week of strong debuts.   Beabadoobee is back to follow her top 10 "The Way Things Go" with her new one, "Take A Bite".   Her catchy 90's-style alternative stance is very apparent here, and should be another hit for her, both here and on the alternative and/or Triple-A listings.   It enters at #58.    Meanwhile, Royel Otis finally had a breakthrough last time out with the still-top 10 "Murder on the Dance Floor", and follows it up with "Foam", debuting at #64..   In 3/3 time, the song starts off slowly, but once you get past the first ten seconds, it quickly picks up, and makes it an upbeat thing with great, understated vocals and still keeps going at you.  The beat reminds me a bit of Elvis Costello's "The Only Flame in Town".  Already on alternative charts, this should be another top ten for the Australian duo. 

Actress Kate Hudson has released her first music album, Glorious, and a single from that album, "Gonna Find Out", debuts this week.

Next at #65, is "Gonna Find Out" by Kate Hudson.  Yes, you heard right, Kate Hudson, the actress has cut an album Glorious, and this is a release from it.   And, no, this isn't an exercise in current pop and hip-hop; one listen to the song, and you'll know it definitely rocks out, with a strong vocal and instrumental backing.     I have to admit, I was skeptical, as we've had actors cut records before, but once the guitar intro starts here, you know you're going to be into something special.   The song, co-written by her fiancée Danny Fujikawa, and Linda Perry (of Four Non-Blondes fame).   This pop rock effort should score here, and hopefully on the Hot AC chart as well.   Ms. Hudson delving into music shouldn't actually be a shock; her biological father and uncles, The Hudson Brothers, scored a couple of top 20 hits in the mid 1970's, although to be honest, Kate blows them all away!

Next is beach music band The Tonez, who had one of the top blog songs of 2023 with "Caught Up", follow it up with "I Hear You Knocking".  Once again, led by the vocals of Laura Kepley, the song, a remake of a 1955 R&B hit by Smiley Lewis, but probably most remembered from a top five version by Dave Edmunds in 1971, the song is a bluesy rocker punctuated by Ms. Kepley's hot vocal.    Definitely a boogie-type rocker with excellent guitar work, and I'm sure would sound great live.     It enters at #68.

I mentioned above that Internet-based outfit Einsteins Dad entered the Top 20 this week, and I have heard from three of the musicians on "To The Moon" this past week.    Core member Richard Bradley contacted me about another Internet-based project that he is a part of called Northern Tracks.    Bradley, from Canada, is among this group of fellow Canadians on this project.    The album is called Determined, and the track I am featuring is "Deceiving Minds".  The song captured a lot of the blues-oriented music of the late 1960's and early 1970's in a Crosby, Stills and Nash, or Eric Clapton vein.     Key guitar work, keyboards, vocals and harmonies feed this cool project.

Meanwhile, the lead singer of "To The Moon", Seth Storer, returns with his own band, Whiskey-Chitto Ramblers, with "Radio On".  The more I hear Seth's voice, it reminds me less of Eddie Vedder and more of Morgan Wallen's.    Definitely a slice of laid-back country rock here.  The band impressed with "Cigarette", but this one should make more noise.

Finally, the leader of Einsteins, Steve Shouse contacted me about two EPs that the band has released; I will be adding at least a song from them in the coming weeks.

Next, we have Nada Surf's "In Front of Me Now".  Mention that name, and people remember their 1996 alternative hit, "Popular" which peaked at #11 on the Modern Rock chart (as it was called then) and came in at #14 on my 1996 year-end tally, and whose video was shot at Bayonne (NJ) High School.   Then they seemed to disappear.  Except they really didn't.  In fact, if you have been following my blog, you will know they had two entries on the SNS 100, both of them reaching my top 10:   "Waiting for Something" got to #10 in 2012, and "Believe You're Mine" hit #7 in 2016.   But their new one, "In Front of Me Now", debuting here at #83, is the first since "Popular" to hit the alternative tally, the first time in almost 30 years (where does the time go!?).    While it doesn't have the "novelty" aspect of "Popular", it does have the vibes of the nineties.    A great slice of alternative rock that still fits in nowadays.    

