A FEW THINGS to cover on this rather rainy Friday, so let's get right into it.
SWEET FIFTEEN: We will start off with the latest Billboard Hot 100 where we have yet another new #1, and once again it's a debut: Taylor Swift's "I Knew It, I Knew You", a song from the new movie Toy Story 5, becomes her 15th chart-topper, putting her third on the all-time list, behind The Beatles (20) and Mariah Carey (19). It's been fourteen years since garnering her first #1, "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together". The singer, who released her first album 20 years ago, is still hot and relevant as ever, as witnessed by her chart bomb late last year, that produced two of those number one songs, "The Fate of Ophelia" and "Opalite".
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| Taylor Swift notches her 15th #1 song on the Hot 100 this week as "I Knew It, I Knew You" from the movie Toy Story 5 debuts at the top. |
This decade, in particular has seen Ms. Swift post her best numbers. Ten of her fifteen #1 songs have occurred since 2020. The question now is, can she overtake The Beatles' record? While for many, that record is considered "sacred", and that the Fab Four accomplished those twenty in just a seven-year span, Taylor's longevity is one that can still carry the bulk of popularity with those people streaming. But, given the way the charts have been behaving in the streaming era, will it be easy to do?
Back in the day, particularly the 1980's, artists would release one song at a time from an album, get radio play and the resulting sales would propel it to the top, at which time the next single off the album would get released. Artists like Michael Jackson and George Michael, just to name two, could score multiple #1's, in this case, from Bad and Faith, respectively. As recently as 2011, Katy Perry was able to score five songs from Teenage Dream, matching Jackson's Bad output.
The problem is that today, once an album is released, all tracks are eligible to chart (in 1998, Billboard changed its chart policy to include all songs, not just singles), but listeners will listen to every track. The result is a chart bomb like Taylor's, and most recently, Drake has had with all the tracks debuting. However, only one song can be #1, and in subsequent weeks, the songs gradually drop off, so if a track didn't enter at the top, that's it....in most cases---as we're seeing with Drake, whose "Janice STFU" debuted at the top and is now the only track of his in the top ten, it would just be that one song. Taylor was lucky in that "Opalite" (which entered at #2, behind "The Fate of Ophelia") subsequently got to the top, but that seemed to be the exception. In theory, Taylor would have to release at least four more albums to tie and surpass The Beatles.
However, and this seems to be a new trend these days, is that artists release new tracks every few weeks, and then weeks later, culminating in a new album. Acts like Orbis Max and Phoebe Ryan have been doing this, and even national acts such as Olivia Rodrigo and Harry Styles are doing it. While it's usually the first track release that debuts at the top, subsequent releases debut a bit lower. But an artist of Taylor's status would get away with it by releasing tracks every couple of weeks instead of all at once, and that could get her close to the record faster. I do want to mention that Ms. Rodrigo is dropping an album this week, so a bunch of her tracks will enter the Hot 100; "Drop Dead" and "The Cure" were the lead tracks, release a few weeks apart.
We don't know when Taylor's next album would come out, but if this new song from the movie soundtrack is any indication of her continued popularity, then she has a good shot at it. Elsewhere on the Hot 100, "Choosin' Texas" is still at #2, "Janice STFU" still at #3, "Be Here" at #4, and last week's #1, Ariana Grande's "Hate That I Made You Love Me" round out the top five. Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" is still in the top 20, moving up to #18.
SNS 100: It's a fourth week at #1 for Vaughan Penn's "Bands on the Beach". Ella Langley is back in the runner-up position, but this time it's with "Be Her". The song switches places with Brooke Combe's "Tears Won't Lie" as that song is at #3. However, both songs still have a shot at the top; both artists have already had a #1 this year. A potential threat lies in the #4 song, that being Deb Browning and Townsend Link's "The Sea, Sand and You" moving up from #6. There will be a live premiere of the music video this coming Monday, June 22 at the OD Pavilion in North Myrtle Beach at 6:30 PM. The Tams' "I Tried" completes the top 5, moving up from #7. The lone new entry in the top 10 is "Suspicious Minds" by Jennifer James and Brad Cox.
In the second ten, two new entries are headed by this week's Impact winner, Barry Walsh's "Star Ride" (24-16), while The Black Keys have yet another top 20 in "Where There's Smoke There's Fire" (22-18). Mover of the Week goes to last week's Top Debut, The Womack Sisters' "You Went Away Too Long" (85-54).
