IT IS NOW DECEMBER as I am writing this, December 5th, actually. By now, everyone who has been streaming on Spotify this year has gotten their "wrapped" report of the type of music they listen to, the most played songs, the key genres.
And their listening age.
Depending on the kind of music they listen to, and what songs from what eras they are fans off, some algorithm has computed your "listening age". For example, if you're into standards or big band music, your age is 90-something. Listening to eighties music will get you in your 40's. But it's more complex beyond that.
My listening age?
17
It says that I listen to mostly new music; of course, one can only look at my weekly Scenes 'n' Soundwaves 100 Playlist chart to figure that out. And while some friends shared a lot of new music around the time I started my blog in 2010, I pretty much stand alone as those friends haven't posted new songs in ages.
Of course, I do listen to older music, just not necessarily on Spotify. I still have my iPod (remember those?) with music going back to the sixties (sometimes even before that), and we play a lot of classic rock on my wife's Alexa app. Some friends even host an Internet radio show playing oldies. But here I am, listening to what's been out there in the past few years, unable to share it with friends (except of course, those who read this blog).
But if you take a closer look at the music I listen to, do I really listen to what a 17-year old listens to? And while it's true that artists like Taylor Swift, Chappell Roan, Olivia Dean, as well as Hot 100 toppers like HUNTR/X and Alex Warren are on my chart and playlist, and probably are listened to extensively by teens, much of my music goes beyond current pop. I am sure that some teens still listen to alternative rock and pop, and maybe some delve into indie. But the "trends" on my charts that include retro-soul and Carolina beach music, are sounds that go back decades, and are most likely listened to by people my age who are accepting of new music. And, no offense, many of the bands I listen to live at gigs are not exactly spring chickens; but new music is new music, regardless of who is putting it out. And if the sounds are more throwbacks rather than some invention of new genres, then why can't it appeal to people like me.
Vintage music, be it oldies, classic rock or anything else, brings back memories of a point in time as to where you were, what you were doing. But you are still living, and more current music will bring you to those more recent times. And heck, the music reminds you of certain people, who probably aren't even aware of the songs themselves.
I have threatened, from time to time to end my blog, not listen to anything new, and put a cap on the memories, up to the last year I was listening to new music. But somehow, I just keep on going and going.
So, let's take a look and what else Spotify Wrapped says:
Genres: I listened to 171 genres. First of all, I can't believe that 171 genres actually exist, much less me listening to all of them. But the top five are:
1. Indie Rock
2. Retro Soul
3. Alternative Pop
4. Beach Music
5. Rock
Okay, that is pretty much accurate, although there should be some country in there, too. And as I think I pointed out a couple years ago, beach music probably should be higher than #4 except that much of it isn't available to stream, at least initially.
 |
| The Jay Vons were my most listened to artist in 2025. |
Most Listened To: Although "wrapped" lists only the top 5, it does make a playlist of my 100 songs with most frequently listed. I will list my top 20 here. Keep in mind that this isn't my "official" Top 100 of the year, which will be announced a few weeks from now:
1. The Jay Vons, "Days Undone"
2. Michael Dau, "No Quit"
3. The Black Keys, "No Rain, No Flowers"
4. The Black Keys, "The Night Before"
5. Thee Sacred Souls, "My Heart Is Drowning"
6. Jerry Powell, "Dance With Me"
7. Ashley Clark, "Liberty"
8. Pepper Creek, "Salty Southern Saturday Night"
9. The Jay Vons, "My Mama (She Was Right)"
10. My Morning Jacket, "Time Waited"
11. The Mac Daddy's Band, "Seaside in the Sand"
12. Deb Browning, "Does Your Baby Got Your Back"
13. Steve Cheek, "Beach Walkin'"
14. Tennis, "Weight of Desire"
15. Rick Strickland and Lesa Hudson, "All Because of You"
16. The Tams, "My True Love"
17. Thee Sacred Souls, "We Don't Have To Be Alone"
18. The Cure, "A Fragile Thing"
19. Einsteins Dad ft. Ruth Morayniss, "Black Doves"
20. Don West, "Small Change"
While all of these songs charted very well on the SNS 100, some of my hits were much lower on the list. For example, "I Never Wanted To", by Deb Browning and Michael Fite, was further down at #61, and "Pretty Lady" by North Tower, which ties the number one longevity record this week (see below) was only #64. In the case of the latter, it did come out late in the year, thus probably not being able to rack up listens at that point. However, it should be interesting to compare this list with my actual top 100 which will publish after my final weekly blog, scheduled for December 21.
