Ella Holds of Morgan to Score 16th week on Billboard as Country Sweeps Billboard Top 5; Deb & Townsend Top SNS; Vaughan, Brooke Top Debuts (SNS Week of 8/2/2026)

 THIS WEEK I was going to talk about the first album in six years from a New Jersey singer-songwriter, until all these things happened:

•  Ella Langley scores her 16th week  on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Choosin' Texas"
•  Country music holds the top 5 positions on the Hot 100 for the first time in history
•  Two breakthrough artists on the SNS 100 this year have the top two debuts
•  A remake of my #1 song from 2002 by the original featured artist, now helped out by the singer whose project had my #2 song of 1998.

So let's start off with the country music blitz.      Ella Langley holds off the new song by Morgan Wallen, as "Choosin' Texas" scores a 16th week at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.   That puts her in a four-way tie for 4th place on the list for most weeks at the top of the chart.   The song ties Mariah Carey & Boys II Men's "One Sweet Day" from 1995-96, "Despacito" by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee (2017), and Wallen's "Last Night" from 2023.    Next on the list would be the 19 weeks by "Old Town Road" (Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus) and Shaboozey's "A Bar Song (Tipsy)", from 2019 and 2024, respectively.  The record, of course, is 22 weeks by Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You", which undoubtedly will add to that record come holiday season.

There was speculation that Wallen's "Been By Now" would have debuted at #1, but Ms. Langley held on.    It's interesting that both of these singers are currently intertwined.    Not only does "Choosin' Texas" tie "Last Night" in total weeks at the top, and the two singers are 1-2 this week on the Hot 100, but they also have the duet "I Can't Love You Anymore" which is #4, giving both singers two songs in the top four.

And for the first time ever, songs in the country music genre hold the top five positions, with Taylor Swift's "I Knew It, I Knew You" (from Toy Story 5) at #3, and Stella Lefty's "Boston" at #5.    All five songs are currently on my SNS 100 as well, as "Choosin' Texas" holds at #6 after 28 weeks, "Been By Now" enters the Tremors section at #104, "I Knew It, I Knew You" moves 55-48, "I Can't Love You Anymore" garners the Impact award moving 24-17 and giving Ella three songs in my top 20, and "Boston" moves 60-45.

Naturally, the way Billboard operates, those five songs also hold the top five positions on the Country Songs chart, because it's ranked that way on the Hot 100.   With the criticisms I've had of the big chart (stagnation, songs charting too long, chart bombs---multiple album cuts all entering the chart at the top positions), another gripe that I have is who determines what genre or format a song is.   For example, Taylor Swift, while she started out as a country artist, has been mostly associated with pop since.   Yes, "I Knew It, I Knew You" has a country flavor to it, but is it being played as a country song on radio?   A check on the Radio Wave Monitor, which is similar to Billboard in that it measures radio plays, streaming, and video plays, shows "I Knew It, I Knew You" at #7, so there is some legitimate info that the song belongs there.     Speaking of the Radio Wave top five, only "I Can't Love You Anymore", the #1 on that chart is the only one in the top five on both lists.     "Boston" is #8.  Morgan Wallen is #2, but with "Don't We" ("Been By Now" is #33).    Luke Combs, Bailey Zimmerman and Jason Aldean round out the top five on that chart.   "Choosin' Texas"?  #12.       

Of course, songs like "Choosin' Texas" are getting airplay from pop audiences and streaming, but on Radio Waves'  pop chart where Tame Impala's "Dracula" (#6 on this week's Hot 100) is at the top,"Choosin' Texas" is #10.   

However, the Hot 100 is a "catch all" chart, and the relatively high positions of "Choosin' Texas" on various formats does result in an overall #1, as some songs are doing well in some formats, but not even on the radar on others since it's a different genre.    But with listening patterns vastly changed in the streaming era compared to decades past, it's pretty hard to keep an accurate chart.  Regardless, kudos to "Choosin' Texas" for being universally loved and racking up weeks at the top.  While that is a valid argument for the Hot 100, ranking the Country chart strictly on its Hot 100 ranking, takes away from the country community since that format is well into several other songs by now, such as Combs, Zimmerman and Aldean are.

