Rhonda Ties Beach Record; K-Poppers HUNTER/X top Hot 100 (SNS week of 8/10/2025)

 THIS ONE is very late, as my wife and I are feverishly trying to get our packing done for our move in a couple of week.   Thus this is the penultimate blog before my planned hiatus.    This will be very brief.

HOT 100:  "Golden" by Hunter/X knocks Alex Warren's "Ordinary" out of the top 10 after a nine-week run at the top.   "Golden", like "Ordinary" rose to the #1 spot the traditional way, gradually increasing position, gaining the summit in its seventh week.  We do have a debut at #3, that being Chappell Roan's follow-up to "Pink Pony Club", "Subway".    It's also my Top Debut this week at #75.   Relatively new songs are gradually permeating the top 10, with the only long-runners being "A Bar Song" at #10 (69 weeks) and  the granddaddy of them all, "Lose Control", still at #9 in week 103 on the chart.

Carolina Beach Music singer Rhonda McDaniel gains her second SNS #1.  It's the eighth number one for a beach music song in 2025, tying a record.

SNS 100: Meanwhile on SNS, Rhonda McDaniel's "Sad Girl" moves 2-1 becoming the eighth blog topper in the Carolina beach music genre this year.   That ties the record set two years ago.    Beach music has come on strong this year with some great releases.   Not that last year was any slouch; that genre accounted for more than a quarter of the top 100 songs of 2024, it's just that only three of them made it to the top.     This year, the releases have been exceptional.   Three other releases are moving up in the top 10, giving it a chance to break the record.   Steve Cheek's "Beach Walkin'" (4-3), The Tams' "My True Love" (10-7), and Rivermist's "Lady of the Island" (14-10) could be the ones to do it.

"Sad Girl" is Ms. McDaniel's second SNS #1; three years ago, she topped the chart with "The Thing About You" as featured vocalist with the Carolina Coast Band.   The song ends the four week run of "No Rain, No Flowers", the tenth number one from The Black Keys.  Aside from Rivermist, Jalen Ngonda's "Just As Long As We're Together" moves into the top 10 (13-9).  

Three new top 20 entries, topped by the Impact winner, "My Mama (She Was Right)" by The Jay Vons,  the quartet's follow-up to their recent #1, "Days Undone".    The song moves 30-17.   Starbuck gains yet another in that realm as "Ocean Drive Nights" advances 21-19.   Finally My Morning Jacket's "Everyday Magic", their follow-up to their #1 "Time Waited", gains four notches to #20.

Last week's Top Debut, "HER" by Bradley Denniston is this week's Mover (70-47).

DEBUTS, BRIEFLY:  As mentioned above, "Subway" by Chappell Roan grabs the Top Debut this week at #75.  This artist is gradually growing on me.  I was late to the party on "Pink Pony Club", which still has a shot here, but this heartfelt ballad really showcases this artist.    Songs like these have been rare on the top of the charts the last decade or so, so this is really good to see.

Getting back to the Strand, we have Angela Resignalo's "Carolina Kiss" entering at #81.   Ms. Resignalo was formerly with the classic beach group The Catalinas, whose cover of "Working On a Groovy Thing" reached my chart in 2021.   Angela's voice is very sweet and blends right in with the production.   It's very, well, Carolina.   A steady pace and production ensure this one to be a hint.    Angela was also part of the "Carolina Queens" who recorded their charity cover of "It's In His Kiss" two years ago.

Bruce Blackman is right back to follow "Ocean Drive Nights" with the very bouncy "Jim's Cafe", entering at #83, credited once again to Starbuck.    Bruce is definitely having a good time talking and singing about his "65 Chevy".     Bruce originally released this in 2014, but with his recent hot streak here and on several beach charts, it's a great time to revisit this.   The song is included on Starbuck's new album Starbuck's Beach Radio Hits, which includes his classic "Moonlight Feels Right" as well as all his recent triumphs on both the beach music and SNS charts, including "You're the Reason" which launched a new phase in his seven decades of music.

Say She She returns with "Under the Sun", which I think is better than the song it was released with it, the mid-charting "Cut & Rewind".    A lot more dreamy and the harmonies are excellent.   The sound gets better with each listen.    They have many great songs but have avoided sounding the same on every song.    It should return them to the top 20.  

