WITH ELLA LANGLEY back at the #1 position on the Billboard Hot 100, moving there for a fifth time (8 weeks overall) and maintaining the top spot on the SNS 100 for a second straight week, the focus this week is on my Top Debut, by a regional artist, who pretty much has dominated my chart in recent years; in fact, having the top year-end song for.....FOUR years straight! More on that below.
First, let's attack the latest national chart, where Ella Langley continues to dominate the Hot 100 with "Choosin' Texas", which returns to the top spot yet again. In fact, she has THREE songs in the top 10 this week: "Be Her" holds at #5, while her new duet with Morgan Wallen, "I Can't Love You Anymore" debuts at #7. Probably the only "competition" for "Choosin' Texas" this year would have to be Bruno Mars' "I Just Might" which moves back to #2. Both of these songs hit the top spot on my chart this year, and are two of the national artists who have penetrated the Carolina beach music charts as well. But if you're not named "Ella", then "Olivia" will do. Back in the third position is Olivia Dean's "Man I Need", while her "So Easy (To Fall in Love)" is #6. Olivia Rodrigo's "Drop Dead" which debuted in the top spot last week, is at #4 now. Noah Kahan's "Doors" enters at #9 as many of his songs from his just released The Great Divide enter various positions on the chart.
One other area of note is the re-entry of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" at #38. This is due to the late "King of Pop''s biopic Michael. He has charted now in six straight decades (seven if you count the Jackson 5's "I Want You Back" which entered in late 1969). But it's not his first entry this decade, as another track from Thriller, the title track, enters every Halloween season and this past fall, got to #10. Jackson, who passed in 2009, was able to chart in the 2010's thanks to "collaborations" with Akon, Drake and Justin Timberlake, as well as the solo "Slave to the Rhythm" from the 2014 posthumous release Xscape.
SNS 100: As mentioned above, Ella Langley holds the top spot on the blog chart for a second week with "Choosin' Texas", but moving into the #2 position is Vaughan Penn's "Bands on the Beach", which no doubt will give Ella a run for her money. Sombr's "Homewrecker", a former #1 falls to #3, while Ruth Morayniss' "Come the Light" moves 6-4. Completing the top five is Brooke Combe's "Tears Won't Lie" (9-5). Two songs new to the top 10 include Jennifer James' 'second straight hit, "Takin' It Easy" moving 15-8, and The Main Event Band's "I Shiver" (12-10).
A bunch of movers in the top 20, but only one new song, that being Jalen Ngonda's "Doctrine of Love". He will be touring with Brooke Combe over in the U.K. this summer. Kelli Bruno's "Love & Games" is the Mover of the Week in a 96-77 advance.
 |
| Deb Browning and The Pink Slips' Townsend Link's new single, "The Sea Sand and You" is the Top Debut at #43. |
THE FRAGGLE ROCKERS?: Moving to the debuts, we have the latest from Deb Browning and Townsend Link, "The Sea, Sand and You". I'm going to say it right now, that this is a winner! Blog readers will know that Ms. Browning has had the last four year-end number one's, and she is back. Deb first made the SNS 100 back in 2021 when "Stop Messing with My Man" peaked at #7 and came in at #24 for that year.
It's safe to say that if it wasn't for Deb, I would (1) have quit doing this blog a while ago, and/or (2), not featured Carolina beach music as much as I have been the past few years. Prior to "Stop...." I would add just a few songs every several months. But when I posted as a comment that her song landed in my year-end chart, she featured it on her timeline. I can't say enough about Deb. She is so friendly and humble. She once had the top three songs on John Hook's Beach Music Top 40 chart (which recently, has been resurrected), and has won a couple of CBMA awards. I've seen her three times in the past three years (and hope to catch more of her shows). She's promoted my blog to the point where I've been accepted by many in the beach music community, to which I'm very grateful. Deb has come a long way to get where she is, from singing in churches much of her life, to surviving cancer, to being a major player in the local beach music scene.
While I've been blogging since 2010, I've have published my year-end favorites going back to 1976, and retroactively back to 1964. The Beatles had three year-end number ones (1964, '65, '68). Those which have had two years topping my year-end charts include Tommy James & the Shondells (1966, '69), Stone Temple Pilots (1994, 2000), Ed Sheeran (2015, '17) and ScreenAge (2020, '21).
But Deb rewrote the book. In 2022, her "3 More Minutes" led that list, then repeated with "Think I Found Forever" the next year. Then she teamed up with the gig partner Marlisa Kay Small for "Sunshine and Sunmertime" for a three-peat. Finally, last year featured another duet, this time with The Mac Daddy's Band's Michael Fite for "I Never Wanted To" that put her on top for a fourth straight year.
So, can Deb make it five in a row with "The Sea, Sand and You"? The song definitely has what it takes. This song is actually a team effort. First of all, Townsend Link is a very formidable artist in his own right. For those not familiar with his work, he is the lead singer of The Pink Slips Band, who hit top ten two years ago with "Dance", and looks to repeat that feat with the latest, "Catch a Ride" which moves 17-12 this week.
