OK, we're at the time of the year when we have the "big three" of the music events: The Grammy Awards, the Super Bowl halftime show, and the annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees. While as of this writing, there hasn't been any news of the latter, what with the usual "this isn't rock" gripes, you could probably say the same about the first two.
Once again, I didn't watch the Grammy Awards (in spite of regrettably missing last year's show, specifically Luke Combs and Tracy Chapman performing "Fast Car"). But there was some bad feelings from various friends on Facebook about Beyonce winning the Country Album of the Year award. And we need to get used to the fact that from now on in, hip-hop artists will be Super Bowl performers, with Kendrick Lamar getting this year's nod.
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| Beyonce was the story at the recent Grammy Awards, winning both Album of the Year and Country Album of the Year with Cowboy Carter |
First, here are the major Grammys given out last week, along with the subcategories that I usually blog about.
Record of the Year: "Not Like Us", Kendrick Lamar
Lamar beat out several noms, including The Beatles' "Now and Then", Sabrina Carpenter's "Espresso", Beyonce's "Texas Hold Em" and Billie Eilish's "Birds of a Feather", just to name four songs that hit my top twenty. I feel bad for The Beatles, who in their heyday didn't get the Grammy recognition they deserved when "then" the academy preferred "middle-of-the-road" songs and artists, "and now", it's the preference for hip-hop.
Song of the Year: "Not Like Us", Kendrick Lamar
This is a songwriter's award, and apparently dissing a fellow hip-hop artist is standard for the genre (the song, #1 on the Hot 100, is an attack on fellow rapper Drake). Here, he beat out the writers of "Texas Hold 'Em", "Die With a Smile", "A Bar Song (Tipsy)", "Birds of a Feather", and others.
Best New Artist: Chappell Roan
To be honest, I tried liking her and she is talented, but her demeanor is flashy, very Hollywood-like. I keep thinking of the obscure, up-and-coming artists who have worked hard at their craft and are talented in their writing and performing, rather than flashiness. She beat out, among others, Teddy Swims, Sabrina Carpenter, Benson Boone and Shaboozey, all of whom hit my top ten last year.
Best Album: "Cowboy Carter", Beyonce
Look, I don't have a problem with this album winning. To be honest, I don't listen to entire albums anymore (unless it's from an emerging artist who has recommended a release to me), and really haven't since the 1990's. I have a lot of artists on my charts and playlists who are vying to make a breakthrough, and I try to give them all exposure as much as I can. It's another category that I have a problem with this album winning (see below).
Best Pop Solo Performance: "Espresso", Sabrina Carpenter
No issues here, that is a good song. Aside from top five on the Hot 100 and the SNS 100, it hit #1 on John Hook's Beach Music Top 40. where it's still #3. By the way, her "Please Please Please" is this week's #1 on that chart.
Best Pop Duo Performance: "Die With a Smile", Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars
I definitely don't have a problem with this. Well, deserved, in my opinion.
Best Rock Performance: "Now and Then", The Beatles
Okay, this is a tough one. While I am glad to see the Fab Four win in 2024, I do have a couple of issues with it: One, the song itself was written by John Lennon back in 1977. And while Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr did a great job with this, part of that is due to new technology that enabled John's vocals and piano to be separated, and the result was excellent, especially when compared to the 1990's revamping of "Free Has a Bird" and "Real Love". But the Beatles beat out my personal favorites, "Beautiful People (Stay High) by The Black Keys. While I probably would have picked the Black Keys song, that duo is still around, while it's believed that "Now and Then" is the final-ever Beatles song. And that song hit #1 on SNS for four weeks, versus a #3 peak for "Beautiful People".
Best Rock Album: "Hackneyed Diamonds", The Rolling Stones
The Stones beat out artists like Pearl Jam, Jack White, Green Day, Fontaines D.C. and The Black Crowes. The fact that both the Beatles and Stones won Grammys this year is good and bad. Good, because these bands are legendary in rock history. Bad because it means that it's more proof that recent rock is dead despite some really good acts out there, waiting to be heard.