Top Album: These days, I've been more of a "singles" listener rather than whole album, with the exception of local, emerging artists. Hence, according to Spotify, I listened to one album, that being The Word by The Jay Vons, which, if you like retro pop, sixties style, I recommend that one to you. With two blog number ones on it, plus another in the Top 10 this week, it's awesome, with more tracks to be heard.
Top Artists: The Jay Vons capture the top here as well. The album was released back in 2019, but introduced to me this year. The quartet's roots include my home state of New Jersey, but they haven't released anything since; thus wonder if they're still together. I hope so!
1. The Jay Vons
2. The Black Keys
3. Thee Sacred Souls
4. Starbuck
5. Pepper Creek
HOT 100: Okay, let's get back to business here. It's more of the same on the big chart this week, with the top four the same the last few weeks. I am blue in the face trying to understand why the same songs are there week after week. But Taylor Swift is at #1 for an 8th week with "The Fate of Ophelia" (tying a personal best), HUNTR/X at #2 with "Golden" and "Ordinary" by Alex Warren #3. Any of these three songs have been #1 the last 24 weeks, and 26 of the last 27! Millions of artists are waiting to be heard, and this is all that's popular? Don't get me started. Olivia Dean is still #4 with "Man I Need".
And in the "fight fire with fire" category, four Christmas songs (again, the same four that topped the charts last Christmas), occupy positions 5 to 8. Led again by Mariah Carey, "All I Want For Christmas Is You (8-5), Wham!'s "Last Christmas" (11-6), Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" (13-7) and Bobby Helms' "Jingle Bell Rock" (14-8). It's essentially the top four from last year, with "Last Christmas" moving up to the runner-up spot thus far. Mariah is actually ahead of last year, as her song was ranked at #10 last year. On the downside, that week was when Kendrick Lamar had an album bomb with the top 10, thus Mariah would normally have ranked #3. It seems that the top songs this week are hanging tough, so it'll be interesting if and when the holiday entries crack the top spots. There are four possible weeks left in the holiday chart season. Last year, "All I Want" vaulted to #1 and held it throughout the four weeks. Can Mariah do it next week? She is one short of tying, and two short of breaking the record for most weeks at the top of the chart, so it's still possible to break the record this year.
Ariana Grande's "Santa Tell Me" is in the next group leading that pack at #13. It finished at 5 last year. Holiday songs are in succession at positions 17 through 25. A few more re-entries, including Frank Sinatra's "Jingle Bells", and Bing Crosby's "White Christmas". Perry Como, Chuck Berry, Gene Autry, Nat "King" Cole's "Deck The Halls" Eartha Kitt, and Elvis Presley also re-enter. Again, all have been here before, nothing new on the chart for the first time. There's a lot of great stuff. I am scratching my head wondering why "Christmas Tree Farm" isn't on there. People can listen to Taylor Swift's songs ad infinitum, but they can't get into her holiday entry? I really question people's buying, streaming and listening habits.
VERY 'PRETTY': While we are waiting to see whether Mariah Carey can break the #1 weeks record on the Hot 100, we have the corresponding record on my blog chart tied this week. North Tower's "Pretty Lady" logs an eighth week at the top of the SNS 100, tying a record set by The Black Keys' "Fever" which also led for eight weeks back in 2014. The song is at #1 on SIX beach-oriented charts this week, and #2 on a couple others. I don't think I've seen that much of a chart blitz since I've followed these charts closely in the past few years. NEWS FLASH...as I'm writing this, it just landed at #1 on a SEVENTH chart. I've never seen anything like it. Congrats to North Tower!
"Pretty Lady" holds off "Getaway Car" by Deb Browning and Michael Fite, which spends a third week at #2, but the gap is getting closed. It'll be interesting next week to see if North Tower can break the record, or whether Deb and Michael can finally capture the top spot. Last week, when discussing other songs that had a seven-week run at #1, I inadvertently omitted "Out of My League" by Fitz and the Tantrums which also held sway for seven weeks in 2013.