NEWBIES: Bradley Denniston takes the Top Debut this week with "No Saving You". This is a positive, up-beat pop song that has some soulful overtones to it. He's always been good with some very tuneful music, and a third top 10 is within his realm. It debuts at #75.
Then we have the latest new release from Orbis Max, "Falling Through the Cracks". Continuing the more rock-ish approach along the lines of their new output this year, this one has more of a 'structure' to it, and it's a good time jam, with all of those long-distance components coming together to great effect. This is one cool jam, and Dw Dunphy is in perfect form with his Jerseyana vocals, and the instrumental break is top-notch. Coming in at #90, this may be the track to be the big one to hit.
With all of her success in her career, and her 15th #1 on the Hot 100 logged this week, Taylor Swift still hasn't hit the top of my chart, although she's come close a few times. "I Knew It, I Knew You" enters here at #92. A steady beat guides this song from the artist who is able to invoke many styles, and it's glad to see that she's been long out of that banal pop stance from ten years or so ago, and making quality music.
It's been a while since we heard from Steve Lacy, whose "Bad Habit" topped both the Hot 100 and SNS back in 2022. He finally returns with "The Feeling" (#95), and this one is a slow moving, but easy-going ballad, and an introspective one at that. Several spins should propel this one up the charts.
Rhonda McDaniel teams up with Gary Lowder for "Jump on It". In typical beach music fashion, the song kicks up with the horns, and they play a big part throughout the song. It definitely has that Earth, Wind and Fire vibe to it. Lowder's voice is very soulful here. About a minute and a half in, Rhonda's vocals kick in, and her voice is a natural for this sort of song. It enters at #96. Continuing with beach music, The I-42 Band enters with "Carolina's Calling", a very textured song, with the horns enforced as well. Already a hit along the Grand Strand, it could make some noise here as well.
Bubbling under are a couple songs that dabble in electronica. First up is the latest from Juliet Callahan, "XOXO". This one is in the EDM arena, an area that she's experimented with before, but jumps headfirst into the genre here. Dance clubs should embrace this area, especially since she's based in New York. This should be a big blog hit for her. Now, if people can only discover her talents..... Finally, The Avalanches, the Australian group noted for putting together samples and turning them into cohesive songs (remember "Frontier Psychiatrist" from 2001?). The latest is "Together" which is a lot of 80's-type techno stapled together. May take a while to get used to it, but it's worth the effort.
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| Walter Parazaider, saxophonist for the band Chicago, passed away this week. He was 81. |
REMEMBERING WALTER: This past week, we lost Walter Parazaider, who was the original and longtime saxophone player for the band Chicago. He, along with trumpeter Lee Loughnane and trombonist James Pankow comprised the horn/woodwind section of the band that mixed rock music with jazz elements, especially in its earlier stages. Chicago was one of my favorite groups during my high school years. Being a trumpet player in the band, exposed me to playing a lot of songs from this band, specifically their first three albums, and several others in the high school, featured side jazz-rock combos that featured their music.
Parazaider, who also played flute, particularly on their classic ballad "Colour My World" stayed with the band all the way until 2017, when he retired due to a heart condition. Four years later, sadly, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and passed away earlier this week.
Chicago, whose original members totaled seven, most notably Peter Cetera and Terry Kath, are now down to just three---Loughnane, Pankow and keyboardist Robert Lamm, but still tour regularly. As horns are an essential part of Carolina beach music, many from that community posted about his passing. Walter Parazaider was 81.
THE PEOPLE'S ARTIST (Continued): The quarterfinals have begun in The People's Artist competition that is sponsored by Johnny Depp and The Art Elysium Salon. Karen Wallo, by finishing first in her group's top five round has now advanced to the quarterfinals. Voting had resumed on June 15. To vote for her, click on this link: Karen Wallo | The People's Artist presented by Johnny Depp, and here to see her artwork: Artist,Vocalist, Animal Advocate| home|karenwallo-fineart.com/
AND FINALLY: A couple weeks ago, I went into North Myrtle Beach and was a guest on Wayne Troutman's "Surfside Stores" weekly podcast, where he interviews many of the regional stars in Carolina beach music. While I'm not sure why he decided to choose me for his latest interview, I am honored and humbled. I will talk more about this on my next blog. Stay tuned for that!
Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist
June 14, 2026
|
This Week |
Last Week |
ARTIST-Title |
Weeks on List |
|
1 |
1 |
NUMBER ONE:  (Single Release) (4 Weeks at #1) |
11 |
|
2 |
3 |
16 |
|
|
3 |
2 |
11 |
|
|
4 |
6 |
7 |
|
|
5 |
7 |
10 |
|
|
6 |
5 |
11 |
|
|
7 |
4 |
22 |
|
|
8 |
9 |
9 |
|
|
9 |
8 |
18 |
|
|
10 |
15 |
5 |
|
|
11 |
13 |
8 |
|
|
12 |
11 |
14 |
|
|
13 |
17 |
7 |
|
|
14 |
12 |
12 |
|
|
15 |
20 |
6 |
|
|
16 |
24 |
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:  (Single Release) |
4 |
|
17 |
16 |
12 |
|
|
18 |
22 |
4 |
|
|
19 |
19 |
12 |
|
|
20 |
10 |
12 |
|
|
21 |
31 |
5 |
|
|
22 |
25 |
8 |
|
|
23 |
30 |
7 |
|
|
24 |
14 |
16 |
|
|
25 |
29 |
8 |
|
|
26 |
28 |
9 |
|
|
27 |
32 |
9 |
|
|
28 |
35 |
5 |
|
|
29 |
18 |
14 |
|
|
30 |
34 |
7 |
|
|
31 |
33 |
8 |
|
|
32 |
37 |
5 |
|
|
33 |
23 |
10 |
|
|
34 |
21 |
13 |
|
|
35 |
38 |
6 |
|
|
36 |
41 |
5 |
|
|
37 |
26 |
39 |
|
|
38 |
40 |
9 |
|
|
39 |
43 |
7 |
|
|
40 |
45 |
3 |
|
|
41 |
52 |
4 |
|
|
42 |
27 |
15 |
|
|
43 |
47 |
3 |
|
|
44 |
54 |
4 |
|
|
45 |
50 |
4 |
|
|
46 |
55 |
3 |
|
|
47 |
51 |
6 |
|
|
48 |
53 |
5 |
|
|
49 |
36 |
20 |
|
|
50 |
49 |
8 |
|
|
51 |
39 |
12 |
|
|
52 |
42 |
17 |
|
|
53 |
63 |
6 |
|
|
54 |
85 |
MOVER OF THE WEEK:  Album: The Womack Sisters |
2 |
|
55 |
67 |
4 |
|
|
56 |
60 |
7 |
|
|
57 |
59 |
14 |
|
|
58 |
61 |
5 |
|
|
59 |
57 |
9 |
|
|
60 |
46 |
19 |
|
|
61 |
44 |
17 |
|
|
62 |
72 |
4 |
|
|
63 |
74 |
3 |
|
|
64 |
73 |
4 |
|
|
65 |
75 |
3 |
|
|
66 |
93 |
2 |
|
|
67 |
56 |
21 |
|
|
68 |
79 |
3 |
|
|
69 |
80 |
3 |
|
|
70 |
77 |
4 |
|
|
71 |
95 |
2 |
|
|
72 |
48 |
18 |
|
|
73 |
65 |
22 |
|
|
74 |
88 |
3 |
|
|
75 |
--- |
TOP DEBUT:  (Single Release) |
1 |
|
76 |
84 |
4 |
|
|
77 |
58 |
7 |
|
|
78 |
90 |
3 |
|
|
79 |
92 |
3 |
|
|
80 |
100 |
2 |
|
|
81 |
101 |
1 |
|
|
82 |
69 |
9 |
|
|
83 |
66 |
18 |
|
|
84 |
96 |
2 |
|
|
85 |
64 |
12 |
|
|
86 |
68 |
19 |
|
|
87 |
91 |
3 |
|
|
88 |
83 |
19 |
|
|
89 |
102 |
1 |
|
|
90 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
91 |
103 |
1 |
|
|
92 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
93 |
62 |
11 |
|
|
94 |
70 |
15 |
|
|
95 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
96 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
97 |
71 |
15 |
|
|
98 |
87 |
7 |
|
|
99 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
100 |
76 |
16 |
Tremors:
101. Juliet Callahan - XOXO
102. Grace Potter, Love Me Not
103. Sublime, Until the Sun Explodes
104. The Avalanches - Together
105. Modest Mouse, Picking Dragons Pockets
Tremors: Songs which have steady or increasing points but not enough to chart on the SNS 100.
Murmurs:
sombr - Potential
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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