"Dance With Me" Nabs SNS "Song of the Summer" (SNS week of 9/28/2025)

 This one is a bit late, so I will wait a week to comment on Bad Bunny being named the halftime performer at the upcoming Super Bowl which has solicited all kinds of reactions.   So, this time it will be about my annual Song of the Summer contest.

Yes, I know it's October 5th as I write this, but having been here in South Carolina for a month (where does the time go?), we still haven't felt the onslaught of fall yet.    A couple weeks ago, we had three days of temperatures in the 90's, and it's been mostly upper 70's and 80's since then.  As I do every year, I list my 20 biggest songs of the summer gone by.    Because I missed a couple of weeks on the move down here, I extended the qualifying period by a week, which ended with the September 21 chart.   And technically, that was the last day of summer anyway, so why not?

Jerry Powell's "Dance With Me" is Scenes 'n' Soundwaves "Song of the Summer" for 2025.

This past week, I posted a video montage, counting down the 20 songs in question.   The rankings are based solely on my SNS chart performances between May 11, and the aforementioned September 21.  It was a close race, but it was Jerry Powell's "Dance With Me", edging out The Black Keys' "No Rain, No Flowers".   This is Jerry's third time on the top 20 summer list; his "One More Summer Night" landed at #7 on the Summer 2023 list; "Merry-Go-Round" was #9 on the 2022 tally. 

As for The Black Keys, who are touring in support of the duo's new No Rain, No Flowers album, the title track, landing at #2, prevented them from a third honor: "Tighten Up" was the first winner back in 2010; "Fever" grabbed the prize in 2014.

Pepper Creek, who I just caught a glimpse of performing as my wife and I had lunch at the Dirty Armadillo pub on the NC/SC border (and they are a hard-rocking blues band, a far cry from their beach-oriented tracks they've released, at least from the songs I heard), took the third position, with "Salty Summer Saturday Night".  The Jay Vons, currently #1 for a third week with "My Mama (She Was Right)", landed at #4 with their prior "Days Undone", while Deb Browning, who scored top summer song in two out of the last three years, had another strong bid here with "Does Your Baby Got Your Back" coming in at #5.   

Alex Warren's "Ordinary", which was Billboard's "Song of the Summer" this year, came in at #13 on my list; it was the only song in the top 20 that made the Hot 100.

Here is the top 20 SNS "Songs of the Summer" for 2025.

Here it is in video montage form:

Finally, here is a list of "Songs of the Summer" from 2010 to 2025.

2010: The Black Keys, "Tighten Up"
2011: Rachel Allyn, "Say Hello to Goodbye"
2012: The Shins, "The Rifle's Spiral"
2013: Paul Czekaj, "At the Beach"
2014: The Black Keys, "Fever"
2015: Ed Sheeran, "Thinking Out Loud"
2016: Red Hot Chili Peppers, "Dark Necessities"
2017: Miley Cyrus, "Malibu"
2018: Neko Case, "Bad Luck"
2019: Lil Peek & ILoveMakonnen featuring Fall Out Boy, "I've Been Waiting"  

2020: Pepper featuring Collie Buddz, "Change"               

2021; ScreenAge, "Think Again"                                             

2022: Deb Browning, “3 More Minutes”                   

2023:Orbis Max with Lisa Mychols and Ed Ryan, “R U OK”

2024: Deb Browning and Marlisa Kay Small, “Sunshine and Summertime”

2025: Jerry Powell, “Dance With Me”

HOT 100:  It's more of the same this week as HUNTR/X's "Golden" (6th week at #1), and the aforementioned "Ordinary" still running 1-2.  K-Poppers Saja Boys are at #3 with "Soda Pop".  "Lose Control" moves up to #7 (it was 9 last week, and 11 the week before), is now in week 110.   And "Die With a Smile" moves back in the top 10 in week 58.  I guess the good news is that, except for those two, and "Ordinary" (week 33), the rest of the songs have been there for less than twenty weeks.

But the big question is, with Taylor Swift's latest album, The Life of a Showgirl, having just dropped, and her prior album's songs having swept the top 14 spots on the Hot 100, will the tracks from this album do the same, effectively "cleaning house"?    And after a few weeks, will "Lose Control" move back on the chart?   I guess those questions will be answered in the upcoming weeks.

SNS 100: As mentioned earlier, The Jay Vons' "My Mama (She Was Right)" tops my list for a third consecutive week.  The track was originally released in 2019...ten years after the song at #2 was dropped:  That would be "505" by Arctic Monkeys.  The Tams' "My True Love" drops to #3 after a week in the runner-up spot, while "No Rain, No Flowers", a former number one, inches back up a notch for the fourth straight week, to #4.   But the song to watch is "Pretty Lady" by North Tower, which moves 12-5.   The song is top three on two beach music charts already.  New Jersey's Real Estate is the other new top ten entry as "Pink Sky" inches 11-10.  

Two new songs in the top 20.   MT Jones nabs the Impact award as "Why I Cry" moves 39-19, while Canadian singer-songwriter Ruth Morayniss' "All I Need" advances 28-20. 