Best Alternative Music Performance: "Flea", St. Vincent
St. Vincent beat out blog faves like Cage the Elephant and others that, to be honest, I really don't have much of an interest in. Is it because I've tired of alternative?
R&B: It would be nice, in the R&B field if some of these artists I've been listening to at least got a nomination. Where, for example are Thee Sacred Souls? Jalen Ngonda? Michael Kiwanuka? None of these got even nominated. And I never heard of most of the noms and winners.
Best Country Album: "Cowboy Carter", Beyonce
OK, here is where I have a problem. While I think, as mentioned above, that Beyonce deserved the Album of the Year nod, I have issues with her winning the country award. To be honest, while I do like Beyonce, I never got why she is treated as a goddess, although she is definitely talented and a budding legend. But there are many other artists that I believe should get that title. I am happy that she has experimented with other genres; it just adds to her legacy. "Texas Hold 'Em" hit my top ten. Her previous album produced the acid-house "Break My Soul" which reached #22 here. While she gets a lot of credit for that experimentation, is it worthy of the top album in this genre? That's like an amateur going out onto a baseball diamond, playing, and getting an MVP award.
Many felt that Lainey Wilson's Whirlwind should have gotten the award. Chris Stapleton had a nice album as did Kasey Musgraves. But Stapleton's music straddles blues, while Ms. Musgraves borders on singer-songwriter pop. Post Malone, another originally from a different genre was also nominated, and while I like some of those songs, this gives me the impression that to get a nod in this category, you can't be a traditional country artist, which Ms. Wilson clearly is.
End of rant.
HOT 100: Travis Scott debuts at #1 with "4X4", proving that hip-hop is still alive and well, with Bad Bunny and Kendrick Lamar still in the top 10. I just don't get this genre, and why it's shoved in our faces. I liked the genre until the mid 90's when this "East Coast-West Coast" rivalry started. And I just don't see any artistry in this, except for the skills in talking fast to a pre-programed beat. Then again, I'm old, so I'm not supposed to get this. "Die With a Smile" drops to #2, and "Lose Control" by Teddy Swims, moves back up to #6 in week 75. "Bad Dreams" does move back up to #42, but THIS should be top 10. Aren't people tired of "Lose Control"? Don't get me started.
SNS 100: Don West's "Small Change" holds onto the blog #1 spot, just edging out Moto Bandit's "Private Pile" which holds at #2. Monophonics soulful "Sage Motel" moves 5-3, and the aforementioned "Bad Dreams" inches back up to #4. Swims' still has two songs in the top five as his duet with Thomas Rhett, "Somethin' 'Bout a Woman", drops to #5. A big mover is "Ghost" by The Palms going from 12-6.
Hajej's "High No More" is the Impact winner (24-16) with top twenty entrances also from Sports Team and The Pozers. Meanwhile, the Mover award goes to Thee Sacred Souls with the retro-soulful, smoothie, beach music-style (but ignored at the Grand Strand), "My Heart is Drowning" (36-25).
DEBUTS: Another full slate of new entries this week, as all but one remaining holiday song falls off the chart. The most impressive new debut goes to the latest by My Morning Jacket, with "Time Waited", entering at #46. It's a cool change-of-pace for the Kentucky quintet. This is a cool ballad, with a piano intro that sounds very new age, but of course isn't. But the vibe from that keyboard is cool and sets the stage for the song. The band hit #1 three years ago with the slow but bluesy "In Color", and this has a chance to equal that. A winner.
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| Beach music quintet Rivermist debuts with "Oceans Apart" |
Rivermist follows up the frantic "Jukebox Jenny" with "Oceans Apart". This is a more sentimental song along the lines of "Everything's Changed". Complete with a cool video, this should continue the band's streak of top 20 entries. Greg Adair's band has their best song yet. "Oceans Apart" enters at #69.