But this is actually a team effort beyond Deb and Townsend. Handling the production chores is Melissa Hinson who is a photographer for all beach music going ons. Let's just say that she is very effective behind the console as she is behind the camera. Melissa successfully captures Ms. Browning's vulnerable voice to the maximum, and with Link trading vocals, results in a very palatable recording. There are others involved as well. Deb's husband Bob, as well as Wayne Troutman, also of the Ocean Drive production company, and saxophonist Art Amaral, are just a few of those lending their background vocals and instrumentation on the record. The song has been two months in the making. While the original intent was to do a cover song, it was decided to record something new; it was written by The Pink Slips' writer, David Howard Faircloth. The crew debuted their song on May 6 on two radio stations, and the gang were in the studio calling themselves The Fraggle Rocks.
The song is immediate and I was very fortunate enough to receive it just minutes before tabulating this week's chart. It debuts at #43. Aside from its year-end prospects, can it be this year's "song of the summer?". Deb has had those honors twice before, with "Three More Minutes" (2022) and "Sunshine and Summertime" (2024). Of course, the competition will be tough this year, what with Ella Langley still on top, and Vaughan Penn's "Bands on the Beach" catching fire, but the goods were delivered here.
There are, of course, other debuts, nine of them total. Next at #79 is Alexia Jayy's "Rent Free". Alexia just won the latest season of The Voice, emerging from Adam Levine's team. Actually, the song fits right in with the retro soul trend here, and it's very bluesy as well. Her voice is very strong, as is the production here. She really sings her heart out here in a song that takes you back decades. With Nini Iris entering the SNS 100 at #98, that makes two Voice alumni on my chart.
Speaking of retro soul, one of the successes in that genre on my chart has been Devon Gilfillian, who returns with "Hold On (Hourglass)". Actually, this is sort of a change-of-pace, as there's a hint of southern rock and country to go along with the soulfulness. The song reminds me, at times of "Ghost Riders in the Sky", but it goes beyond that. "The Good Life" hit the top in 2020, and this one has a shot as well. The guitar work is also outstanding. It debuts at #87.
Next, at #89 is "Sleep on It" by Paul Carrack. Talk about a guy who has had a successful career singing for many bands. This one is on the national beach music chart. This is a nice piece of the softer side of pop/rock. The name should be very familiar to those following music for the past fifty years. "How Long" by Ace (1975), "Tempted" by Squeeze (1981), and "The Living Years" by Mike + the Mechanics (1988) are just three songs in which he sang lead. He also had a solo hit in 1988 with "Don't Shed a Tear".
Phoebe Ryan make a comeback of sorts with the recent "Something to Hope For", and she's back with "Fall With Me", at #95. This is slice of introspective contemporary pop that she excels to a tee.... Canadian quartet The Beaches are back at #96 with "Should've Known Better". The female rockers slow it down a bit here and sing with emotion and should be their biggest here since their "Takes One to Know One" a couple years back.....Benson Boone had a monster hit with "Beautiful Things" and he returns with "Mr. Electric Blue" (#97), a rollicking piece of pop here that keeps on moving...Kasey Musgraves is back with "Dry Spell" at #99. This is a sort of pop-oriented country. Kasey has had a few SNS hits, and repeated listens could put her on top again. Bubbling under is the latest from R. Mark Black, "Just Love", a soulful vocal set to a mid-tempo beat that is scoring at beach circles; and Royel Otis' "Sweet Hallelujah", a mid-tempo thumper complete with cellos.
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| Musician and Artisian Karen Wallo is in the running for "The People's Artist" honors |
ARTS IN ALL FORMS: I've featured Karen Wallo many times on my blog. Like myself, she originally hailed from New Jersey and went to the same college I did (Montclair State) and have many mutual friends. Up there, she had fronted several bands, and in 2009, cut an album We're in this Together. In 2020, one of the songs from it, "Rain Away My Sorrow" hit #10 here. A couple years ago, she relocated to the Grand Strand, and her current band, Rendezvous has been playing various clubs in the area. I got to meet Karen at a gig at Patio's in Little River last September.
Music aside, Karen is also an artist, and she has displayed many of her works in that media. Artforum Magazine is running a contest, dubbed "The People's Artist presented by Johnny Depp, to decide what artist will appear in the publication, win a $25,000 prize and also have their work displayed at the Art of Elysium's Salon.
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| "369 AZ" is a dedication to Nikola Tesla, a painting by musician/artist Karen Wallo. |
To vote for Karen, please click on this link: Karen Wallo | The People's Artist presented by Johnny Depp You can vote once for free every 24 hours. You can also check out Karen's art page: www.karenwallo-fineart.com
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| Colorjoy performing in the rain at Roselle Park's Arts Festival |
AND FINALLY: Last week I mentioned the Roselle Park Arts Festival, in which, despite the rain, performers such as Charlotte Sessions, Kelli Bruno, Nini Iris, and others played. I had mentioned that there were no pictures of Colorjoy, and speculated that perhaps they canceled because of the rain (the Breakwater Stage lineup was still outside, unlike the Library Stage which was moved inside). Well, I am happy to report that the band, led by Emily MacMahon and Sam Novotny, did in fact, play despite the abysmal weather.
Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist
May 3, 2026
|
This Week |
Last Week |
ARTIST-Title |
Weeks on List |
|
1 |
1 |
NUMBER ONE:  Album: Dandelion (2 weeks at #1) |
16 |
|
2 |
4 |
5 |
|
|
3 |
2 |
12 |
|
|
4 |
6 |
6 |
|
|
5 |
9 |
5 |
|
|
6 |
3 |
11 |
|
|
7 |
5 |
14 |
|
|
8 |
15 |
6 |
|
|
9 |
7 |
12 |
|
|
10 |
12 |
11 |
|
|
11 |
14 |
12 |
|
|
12 |
17 |
9 |
|
|
13 |
20 |
5 |
|
|
14 |
18 |
10 |
|
|
15 |
19 |
10 |
|
|
16 |
8 |
14 |
|
|
17 |
11 |
13 |
|
|
18 |
10 |
13 |
|
|
19 |
13 |
9 |
|
|
20 |
29 |
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:  Album: Doctrine of Love |
9 |
|
21 |
24 |
10 |
|
|
22 |
28 |
9 |
|
|
23 |
30 |
33 |
|
|
24 |
22 |
16 |
|
|
25 |
25 |
11 |
|
|
26 |
16 |
13 |
|
|
27 |
21 |
13 |
|
|
28 |
35 |
8 |
|
|
29 |
44 |
4 |
|
|
30 |
45 |
3 |
|
|
31 |
23 |
13 |
|
|
32 |
27 |
14 |
|
|
33 |
38 |
7 |
|
|
34 |
39 |
6 |
|
|
35 |
26 |
13 |
|
|
36 |
31 |
15 |
|
|
37 |
41 |
7 |
|
|
38 |
42 |
6 |
|
|
39 |
43 |
8 |
|
|
40 |
32 |
10 |
|
|
41 |
34 |
14 |
|
|
42 |
33 |
16 |
|
|
43 |
--- |
TOP DEBUT:  DEB BROWNING and TOWNSEND LINK (Single Release) |
1 |
|
44 |
54 |
4 |
|
|
45 |
36 |
16 |
|
|
46 |
37 |
13 |
|
|
47 |
51 |
8 |
|
|
48 |
50 |
8 |
|
|
49 |
52 |
7 |
|
|
50 |
56 |
6 |
|
|
51 |
47 |
Rev. Bubba D. Liverance and the
Cornhole Prophets - Wish You Were Here |
12 |
|
52 |
40 |
13 |
|
|
53 |
55 |
8 |
|
|
54 |
48 |
11 |
|
|
55 |
58 |
6 |
|
|
56 |
60 |
5 |
|
|
57 |
57 |
6 |
|
|
58 |
63 |
5 |
|
|
59 |
49 |
17 |
|
|
60 |
46 |
28 |
|
|
61 |
65 |
7 |
|
|
62 |
70 |
4 |
|
|
63 |
81 |
2 |
|
|
64 |
66 |
5 |
|
|
65 |
76 |
3 |
|
|
66 |
61 |
17 |
|
|
67 |
64 |
9 |
|
|
68 |
73 |
3 |
|
|
69 |
87 |
2 |
|
|
70 |
71 |
15 |
|
|
71 |
72 |
4 |
|
|
72 |
62 |
17 |
|
|
73 |
67 |
6 |
|
|
74 |
53 |
15 |
|
|
75 |
78 |
3 |
|
|
76 |
92 |
2 |
|
|
77 |
96 |
MOVER OF THE WEEK:  (Single Release) |
2 |
|
78 |
84 |
3 |
|
|
79 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
80 |
79 |
4 |
|
|
81 |
77 |
8 |
|
|
82 |
86 |
3 |
|
|
83 |
88 |
3 |
|
|
84 |
89 |
2 |
|
|
85 |
85 |
5 |
|
|
86 |
90 |
2 |
|
|
87 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
88 |
59 |
13 |
|
|
89 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
90 |
69 |
18 |
|
|
91 |
83 |
29 |
|
|
92 |
93 |
2 |
|
|
93 |
80 |
25 |
|
|
94 |
68 |
23 |
|
|
95 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
96 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
97 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
98 |
101 |
1 |
|
|
99 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
100 |
97 |
2 |
Tremors:
101. R. Mark Black, Just Love
102. Royel Otis, Sweet Hallelujah
Tremors: Songs which have steady or increasing points but not enough to chart on the SNS 100.
Murmurs:
They Might Be Giants - Wu Tang
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 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
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