After pretty much getting exhausted with all the talk about Super Bowl halftime shows, Grammy awards and Hall of Fame nods, and then dealing with all the negativity on my Facebook news feed this past week, I think I am taking a break talking about something musically. The Billboard Hot 100 chart is still stagnant; and unless you're a Kendrick Lamar fan or only interested in Lady Gaga's, Billie Eilish's, Teddy Swims (80th week for "Lose Control"), or Shaboozey's big hits and have NO interest in their other works, then it's not worth even talking about. Contrast this with my SNS 100 this week, which, ironically has some awesome songs moving up the chart and is setting up for a big competition in the weeks to come. The general listening public is missing out, and that's their problem, certainly not mine.
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| David Johansen, originally from glam-punkers New York Dolls, and later a solo career, including years as "Buster Poindexter", died last week at the page of 75 |
We did lose a couple more notable music figures this past week: David Johansen from the glam-punk outfit New York Dolls, and Joey Molland, the last surviving member of the innovative, but tragic and unappreciated power pop quartet Badfinger.
Johansen fronted the trio New York Dolls, which, while established as part of the glam rock era in the early 1970's, along with other outfits such as the MC5 and Velvet Underground, merged that visual subgenre with that of the emerging punk rock scene. While the Dolls didn't have any major mainstream success, they were well respected in the underground scene. The band split in 1976, at which time, Johansen went solo, releasing several albums in the late 1970's and early eighties.
Beginning in 1987, Johansen created his alter-ego Buster Poindexter. In this incarnation, he released several albums through 1997 but is best known for his song "Hot Hot Hot", a party song often heard in weddings and clubs, and spurring conga lines. The song, a cover of a 1982 song by an artist simply known as Arrow, was Johansen/Poindexter's only chart entry, peaking at #45 in 1987. He also, as Poindexter, played the Ghost of Christmas Past in the 1988 movie Scrooged, starting Bill Murray.
Johansen died on February 28 from cancer. He was 75.
Joey Molland was part of the band Badfinger which formed in the early 1960's (as "The Iveys") and charted in 1969 with "Maybe Tomorrow" before rebranding as Badfinger later that year. Signed to Apple records (The Beatles' label), they had four top 20 hits between 1970 and 1972, including "Come and Get It", "No Matter What", "Day After Day" and "Baby Blue". Another song the band had written and recorded, "Without You", became a huge hit for Nilsson in early 1972 as well as for Mariah Carey in 1994. Molland, however, wasn't an original member, but joined right before "Come and Get It" became a hit, thus was the last surviving member from that classic era.
Tragedy had befallen the band when lead singer Pete Ham committed suicide in 1975, becoming part of the "27 Club". Bassist Tom Evans also died by suicide eight years later. Drummer Mike Gibbins died from a brain aneurysm in 2005 at the page of 56.
Molland's first band was Gary Walker and the Rain, Walker a former member of The Walker Brothers, and then joined Badfinger in 1969 as guitarist. He stayed active in recording, and recently toured in an oldies package tour, sometimes as "Joey Molland's Badfinger", most notably and recently the "Happy Together" tour along with The Turtles, Gary Puckett, The Vogues, The Cowsills, and others. His most recent solo album was 2020's Be True To Yourself.
It is not known the cause of death, but Joey Molland was 77 years old.
SNS 100: Thee Sacred Souls' "My Heart is Drowning", the trio's second blog number one, holds that position for a second week. In the chase, however, is Tennis' "Weight of Desire", moving from 5 to 2. The Palms' "Ghost" drops from 2 to 3, while two more big movers--My Morning Jacket's "Time Waited" and Orbis Max's "Follow" move 8-4 and 9-5, respectively. Moon Soul's "Love Again" enters the top 10 in a 16-10 move.
Two songs covered by Kelly Clarkson on her weekday talk show in which was absent from and had guest hosts, were rerun---both hits in my top 20--showing a little resurgence. In back-to-back shows, an encore "Kellyoke" performed Fitz and the Tantrums' "Steppin' On Me" which moves back to #8 from 10, and Leon Bridges' "Laredo" which holds at #11. I love it when stuff like that happens. Sort of a chart vindication of sorts. I'll take it!
In the second ten, The Six Piece Suits featuring Nina Starsong is only able to move up one notch to #12 despite strong gains. The Impact award goes to Starbuck's "Beach Radio" (25-14). The song is already #4 on the Beach Radio Big 20 chart, and up to #15 on Don Mark's Surfside beach music chart. Lainey Wilson's "4X4XU" is the other new top 20 entry (21-18).