Royel Otis has their first new entry since "Foam" hit #1 on the SNS 100 a few months back, with "If Our Love is Dead", coming in at #72. While not as catchy as "Foam", it still has a power-pop, alternative vibe, along the lines somewhat, as "Murder on the Dance Floor". Sort of reminds me of early The Cure (more on them below). Should do well here, and put them back on the national alternative chart, something which eluded "Foam".
Back to the beach for the latest from The Six Piece Suits, "Lovers Into Strangers". Featuring Nina Starsong, this one is along the lines of last year's top five "I Thought You Knew". While the band originally gained exposure teaming up with Deb Browning, this song proves that they are adept on their own. And, like their duets with Deb, Ms. Starsong adds a unique female vocal to the proceedings. Already on a couple of beach charts, it should prove to be another winner for the band.
Speaking of The Cure, they are back with "A Fragile Thing". I had balked at adding this for a few weeks, not listening to it despite it scoring at Alternative, largely because I figured Robert Smith, and company had long run its course. Then I heard the song. It reminds me of their classic somber songs, but Smith's voice hasn't changed at all. This has a lot of guts and soul to it, in spite of its slow to mid-tempo. As the song goes on, it grows on you. Thus, it's the band's blog debut.
ALSO: The On and Ons debut with "Roller Coaster", which echos the Classic Rock area with a dash of glam metal; Roxanne Fontana's "Melancholy and You" starting off as a haunting aura with a dash of sitar before settling into into an eclectic alt-rock singer-songwriter vibe; The Kites, on the indie chart with "Comeback Kid", a driving indie thing at that; Blondshell's "T&A" is sort of the same thing, slowed down a bit with a more 90's vibe to it; ROSE and Bruno Mars, entrenched in the Hot 100's top five the last several weeks, starts off with a "Mickey" vibe and is totally pop; ROSE originally being South Korea. By the way, her real name is Roseanne Park. Hmmm, sounds a lot like my hometown! Finally, we have The Head and the Heart with the alt-folk "Arrow", doing well on alternative airplay charts.
Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist
February 2, 2025
|
This Week |
Last Week |
ARTIST-Title |
Weeks on List |
|
1 |
1 |
NUMBER ONE:  Album: Don West (EP) (2 Weeks at #1) |
8 |
|
2 |
2 |
10 |
|
|
3 |
4 |
10 |
|
|
4 |
5 |
17 |
|
|
5 |
3 |
9 |
|
|
6 |
12 |
9 |
|
|
7 |
6 |
21 |
|
|
8 |
8 |
12 |
|
|
9 |
7 |
14 |
|
|
10 |
9 |
12 |
|
|
11 |
13 |
7 |
|
|
12 |
10 |
8 |
|
|
13 |
14 |
11 |
|
|
14 |
11 |
22 |
|
|
15 |
17 |
10 |
|
|
16 |
15 |
13 |
|
|
17 |
24 |
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:  Album: Last Call For Coco (EP) |
10 |
|
18 |
22 |
14 |
|
|
19 |
23 |
9 |
|
|
20 |
16 |
10 |
|
|
21 |
25 |
11 |
|
|
22 |
18 |
14 |
|
|
23 |
27 |
22 |
|
|
24 |
29 |
9 |
|
|
25 |
36 |
MOVER OF THE WEEK:  Album: Got a Story to Tell |
3 |
|
26 |
28 |
9 |
|
|
27 |
32 |
4 |
|
|
28 |
30 |
6 |
|
|
29 |
26 |
20 |
|
|
30 |
35 |
3 |
|
|
31 |
21 |
20 |
|
|
32 |
19 |
12 |
|
|
33 |
37 |
4 |
|
|
34 |
20 |
14 |
|
|
35 |
34 |
9 |
|
|
36 |
41 |
6 |
|
|
37 |
46 |
4 |
|
|
38 |
50 |
3 |
|
|
39 |
51 |
3 |
|
|
40 |
31 |
17 |
|
|
41 |
45 |
9 |
|
|
42 |
39 |