Moving 7-3 is the latest by Scotland's Anna Lavigne with "Dark Angel", while Alice Merton's "Ignorance Is Bliss" moves from 6 to 4. The Six Piece Suits' "He Doesn't Have A Clue" drops a notch from 4 to 5. Three new entries in the top 10 this week as Durand Jones and the Indications' "Don't You Know" (11-7), Rhonda McDaniel's "Little Black Dress" (12-9) and The Black Keys' "Man On a Mission" (14-10) enter the region.
Two new Top 20 entries include the Impact winner, "Lost" by Almost Monday, and "Every Road" by Rick Strickland and Lesa Hudson. Last week's Top Debut, "Our Christmas" by Sir Prize and the Twomorrow Knightz is this week's Mover of the Week (82-54).
CHRISTMAS NEWBIES: All of the new entries are of the holiday variety as I put the regular releases on hold, probably until the end of the year. Last week I mentioned that "Our Christmas" by Sir Prize drew some misty-eyed responses from me because it was about losing a partner after spending years together and its impact on the holidays. Well, we have another similar themed one as the Top Debut, and sadly, this one has a bit of irony to it.
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| Actress Diane Keaton, who passed away last month, had cut a song, 'First Christmas' last year. It becomes the Top Debut this week. |
"First Christmas" leads the debuts at #74, by Diane Keaton. Yes, that Diane Keaton, the actress, who recently passed. She recorded this song, I believe for her family last year, and probably due to her passing, many Adult Contemporary stations added the song this year. Once again, the song is about losing a loved one and having to spend the holiday season without them for the first time. So, it's ironic that it's Ms. Keaton who has departed us. This past week, I saw, for the first time, the 2005 movie The Family Stone, in which she plays the matriarch of the title family, who was battling cancer, and at the end of the movie, one year later, she has passed. If "Our Christmas" hit me hard, "First Christmas" invoked some tears. A listen to this sentimental song will make you appreciate what you have, and cherish your life and those you love. It's not unusual for those in the acting profession to cut a holiday song; in recent years, Kate Hudson and Kristin Chenoweth have cut Christmas songs. Rest in peace, Diane.
Next is a spiritual Christmas song, "It Wasn't Really Christmas, Until You", as sung by beach music singer Marlisa Kay Small. The song, written by Sylvia Johns Ritchie, produced by J.K.Loftin, and which appeared on Ms. Ritchie's holiday album released last year, is a slow ballad, but a touching one. The "You" in the song refers to Jesus Christ, thus without Him, there would be no Christmas. It tackles the real meaning of the holiday. Without Christ, the song goes on to mention that all of the staples associated with the holiday, both religious and most likely secular, would not exist. Ms. Small is the consummate vocalist; I just wish we heard more from her. It's her first release since teaming up with her singing partner Deb Browning, last year for "Sunshine and Summertime", my #1 song of 2024. You can catch her, along with Deb and Sylvia twice in the next week. Tonight, as I write this, they will be at the OD Church of the Lost and Found in North Myrtle Beach. Next Friday, the three of them will perform at the Restoration Church in Longs, SC.
Remember The Hounds of Winter, the studio contingent led by Tom Corea which released many albums of Christmas classics (as well as many "obscure" ones)? Well, they are back, with their first EP of holiday tunes in eight years. The EP is Almost Christmas with five tracks. As with their previous work, the covers are of popular songs ("Last Christmas", "Wonderful Christmastime") and less well-known ones. I'm not sure if there are any originals here, but the song I picked out, "Snowman", enters at #90. While many people have sat in with the Hounds over the years, the core group has been Corea, Steve Roman, Mario Licata, and Tom DiPaolo, with an occasional appearance by Sarah (Jean) Teti. This go-round, however, features Corea (drums), Roman (vocals), Licata (bass) and Teti (vocals), joined by Mike Leonard on guitar. The song I picked, "Snowman" has vocals by Sarah. Her vocals were previously featured on the Hounds' cover of Joni Mitchell's "River". Rather a cool, sentimental assurance that you have a friend in the "snowman". As you may remember, Corea, Roman and Licata were incidental members of the Internet contingent Einsteins Dad; Mario Licata is still a member, while Corea was replaced by Daniele Silvestri, and Steve Roman by a series of guest vocalists, most notably Ruth Morayniss.