Outside the top 20, Sylvia Johns Ritchie's "My Heart Knows You By Heart" is also a big mover (33-21), as well as The Black Keys' "The Night Before" (Mover of the Week, 51-24). Deb Browning and Michael Fite's "I Never Wanted To", last week's Top Debut, moves 48-30. Another big mover is almost monday's "Can't Slow Down" (82-46).
NEWBIES: While "Birds of a Feather" continues to be overplayed, I add Billie Eilish's follow-up, "Wildflower", which is this week's Top Debut at #64. It's a cool, change-of-pace for the innovative songstress. The heartfelt ballad is right up my alley, and this much lauded singer, who for years I "didn't get", should have her third blog top 20 hit here. But it hasn't gone higher than #17 and only sits at #45 this week on the Hot 100.
As far as the other debuts, the local, awesomely talented Dani Zanoni's "Safe Space" debuts at #81. The New Jersey songstress is coming off a top 10 blog hit with "I Know". This is another tender ballad from her awesome 20 Something album. She will be performing as part of the DnA duo at Denville's Diamond Spring Brewery on Friday, March 28. The song debuts at #85.
While "Die With a Smile" continues near the top, it seems that Lady Gaga's follow-ups continue to be ignored. "Abracadabra" (not the Steve Miller Band song), like the previous "Disease" is in up-tempo mode, similar to her early style, and this one even more so. Now that we know how versatile this performer is, it's something we can appreciate.
From Dublin, Ireland comes Inhaler, who debut with "Your House". This is a rather bouncy alt-pop song, and given where they're based, it does have somewhat of a U2 flavor, although the beat is different from that band's usual song style. There's a lot of emotion in this song's delivery.
Meanwhile, Whiskey-Chitto Ramblers, coming off a blog top ten with "Breakdown", follow it up with "Bender Coming On", the first single from the band's new album, Finis Ludas. Seth Storer's vocals are in fine form and are so suited to this alt-country take. Bluesy and in a subgenre that I like to call "roadhouse rock", this should keep their momentum going.
"Ballad of the Outlaw Logan Landacuda" brought guitar virtuoso David F. Portfirio back into the blog top 20, and this time he moves from the old west to halfway around the world. While it's a return to his exotic rhythms, this one relies less on his guitar playing, and more on what sounds like Gregorian chants, punctuated with drums and frequent gongs, and synthesizers. Towards the end, there is a brief guitar riff that echoes that of his blog topper "That Night on Bergenline Avenue". Again, more genius, but perhaps the seven-and-a-half-minute jam might be a bit too much to take at once for some, but as I've said before, Porfirio was born in the wrong era. Had this been released in the seventies, Porfirio would be lauded as a guitar hero.
Also debuting is Sweet Unrest's "How Are You Feeling", sort of an improvising ska-punk concoction that could gain momentum. All-female Mexican band The Warning has two entries: They are featured in Dead Poet Society's "Hurt" as well as their own "Hell You Call a Dream". Both songs are no-holds-barred rock bordering on nu-metal, even; anyone who thinks this is a Mexican version of Canada's The Beaches, are in for a shock. The band appeared a couple weeks ago on the Kelly Clarkson Show.
Re-entering the chart is Jelly Roll's "Liar"; repeated listenings are proving this is a worthy and message song.
Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist
March 2, 2025
|
This Week |
Last Week |
ARTIST-Title |
Weeks on List |
|
1 |
1 |
NUMBER ONE:  Album: Got a Story to Tell (2 Weeks at #1) |
7 |
|
2 |
5 |
4 |
|
|
3 |
2 |
13 |
|
|
4 |
8 |
5 |
|
|
5 |
9 |
4 |
|
|
6 |
3 |
14 |
|
|
7 |
4 |
14 |
|
|
8 |
10 |
11 |
|
|
9 |
6 |
12 |
|
|
10 |
16 |
6 |
|
|
11 |
11 |
12 |
|
|
12 |
13 |
The Six Piece Suits ft. Nina
Starsong - Lovers Into Strangers |
5 |
|
13 |
7 |
16 |
|
|
14 |
25 |
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:  " Beach Radio" (Single Release) |
3 |
|
15 |
12 |
8 |
|
|
16 |
17 |
7 |
|
|
17 |
20 |
6 |
|
|
18 |
21 |
7 |
|
|
19 |
19 |
8 |
|
|
20 |
18 |
14 |
|
|
21 |
33 |
3 |
|
|
22 |
15 |
25 |
|
|
23 |
28 |
7 |
|
|
24 |
51 |
MOVER OF THE WEEK:  THE BLACK KEYS "The Night Before" Album: No Rain, No Flowers |
2 |
|
25 |
36 |
5 |
|
|
26 |
22 |
18 |
|
|
27 |
29 |
8 |
|
|
28 |
27 |
26 |
|
|
29 |
14 |
15 |
|
|
30 |
48 |
Deb Browning and Michael Fite - I Never Wanted To |
2 |
|
31 |
32 |
8 |
|
|
32 |
30 |
6 |
|
|
33 |
38 |
7 |
|
|
34 |
40 |
4 |
|
|
35 |
23 |
13 |
|
|
36 |
24 |
21 |
|
|
37 |
42 |
6 |
|
|
38 |
45 |
5 |
|
|
39 |
26 |
13 |
|
|
40 |
41 |
4 |
|
|
41 |
50 |
6 |
|
|
42 |
56 |
3 |
|
|
43 |
35 |
26 |
|
|
44 |
55 |
4 |
|
|
45 |
49 |
5 |
|
|
46 |
82 |
Almost Monday - Can't Slow Down |
2 |
|
47 |
52 |
6 |
|
|
48 |
31 |
14 |
|
|
49 |
46 |
7 |
|
|
50 |
72 |
Justice ft. Tame Impala - Neverender |
2 |
|
51 |
34 |
18 |
|
|
52 |
37 |
18 |
|
|
53 |
62 |
4 |
|
|
54 |
44 |
17 |
|
|
55 |
66 |
3 |
|
|
56 |
64 |
4 |
|
|
57 |
80 |
Juliet Callahan - Intoxicated (Excuse Me) |
2 |
|
58 |
69 |
3 |
|
|
59 |
39 |
15 |
|
|
60 |
59 |
6 |
|
|
61 |
47 |
10 |
|
|
62 |
68 |
5 |
|
|
63 |
77 |
3 |
|
|
64 |
--- |
TOP DEBUT:  Album: Hit Me Hard and Soft |
1 |
|
65 |
75 |
3 |
|
|
66 |
87 |
Sir Prize and the Twomorrow Knightz - Glide to Arrive |
2 |
|
67 |
74 |
5 |
|
|
68 |
43 |
16 |
|
|
69 |
58 |
8 |
|
|
70 |
63 |
7 |
|
|
71 |
53 |
7 |
|
|
72 |
57 |
24 |
|
|
73 |
79 |
5 |
|
|
74 |
84 |
Barry Walsh - The Sound |
2 |
|
75 |
54 |
6 |
|
|
76 |
60 |
13 |
|
|
77 |
70 |
27 |
|
|
78 |
78 |
5 |
|
|
79 |
86 |
Franz Ferdinand - Night or Day |
2 |
|
80 |
67 |
10 |
|
|
81 |
85 |
3 |
|
|
82 |
83 |
5 |
|
|
83 |
61 |
7 |
|
|
84 |
81 |
6 |
|
|
85 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
86 |
71 |
6 |
|
|
87 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
88 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
89 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
90 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
91 |
76 |
24 |
|
|
92 |
90 |
Mumford and Sons - Rushmere |
2 |
|
93 |
97 |
9 |
|
|
94 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
95 |
65 |
14 |
|
|
96 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
97 |
73 |
8 |
|
|
98 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
99 |
RE ENTRY |
7 |
|
|
100 |
91 |
4 |
Murmurs:
Phantogram - Come Alive
Tommy James - Where Did Our Love Go/You've Got To Hide Your Love Away
Niko Moon - Dance With Me
Ruth E. - Any Day Now
Morgan Wallen - I'm the Problem
Ashley Clark - Liberty
Teddy Swims - Guilty
Kendrick Lamar ft SZA - Luther
The Kooks - Never Know
Alabama Shakes - Until There's Nothing Left
Moon Soul - Don't Change
pMad - Feed
Roxanne Fontana - Card Throwing #2
Lucy Dacus - Ankles
MT Jones - I'd Be Lyring
Clover County - Ultraviolet
Caamp - Let Things Go
Balu Brigata - So Cold
Linkin Park - Heavy Is the Crown
Elton John and brandi Carlile - Who Believes in Angels
Joe P. - Pass Me Your Love
The Weeknd - Cry For Me
Declan McKenna - Champagne
Micheal Nau - Love Survive
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. (Until September 2024)
●Songs garnering 25 plays
on Spotify (“Scrobbles”) according to Last.Fm (effective October 2024) ▲ Songs garnering 50 plays.
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