I was looking at my chart from summer 2020 and remembered that there were four #1's in a row by acts from New Jersey, and wondered why I don't see that here nowadays.    Or course, Jersey acts are still here; spearheaded by Charlotte Sessions who has two #1's in 2024, and Bon Jovi, #17 this week with "Legendary".  And I know that one member of Einsteins Dad, Mario Licata, is from my state, as is Dw Dunphy from Orbis Max.  But that's pretty much it.   There, of course, are many indie acts in the state, and I had to delve into social media to find some new ones.   I came up with a band called The Early November, who enter with "About Me".  The band formed here in New Jersey in 2001, and have just released their self-titled album, and are embarking on a national tour.    The new song, "About Me" is definitely in the alternative rock lane, sort of a late 90's, early 2000's vein.    Definitely has possibilities. 

Finally, Zach Bryan enters with "Pink Skies".  The artist debuted in Billboard's Top 10 with this song. With a harmonica reminiscent of "Heart of Gold" or even "Piano Man", this is a countrified pop effort.   Definitely a contrast to the other songs added this week.    

FINALLY:  "I Had Some Help" by Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen holds at #1 for a fifth week.  It also leads Billboard's "Song of the Summer" contest; eerily reminiscent of last year with Wallen's "Last Night", thanks to its 16 weeks at #1, won that title.   "Last Night", after a slow start, hovering around the bottom of the SNS 100, and even falling off for a couple of weeks, rose to #2 here.   However, "I Had Some Help" is off to a better start on the blog chart, moving 79 to 69 in its second week on the SNS 100.   The aforementioned two Sabrina Carpenters, Shaboozey and Timmy Richman complete the Billboard top five.

Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist

June 16, 2024

This Week	Last Week	ARTIST-Title	Weeks on List
1	2	NUMBER ONE: DEB BROWNING and MARLISA KAY SMALL "Sunshine and Summertime" (SIngle Release) (3 Weeks at #1)	10
2	1	Jalen Ngonda - If You Don't Want My Love▲	15
3	3	Juliet Callahan - Don't Phase Me●	9
4	4	Sylvia Johns Ritchie - Good Love Don't Come Easy	11
5	5	Anna Lavigne - Butterfly	13
6	8	Kacey Musgraves - Cardinal	8
7	9	Deb Browning - Put Your Hand in the Hand	12
8	6	Hozier - Too Sweet	10
9	10	The Black Keys - On the Game	8
10	7	Royel Otis - Murder on the Dance Floor	13
11	11	Sabrina Carpenter - Espresso	7
12	14	The Mac Daddy's Band - Flip Flops and Margaritas	9
13	16	Lissie - Night Moves	5
14	12	Benson Boone - Beautiful Things	17
15	15	Rivermist -Don't Walk Away	13
16	20	Dua Lipa - Illusion	6
17	19	Bon Jovi - Legendary	9
18	21	TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK: EINSTEINS DAD "To The Moon" (Single Release)	8
19	24	Sabrina Carpenter - Feather	4
20	25	Suki Waterhouse - My Fun	6
21	13	Mumford and Sons ft Pharrell Williams - Good People	15
22	29	C. Lynne Smith - Follow It Down	6
23	30	Rhonda McDaniel - Better	5
24	27	Lenny Kravitz - Human	6
25	31	Shang Hi Los - Op-Operator	8
26	35	Pink Slips Band - Dance	5
27	42	Starbuck - Beach A Go Go	3
28	17	Eavesdrop - Honest●	11
29	33	Juliet Callahan -Burning Up	30
30	26	Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone - Fortnight	7
31	37	Orbis Max and Lindsay Murray - Fields	5
32	18	SZA - Saturn	14
33	40	Lesa Hudson - Groovalicous	5
34	32	Zac Brown Band - Tie Up	9
35	23	Starbuck - Spring Break Shake▲	15
36	28	Charlotte Sessions - I've Fallen For A Dragon▲²	19
37	46	Teddy Swims - The Door	3
38	36	Orbis Max and Tim Izzard - You Know What You're Doing	8
39	22	The Six Piece Suits - I Thought You Knew●	16
40	51	Travis - Gaslight	4
41	44	I-42 Band - Looking So Good	6
42	34	Black Pumas - Sauvignon●	24
43	43	Green Day - Dilemma	16
44	67	MOVER OF THE WEEK: BILLIE EILISH "Lunch" Album: Hit Me Hard and Soft	2
45	50	The Beaches - Edge of the Earth	4
46	57	Foster the People - Lost In Space	2
47	45	Randy Clay Band - Party Street	11
48	55	Abi Carter - This Isn't Over	3
49	49	Winnetka Bowling League - America In Your 20's	6
50	56	Orbis Max - Waiting All Night	3
51	38	Say Sue Me - 4 AM	14
52	39	Sadie Leigh - Finger Wave●	16
53	48	Rivermist - Everything's Changed●	23
54	---	TOP DEBUT: THE HOLIDAY BAND "I Got It Bad For You" (Single Release)	1
55	41	Beyonce - Texas Hold Em	16
56	61	David F. Porfirio - Spanish Harlem	4
57	64	Eavesdrop - Only One	3
58	---	Beabadoobee - Take A Bite	1
59	68	Too Much Sylvia - Another Day	3
60	47	Orbis Max - Not This Time	12
61	59	Gary Clark Jr ft. Stevie Wonder - What About the Children	6
62	70	The Ampifier Heads - The Best It's Gonna Be	3
63	66	The Marias - Run Your Mouth	7
64	---	Royel Otis - Foam	1
65	---	Kate Hudson - Gonna Find Out	1
66	65	The Black Keys - Beautiful People (Stay High)●	20
67	75	Cage the Elephant - Good Time	2
68	---	The Tonez - I Hear You Knocking	1
69	79	Post Malone ft. Morgan Wallen - I Had Some Help	2
70	54	Jaime Wyatt - Feel Good	16
71	63	Whiskey-Chitto Ramblers - Cigarette	5
72	73	Fontaines DC - Starbuster	4
73	82	Black Pumas - Mrs. Postman	2
74	53	Calypso Joe and the Coconuts - New Lattitude	8
75	74	Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats - Heartless	3
76	52	The Decemberists - Burial Ground	14
77	85	Michael Marcagi - Scared to Start	2
78	72	Nadia Shutkufski - Top Down	17
79	87	Train - Long Yellow Dress	2
80	58	Vacations - Next Exit▲	18
81	71	Joywave - Scared	4
82	---	Whiskey-Chitto Ramblers - Radio On	1
83	---	Nada Surf - In Front Of Me Now	1
84	62	Sheryl Crow - Alarm Clock	20
85	60	The Castaways - Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me	15
86	88	Tommy Richman - Million Dollar Baby	2
87	---	Northern Tracks - Deceiving Minds	1
88	---	The Early November - About Me	1
89	---	Zach Bryan - Pink Skies	1
90	77	Glass Animals - Creatures In Heaven	7
91	78	Kaleo - Lonely Cowboy	4
92	76	Karen Clayton and Mike Taylor - I'm Your Puppet	19
93	69	Cage the Elephant - Neon Pill	19
94	84	Ariana Grande - we can't be friends (waiting for your love)	7
95	81	Gary Lowder and Smokin' Hot - Sitting In the Park	30
96	89	Rick Strickland - Joined At the Heart	20
97	80	Gary Lowder and Smokin' Hot - It's Over	14
98	86	Paramore - Burning Down the House	14
99	90	Rev. Bubba D. Liverance and the Cornhole Prophets - Something In the Water	21
100	83	Teddy Swims - Lose Control	21

Murmurs:

The Holiday Band - I Don't Want to Cry (when available)

R. Mark Black - End to End (when available)

Kings of Leon - Nowhere to Run

Red Clay Strays - Wanna Be Loved

Einsteins Dad - After the Rain / All For the Song (EPs, tracks to be selected)

Gary Lowder and Smokin' Hot - Wild Fire

Say She She - Questions

Steve Cheek - Last Summer

Beach Bunny - Vertigo

Phantogram - All A Mystery

The Decemberists - Oh No

Lainey Wilson - Hang Tight Honey

J.D. Cash - Chances Are

Donny Trexler - Just a Little Bit of Your Love

Smitty and the Jumpstarters - Let's Walk

The Gaslight Anthem - Ocean Eyes

AWOLNATION - Panoramic View

Alice Merton - run away girl

 Murmurs: Songs which are in the queue for future adds onto the Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist.

 

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; or if a song was among the top 5 most plays for two 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.

 

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