THRICE AS NICE:  This week we have THREE Movers of the Week, all from the beach genre, as all three gain the same number of points.   Pepper Creek's "Carolina Tans" leads the rally in a 46-29 move; Rhonda McDaniel's "Little Black Dress" and Jennifer James' "Carolina's Home" are at 61 and 62, respectively.  

DEBUTS: A bunch of new entries this week, including two by bands that emerged in the 1960's, one very well known, and a "one-hit wonder" that had a #1 song in 1967.

But first, we will start with the latest by beach outfit The Six Piece Suits, and their new one, "He Doesn't Have a Clue".    Rhythmic and emotional, with excellent soulful vocals by Kyle Hooks, and the harmonies in selective portions of chorus are outstanding.   A plea to win back the girl he once had but who's falling into the "wrong hands".  Catchy chorus, in fact the whole song is, and should be another winner for the sextet.  It debuts at #72.

We head up to Canada for the latest from The Beaches, "Can I Call You in the Morning?".   Has it been a year since the Canadian quartet twin hit with "Blame Brett" and their blog monster "Takes One to Know One"?      The band's indie punk/garage roots are intact; the song doesn't take long to get going.   This one is better than their last few releases and is already charting on Canada's alternative lists.  Has a chance here, with a #84 entry. 

Philly indie rockers Mt. Joy debut with "Lucy", sort of a sentimental, but moving song, that sort of resembles, in a way, The Cure.   Matt Quinn's vocals are attention-grabbing, and this improves with each listen.   Next, we have country singer Scotty McCreery, once an American Idol winner but a steady fixture on the country charts since. "Bottle Rockets" gets on my good side immediately with references to the "Carolina Coast".   It's a look back to the "good old days", and that includes Hootie and the Blowfish, who help him out in the chorus with the band's big hit, "Hold My Hand".    Any chance that's a sample from back in the day is quashed when Darius Rucker does a bit of improvision during the chorus. 

Next, we have The Rolling Stones, still around, and working on a new album.  Well, actually, it's a newly remixed version of their 1976 album Black and Blue, but it includes songs that were outtakes for that album, thus not includedat the time.  One of them is "Shame, Shame, Shame", which was a disco hit for Shirley and Company in late 1974.   The Stones had originally covered it for Black and Blue and have released a new version of it as the lead single.  Mick Jagger sounds like he's having a blast doing this. 

Anybody remember "Incense and Peppermints', a #1 song by the psychedelic band The Strawberry Alarm Clock?   Well, apparently, they're back---I don't know how many original members there are, but they debut with "Monsters".    The band actually had a few minor hits after "Incense", and Ed King--later with Lynyrd Skynyrd--was a member.    The sound does echo their 60's period, and it's obvious that this was released for Halloween.   The song does have an eerie feeling to it, and it would be excellent for a Halloween playlist.    That reference aside, it's a pretty good song.    It should do better than the latest by another reconstituted band, The Swingin' Medallions, which is scoring on the beach charts but only "bubbled under" here.  

Also debuting are a couple of bands that we hadn't heard from in a while.  Sublime recently topped the alternative chart with "Ensenada", a ska-flavored song that echos their hit "Santeria", and Good Charlotte returns after a several years absence with "Rejects".  Their emo-flavored alternative rock is still intact with a heavy slant to it. 

Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist

September 28, 2025

This Week	Last Week	ARTIST-Title	Weeks on List
1	1	NUMBER ONE: THE JAY VONS "My Mama (She Was Right)" Album: The Word (3 weeks at #1)	8
2	4	Arctic Monkeys - 505	8
3	2	The Tams - My True Love	11
4	5	The Black Keys - No Rain, No Flowers●	14
5	12	North Tower - Pretty Lady	4
6	3	Steve Cheek - Beach Walkin'	15
7	10	Role Model - Sally When the Wine Runs Out	8
8	7	Rhonda McDaniel - Sad Girl	14
9	6	Barry Walsh - Suddenly June	15
10	11	Real Estate - Pink Sky	9
11	14	Bradley Denniston - HER	7
12	15	Chappell Roan - The Subway	6
13	8	Anna Lavigne - Night Dreams	12
14	9	Rivermist - Lady of the Island	14
15	19	Balu Brigada - What Do We Ever Really Know	7
16	17	Nadia Shutkofski - Slow It Down	13
17	13	Thee Sacred Souls - We Don't Have To Be Alone	13
18	20	Too Much Sylvia - A Jukebox Playin' 45's	16
19	39	TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK: MT JONES "Why I Cry" (Single Release)	3
20	28	Ruth Morayniss - All I Need	5
21	26	The Tonez - This Love Is Real	10
22	18	The Tonez and Sylvia Johns Ritchie - Ladies Man	16
23	21	Alex Warren - Ordinary	19
24	24	Sabrina Carpenter - Manchild	12
25	27	Angela Resignalo - Carolina Kiss	6
26	16	Jalen Ngonda - Just As Long As We're Together	12
27	29	SOMBR - Back to Friends	10
28	34	Say She She - Under the Sun	6
29	46	CO-MOVER OF THE WEEK: PEPPER CREEK "Carolina Tans" (Single Release)	3
30	36	Starbuck - Jim's Café	6
31	31	Jerry Powell - Dance With Me●	20
32	32	Orbis Max and Tim Izzard - Further Down the Line	8
33	22	The Pozers - Ease Off My Heart	10
34	37	Turnstile - Never Enough	7
35	23	Fitz and the Tantrums - Man on the Moon	15
36	50	HUNTR/X - Golden	5
37	38	Whiskey-Chitto Ramblers - Truth Is	9
38	43	Moon Soul - Call	8
39	45	The Cynz -Can't Help Thinking About Me	5
40	44	Sonny Russell and Cannonball Joe - Carolina Sunshine Is Calling Me	9
41	41	Royel Otis - Moody	15
42	25	Juliet Callahan - Running Lights	11
43	42	Chappell Roan - Pink Pony Club	16
44	51	Kathleen Turner Overdrive - Love At the End of the Line	7
45	30	My Morning Jacket - Everyday Magic	12
46	52	Los Staitjackets - Spinout	5
47	33	Suki Waterhouse - Dream Woman	16
48	35	The Streetwalkin' Cheetahs - Long Haul	17
49	49	Ruth Morayniss - Easy Does It	11
50	57	Barry Duke and Sharon Woodruff - Sometimes Love Is Not Enough	4
51	59	David F. Porfirio - The Things I See	4
52	40	Pepper Creek - Salty Southern Saturday Night	18
53	60	St. Paul and the Broken Bones - Sushi and Coca-Cola	4
54	65	Florence + the Machine - Everybody Scream	3
55	47	Wednesday  - Elderberry Wine	11
56	61	Craig Woodlard - Pretty Women Everywhere	5
57	56	Tame Impala - End of Summer	6
58	48	Starbuck - Ocean Drive Nights	12
59	68	Margo Price - Don't Let the Bastards Get You Down	4
60	63	Wayne Free - I Love Kissin' You	7
61	81	CO-MOVER OF THE WEEK RHONDA MCDANIEL "Little Black Dress" Album: Reaching For the Top	2
62	83	CO-MOVER OF THE WEEK: JENNIFER JAMES "Carolina's Home" (Single Release)	2
63	73	Orbis Max - Use To Be	3
64	77	Alabama Shakes - Another Life	3
65	53	Lola Young - One Thing	11
66	54	Lord Huron - Nothing I Need	13
67	58	The Jay Vons - Days Undone●	24
68	70	pMad - Celestial	6
69	74	Carla Geneve - Better Believe It	3
70	55	Rick Strickland and Lesa Hudson - All Because Of You●	19
71	76	Yellowcard - Better Days	4
72	---	TOP DEBUT: THE SIX PIECE SUITS "He Doesn't Have a Clue" (Single Release)	1
73	89	The Temper Trap - Lucky Dimes	2
74	95	Neko Case - Wreck	2
75	62	The Mac Daddy's Band - Seaside in the Sand●	22
76	66	Michael Nau - No Quit▲	25
77	98	The Peppermint Kicks - Little Doll (Picolla Pupa)	2
78	85	Monica D. Murphy - Thank You	2
79	82	All Time Low - The Weather	3
80	94	Flock of Dimes - Long After Midnight	2
81	64	Jade Bird - Dreams	17
82	69	Deb Browning - Does Your Baby Got Your Back●	20
83	71	Kelly Clarkson - Where Have You Been	17
84	---	The Beaches - Can I Call You In the Morning	1
85	---	Mt. Joy - Lucy	1
86	---	Scotty McCreery ft.. Hootie and the Blowfish - Bottle Rockets	1
87	72	Portugal. The Man and Lucius - Silver Spoons	6
88	---	Strawberry Alarm Clock - Monsters	1
89	67	Orbis Max-  Nowhereland	12
90	78	Wolf Alice - Bloom Baby Bloom	5
91	---	The Rolling Stones - Shame, Shame, Shame	1
92	93	Ariel Pink - With You Every Night	5
93	80	Deb Browning and Michael Fite - I Never Wanted To	27
94	87	The Tonez - Flip Flops	24
95	75	Lainey Wilson - Somewhere Over Laredo	13
96	---	Good Charlotte - Rejects	1
97	---	Sublime - Ensenada	1
98	84	Ashley Clark and Matthew Simon Clark - Liberty●	25
99	79	Dropkick Murphys - Who'll Stand With Us	5
100	88	The Black Keys - Babygirl	14

Tremors:

101. Brandi Carlile, Returning to Myself

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

Murmurs:

Orbis Max - If I Still Believe In Love At All

Lissie - America

Jade Bird - Save Your Tears

Ax and the Hatchetmen with Albert Hammond Jr - Blurry Lights

Camp St. Helene - Baby Bird

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.