Next is the holiday offering by Starbuck, featuring Bruce Blackman, "I'll Be There To Take You Home", entering at #93. Not expressly a Christmas song (the holiday isn't mentioned), but the implication is that a loved one, who has been away for a while; the singer offers them to return home where "everything will be okay". In a way it's along the lines of "Celebrate Me Home" by Kenny Loggins, another song heard this time of year . Blackman recorded the song over ten years ago but decided this would make a good seasonal entry. The tender ballad is perfect for the holiday season.
Kesha is back, covering "Holiday Road", originally done by Lindsay Buckingham and featured on most of the Vacation movies. With a slow intro, the song revs up and then moves along at the pace of the original. Once the song gets going, Kesha's vocals get aggressive. A nice, fresh take on the classic song. She goes off the beaten path for a bit with some random vocals but quickly returns. I've heard various versions of the song this time of year, but ironically the movie we see this time of year, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, is the only one in the franchise that doesn't feature the song. That would be "Christmas Vacation" as sung by Mavis Staples. I don't understand why we never hear THAT song, especially since Ms. Staples recently had a Triple-A hit. Some things in this business just don't make sense!
Three other holiday entries are on the "bubbling under" Tremors chart. Meghan Trainor, who usually releases a holiday song every year is back with "Gifts For Me" in her usual style of a pop/doo wop mix. Very appealing. Next is the other song that Sir Prize and the Twomorrow Knightz released, "Benny's Dream". Not the tearjerker of "Our Christmas", it's about a kid named Benny, who received a bunch of things for the holiday including a drum set, but has a love for all of Elton John's music. A bouncy song, it pretty much rattles off every Elton song from the 1970's. Benny's wish is that he play at Dodger Stadium backing Elton. His wish comes true...at least in a dream. It sort of reminds me of Sir Prize mastermind Tim Izzard's "The Night I Played Ziggy's Guitar"....only this time it's "the night I played Elton's drums!". A cute song to balance Tim's other release this year. Finally, Straight No Chaser, a holiday staple, returns with "Christmas Is Different". Featuring Hunter Hayes, the acappella contingent is a bit more "serious" this time around, relatively speaking. Very doo wopp-ish as per usual, it's an effective holiday message.
WRAPPIN': With the seemingly narrow-mindedness when it comes to Christmas song playlists, it's been quite a while since I've heard one of my all-time favorites, "Christmas Wrapping" as performed by The Waitresses, and written by one of its members, Christopher Butler. Every year, he has a contest, which begins the day after Thanksgiving at noon, that the first person who hears the song in a public place, and who messages Butler, will win the "Wrappie" award; a donation of $500 in their name to the Akron, OH, Main Library Children's collection. This year's winner was John Rosenberg, who heard the song at 2:43 PM on Friday November 28.
Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist
November 30, 2025
|
This Week |
Last Week |
ARTIST-Title |
Weeks on List |
|
1 |
1 |
NUMBER ONE:  (Single Release) (8 Weeks at #1) |
13 |
|
2 |
2 |
8 |
|
|
3 |
7 |
6 |
|
|
4 |
6 |
9 |
|
|
5 |
4 |
10 |
|
|
6 |
10 |
5 |
|
|
7 |
11 |
5 |
|
|
8 |
3 |
11 |
|
|
9 |
12 |
11 |
|
|
10 |
14 |
8 |
|
|
11 |
15 |
7 |
|
|
12 |
5 |
14 |
|
|
13 |
13 |
HUNTR/X
- Golden |
14 |
|
14 |
17 |
13 |
|
|
15 |
8 |
12 |
|
|
16 |
18 |
11 |
|
|
17 |
9 |
12 |
|
|
18 |
22 |
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:  "Lost" (Single Release) |
7 |
|
19 |
32 |
3 |
|
|
20 |
16 |
15 |
|
|
21 |
23 |
7 |
|
|
22 |
19 |
12 |
|
|
23 |
21 |
Johnny O and the
Pocket Rockets - Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love) |
9 |
|
24 |
26 |
6 |
|
|
25 |
31 |
7 |
|
|
26 |
29 |
12 |
|
|
27 |
30 |
9 |
|
|
28 |
20 |
17 |
|
|
29 |
36 |
4 |
|
|
30 |
38 |
3 |
|
|
31 |
33 |
6 |
|
|
32 |
40 |
4 |
|
|
33 |
24 |
13 |
|
|
34 |
43 |
4 |
|
|
35 |
42 |
5 |
|
|
36 |
28 |
13 |
|
|
37 |
25 |
The
Tams - My True Love● |
20 |
|
38 |
35 |
8 |
|
|
39 |
39 |
8 |
|
|
40 |
47 |
8 |
|
|
41 |
53 |
4 |
|
|
42 |
41 |
8 |
|
|
43 |
52 |
4 |
|
|
44 |
49 |
8 |
|
|
45 |
27 |
16 |
|
|
46 |
51 |
7 |
|
|
47 |
54 |
6 |
|
|
48 |
37 |
23 |
|
|
49 |
34 |
17 |
|
|
50 |
64 |
3 |
|
|
51 |
46 |
11 |
|
|
52 |
59 |
3 |
|
|
53 |
58 |
6 |
|
|
54 |
82 |
MOVER OF THE WEEK:  SIR PRIZE AND THE TWOMORROW KNIGHTZ (Single Release) |
2 |
|
55 |
56 |
10 |
|
|
56 |
57 |
7 |
|
|
57 |
61 |
6 |
|
|
58 |
45 |
11 |
|
|
59 |
60 |
5 |
|
|
60 |
67 |
4 |
|
|
61 |
73 |
3 |
|
|
62 |
50 |
17 |
|
|
63 |
44 |
Barry Duke and
Sharon Woodruff - Sometimes Love Is Not Enough |
13 |
|
64 |
84 |
2 |
|
|
65 |
48 |
12 |
|
|
66 |
85 |
2 |
|
|
67 |
81 |
3 |
|
|
68 |
63 |
23 |
|
|
69 |
71 |
5 |
|
|
70 |
79 |
3 |
|
|
71 |
55 |
18 |
|
|
72 |
88 |
2 |
|
|
73 |
62 |
24 |
|
|
74 |
--- |
TOP DEBUT:  (Single Release) |
1 |
|
75 |
83 |
5 |
|
|
76 |
96 |
2 |
|
|
77 |
72 |
19 |
|
|
78 |
65 |
25 |
|
|
79 |
78 |
4 |
|
|
80 |
70 |
28 |
|
|
81 |
91 |
2 |
|
|
82 |
77 |
4 |
|
|
83 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
84 |
93 |
2 |
|
|
85 |
66 |
15 |
|
|
86 |
94 |
Pentatonix and
Frank Sinatra - I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm |
2 |
|
87 |
87 |
3 |
|
|
88 |
99 |
2 |
|
|
89 |
68 |
10 |
|
|
90 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
91 |
74 |
7 |
|
|
92 |
69 |
12 |
|
|
93 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
94 |
98 |
The
Swingin' Medallions - Hit Me With Those Horns |
3 |
|
95 |
80 |
17 |
|
|
96 |
95 |
9 |
|
|
97 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
98 |
102 |
1 |
|
|
99 |
92 |
16 |
|
|
100 |
101 |
1 |
Tremors:
101. Meghan Trainor, Gifts For Me
102. Sir Prize and the Twomorrow Knightz, Benny's Dream
103. Fall Out Boy, It Feels Like Christmas
104. Straight No Chaser, Christmas is Different
Tremors: Songs which have steady
or increasing points but not enough to chart on the SNS 100.
Murmurs:
Jim Quick, R. Mark Black, Allie Privette - Wait For Me*
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
●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
41-100 and Newbies Songs in Positions 41-100 on the SNS 100 plus
new additions
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.
(Rob Sheldon
is a music fan who has followed music trends the past 60 years, and covers new
and classic music, specializing in pop, rock, alternative, beach, soul and
country genres). He can be contacted
at rsheldonx4804@gmail.com