23 |
|
|
43 |
49 |
4 |
|
|
44 |
60 |
2 |
|
|
45 |
66 |
2 |
|
|
46 |
--- |
TOP DEBUT:  Album: is |
1 |
|
47 |
33 |
11 |
|
|
48 |
69 |
2 |
|
|
49 |
55 |
4 |
|
|
50 |
56 |
3 |
|
|
51 |
58 |
3 |
|
|
52 |
38 |
25 |
|
|
53 |
42 |
Sylvia Johns Ritchie -I Don't
Care Who Knows ( I Love My Baby) |
17 |
|
54 |
52 |
5 |
|
|
55 |
59 |
3 |
|
|
56 |
44 |
18 |
|
|
57 |
40 |
15 |
|
|
58 |
43 |
8 |
|
|
59 |
65 |
3 |
|
|
60 |
63 |
4 |
|
|
61 |
57 |
4 |
|
|
62 |
68 |
2 |
|
|
63 |
76 |
2 |
|
|
64 |
62 |
4 |
|
|
65 |
64 |
4 |
|
|
66 |
70 |
3 |
|
|
67 |
72 |
2 |
|
|
68 |
79 |
2 |
|
|
69 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
70 |
54 |
19 |
|
|
71 |
75 |
2 |
|
|
72 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
73 |
77 |
2 |
|
|
74 |
47 |
8 |
|
|
75 |
--- |
The Six Piece Suits ft. Nina
Starsong - Lovers Into Strangers |
1 |
|
76 |
71 |
19 |
|
|
77 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
78 |
48 |
13 |
|
|
79 |
53 |
12 |
|
|
80 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
81 |
67 |
22 |
|
|
82 |
74 |
4 |
|
|
83 |
82 |
3 |
|
|
84 |
89 |
2 |
|
|
85 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
86 |
83 |
2 |
|
|
87 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
88 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
89 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
90 |
61 |
9 |
|
|
91 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
92 |
73 |
21 |
|
|
93 |
78 |
Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night
Sweats - Call Me (Whatever You Like) |
9 |
|
94 |
80 |
16 |
|
|
95 |
81 |
4 |
|
|
96 |
85 |
21 |
|
|
97 |
86 |
21 |
|
|
98 |
84 |
20 |
|
|
99 |
87 |
20 |
|
|
100 |
88 |
19 |
Murmurs:
Guster - When We Were Stars
Einsteins Dad - Black Doves
Fontaines DC - Favorite
One Republic - Sink or Swim
Duran Duran - Evil Woman
The Marias - No One Notices
Jason Aldean - Whiskey Drink
Carly Pearce - truck on fire
Kathleen Turner Overdrive -Best Dog
The Early November - The Sand
Justice - Neverender
Franz Ferdinand - Night or Day
Mumford and Sons - Rushmore
kjband - The Outsider
Barry Walsh - The Sound
Juliet Callahan - Intoxicated
Justice - Neverender
Almost Monday - Can't Slow Down
Sir Prize and the Twomorrow Knightz - Glide to Arrive
Dead Poet Society ft The Warning - Hurt
The Warning - Hell Y0u Call A Dream
Sweet Unrest - How Are You Feeling
Whiskey-Chitto Ramblers - Bender Coming On
Dani Zanoni- Safe Space
Inhaler - Your Hour
The Pozers - What You Do To Me
Phantogram - Come Alive
Tommy James - Where Did Our Love Go/You've Got To Hide Your Love Away
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
|
|
Holiday
Songs
▲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. (Until September 2024)
●Songs garnering 25 plays
on Spotify (“Scrobbles”) according to Last.Fm (effective October 2024)
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 From 41-100 that are moving up the
chart that have not reached the top 40
Scenes
Down and Going: Song formerly in the top 40 that are
descending but still on the SNS 100.
Scenes
Recurrents: Songs which had been in
the top 20 and/or songs on the chart 25 weeks or more, that have dropped off
the SNS 100.
Many thanks Robert! Great to see Rescue Me in the top 30 and The Sound making a Murmur 🙌🇮🇪🎸
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