It's been a while since we had an effort from Tame Impala as a lead artist, but they finally return with the (soon to be appropriate) "End of Summer".    This one has a driving, thumping, hypnotic beat.  As is their forte, this is drawn out to seven minutes with an instrumental break more than halfway through.  The sound and beat never gives up.    Perhaps not their best, but certainly a solid effort that should improve with multiple listens.

Next is the latest from Portugal. The Man, assisted by Lucius with "Silver Spoons".  Beginning with an intro that sounds like a cross between "Gimme Some Lovin'" and "My Sharona", this one is a good blend of both bands on here.    This is just as much Lucius as it is P.TM.    A bit dreamy and could click.  

Finally it's off to Galway, Ireland for pMAD's latest, "Celestial".  It follows the recent "Chance".  pMad, who is Paul Dillon teams up with the outfit Lunar Paths.   Perhaps not surprisingly, this has sort of a U2 vibe mixed in with 80's-style synth-pop.    This is one big jam going on here and is a very strong effort.

FINALLY, as mentioned above, this is my next to last blog before I take a few weeks off to move, and to get set up in my new home.   Next week I will combine the weeks of August 17 and 24, and it will be my 15th anniversary of my first Scenes 'n' Soundwaves blog.     When I return in September, I will have the winner of the 2025 "Song of the Summer" contest.

Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist

August 10, 2025

This Week	Last Week	ARTIST-Title	Weeks on List
1	2	NUMBER ONE: RHONDA MCDANIEL "Sad Girl" Album: Reaching For the Top	9
2	1	The Black Keys - No Rain, No Flowers	9
3	4	Steve Cheek - Beach Walkin'	10
4	5	Thee Sacred Souls - We Don't Have To Be Alone	8
5	3	Suki Waterhouse - Dream Woman	11
6	7	Anna Lavigne - Night Dreams	7
7	10	The Tams - My True Love	6
8	8	The Streetwalkin' Cheetahs - Long Haul	12
9	13	Jalen Ngonda - Just As Long As We're Together	7
10	14	Rivermist - Lady of the Island	9
11	9	Jade Bird - Dreams	12
12	12	Fitz and the Tantrums - Man on the Moon	10
13	16	Barry Walsh - Suddenly June	10
14	6	Pepper Creek - Salty Southern Saturday Night	13
15	11	The Tonez and Sylvia Johns Ritchie - Ladies Man	11
16	20	Juliet Callahan - Running Lights	6
17	30	TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK: THE JAY VONS "My Mama (She Was Right)" Album: The Word	3
18	19	Lainey Wilson - Somewhere Over Laredo	8
19	21	Starbuck - Ocean Drive Nights	7
20	24	My Morning Jacket - Everyday Magic	7
21	15	Jerry Powell - Dance With Me	15
22	18	Rick Strickland and Lesa Hudson - All Because Of You	14
23	28	Orbis Max-  Nowhereland	7
24	17	The Black Keys - Babygirl	9
25	22	Deb Browning - Does Your Baby Got Your Back●	15
26	26	Alex Warren - Ordinary	14
27	37	Nadia Shutkofski - Slow It Down	8
28	42	Real Estate - Pink Sky	4
29	44	Arctic Monkeys - 505	3
30	36	Too Much Sylvia - A Jukebox Playin' 45's	11
31	25	The Jay Vons - Days Undone●	19
32	40	Chappell Roan - Pink Pony Club	11
33	23	The Cure- A Fragile Thing●	25
34	27	The Mac Daddy's Band - Seaside in the Sand	17
35	38	Michael Nau - No Quit▲	20
36	35	Starbuck - Who's Gonna' Love You	14
37	45	Sabrina Carpenter - Manchild	7
38	48	The Pozers - Ease Off My Heart	5
39	46	Lola Young - One Thing	6
40	47	Morgan Wallen ft Tate McRae - What I Want	8
41	33	Ashley Clark and Matthew Simon Clark - Liberty●	20
42	32	Moon Soul - Don't Change	12
43	49	Ruth Morayniss - Easy Does It	6
44	29	Almost Monday - Jupiter	11
45	50	KALEO -Bloodline	6
46	31	Kelly Clarkson - Where Have You Been	12
47	70	MOVER OF THE WEEK: BRADLEY DENNISTON "HER" (Single Release)	2
48	39	Claire Davis - Thrive	14
49	55	The Tonez - This Love Is Real	5
50	34	Wet Leg - Catch These Fists	13
51	43	The Tonez - Flip Flops	19
52	53	Lana Del Rey - Bluebird	8
53	56	Royel Otis - Moody	10
54	57	Wednesday  - Elderberry Wine	6
55	59	SOMBR - Back to Friends	5
56	41	Say She She - Cut and Rewind	7
57	62	Tennis - At the Wedding	4
58	73	Role Model - Sally When the Wine Runs Out	3
59	61	MT Jones - Punching	6
60	65	Lord Huron - Nothing I Need	8
61	75	Orbis Max and Tim Izzard - Further Down the Line	3
62	67	Whiskey-Chitto Ramblers - Truth Is	4
63	60	Deb Browning and Michael Fite - I Never Wanted To	22
64	54	Wilder Woods ft. Nick Waterhouse - Time On My Hands	16
65	87	Balu Brigada - What Do We Ever Really Know	2
66	72	Polyanna - Gravedigger	5
67	63	SadGirl - Santeria	8
68	77	Hannah Jadagu - My Love	4
69	79	Sonny Russell and Cannonball Joe - Carolina Sunshine Is Calling Me	4
70	80	Moon Soul - Call	3
71	51	Sports Team - Bang Bang Bang	12
72	52	Lorde - What Was That	11
73	64	Easha - Stunning	6
74	78	Psychic Air - Phase Disintegrate	6
75	---	TOP DEBUT: CHAPPELL ROAN "The Subway" (Single Release)	1
76	85	Turnstile - Never Enough	2
77	58	Bartees Strange - Sober	9
78	84	Djo - Basic Being Basic	3
79	89	Kathleen Turner Overdrive - Love At the End of the Line	2
80	69	Bush - 60 Ways to Forget People	12
81	---	Angela Resignalo - Carolina Kiss	1
82	86	Northern Tracks - Moving Towards	3
83	---	Starbuck - Jim's Café	1
84	68	Ruth Morayniss. - Any Day Now	20
85	76	Einsteins Dad ft. Ruth Moranyiss - Black Doves●	24
86	95	Wayne Free - I Love Kissin' You	2
87	66	The Beaches - Did I Say Too Much	9
88	71	The Kooks - Never Know	19
89	---	Say She She - Under the Sun	1
90	74	Ed Sheeran - Azizam	14
91	---	Tame Impala - End of Summer	1
92	83	The Beths - Metal	9
93	81	Jackie Gore and Terri Gore - Unforgettable	15
94	---	Portugal. The Man and Lucius - Silver Spoons	1
95	---	pMad - Celestial	1
96	82	Miley Cyrus - End of the World	14
97	97	Evanescence - Afterlife	11
98	90	The Black Keys - The Night Before●	22
99	98	Mumford and Sons - Caroline	3
100	100	Billie Eilish - Wildflower	21

  

Tremors:

101. Grace Bowers and the Hodge Podge - Going to California

 

Tremors: Songs which have steady or increasing points but not enough to chart on the SNS 100.

Murmurs:

 

Margo Price - Don't Let the Bastards Get You Down

David F.Porfirio - The Things I See

The Cynz - Can't Help Thinking About Me

Wolf Alice - Bloom Baby Bloom

Dropkick Murphys - Who's Stand With Us

Bleachers - Modern Girl

Orbis Max - Used To Be

Carla Geneve - Better Believe It

Flock  of Dimes - Long After Midnight

Ruth Morayniss - All I Need

Ariel Pink - With You Every Night

Monica D. Murphy - Thank You

Neko Case - Winchester Mansion of Sound

Barry Duke and Sharon Woodruff - Sometimes  Love Is Not Enough

HUNTER/X - Golden

Los Straitjackets - Spinout

Lissie - America

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

 

●Songs garnering 25 plays on Spotify (“Scrobbles”) according to Last.Fm (effective October 2024)  ▲ Songs garnering 50 plays.

 

 

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.