Deb Browning (L) was special guest at Vaughan Penn's performance at Cherry Grove's Tailgate Oyster Bar on August 1

SNS 100:  Turning to my chart, Deb Browning and Townsend Link's "The Sea Sand and You" holds at #1 for a fourth week.     The song actually resurges a bit, as I was able to catch Deb, who was a special guest at Vaughan Penn's gig at the Tailgate Oyster Bar in Cherry Grove, SC on August 1.  She sang her 2022 blog #1, "3 More Minutes".    "The Sea.." holds off a charging "If I Let You" by The Womack Sisters, which holds at #2 with a bullet in only its 4th week on the chart.  Barry Walsh's "Star Ride" moves 4-3, while Marsha Morgan's "Whenever There's Summer" moves 7-4.  Ella Langley's "Be Her" drops to #5, while "Choosin' Texas", as mentioned above holds at #6.   The Black Keys advance to #7 with "Where There's Smoke There's Fire", The Tams' "I Tried" drops 5 to 8.   Vaughan Penn resurges a bit to #9 based on her aforementioned appearance at Tailgate Oyster Bar, with "Bands on the Beach".   Starbuck, featuring Elsie B's "Sleeping in the Rain and Thunder" advances 14-10. 

In the second ten, Starbuck also has "Doo Wop Bop" (19-15), giving Bruce Blackman two songs in the top 15 (with a third song, "Bongo Bay" just released).   As mentioned above Ella and Morgan's "I Don't Love You Anymore" gives the former THREE songs in the top 20 as it captures the Impact award.    And The Womack Sisters also have multiple songs in that region as "You Went Away Too Long" moves 25-19 to join "If I Let You" there.  Further down, Sienna Spiro's "Material Lover" grabs the Mover of the Week honors.   The song, also on John Hook's Beach Music Top 40 chart, from the movie The Devil Wears Prada 2, moves 80 to 43. 

DEBUTS:   The top three debuts this week all have interesting stories to it, with two of the artists invading my chart for the first time this year, and the third remaking a former year-end #1 on my list.   

Vaughan Penn has been around for over a quarter of a century and has a noteworthy resume, but "Bands on the Beach" broke through to the beach music crowd, logging five weeks at #1 on SNS.   The song is number one on several beach charts this week, and of course, she sang it at Tailgate Oyster Bar last weekend.    She follows it up with another beach-themed song, "Sandbar Shuffle", garnering Top Debut this week at #66.    This is rocking, bouncy, shag-ready song.   It's an upbeat romp for sure, and instead of naming beach artists, the focus is on the Grand Strand, the Intracoastal Waterway and just the good time in the area.     A fun song that is a family affair:  Her father George is on baritone sax, and her mother, Dixie does background vocals.   R. Mark Black, moving up the chart on his own with "Just Love" (#28) is on tenor sax.  Tim Gordon is also on tenor sax, Keith Stone does trumpet and trombone.   David Rhyne, who co-wrote the song with Vaughan, plays electric guitar (with her), bass, piano and drums.    Let the good times continue to roll!

Right behind, debuting at #67, we go across the ocean to Scotland's Brooke Combe's "Love Was Made of Stone".   Brooke logged 2 weeks at number one earlier this year with "How Can I Tell You (To Love Me More)".  Her follow-up, "Tears Won't Lie", peaked at #2 for a week in June (held back from the top by "Bands on the Beach").   Her new one is still in the Northern Soul vein, with a decidedly Motown beat to it.   At times, the song gives me chills.    She's garnered some awards in her native Scotland, but it's a matter of time before she breaks here.    She will be touring the states this fall with Jalen Ngonda, including Charlotte NC.    Glad to see music like hers is making a comeback. 

And then, coming on at #71 is "The Game of Love" by Michelle Branch and New Radicals.     If the title and artists sound very familiar, it should be.   The year was 2002, and my number one song for that year was "The Game of Love" by Santana featuring Michelle Branch, and she remakes the song as lead artist this time.    Helping her is Gregg Alexander, who originally co-wrote the song.    If that name isn't familiar, then his project New Radicals should be.   Noted primarily for "You Get What You Give", that song hit #36 on the Hot 100 and #1 on the Triple-A chart.   It also was my #2 song from 1998.   Gregg's band had an ad hoc group of members, with the only constant being Danielle Brisebois (a former child actress who also had a killer album Arrive All Over You, produced by Alexander, in 1994).     New Radicals broke up after just one album (Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too) but have recently reunited.  They released two standalone singles in 2024, and their long-awaited second album is due this year, which will include "The Game of Love". The original version peaked at #4 on Billboard in 2002 (and won a Grammy for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals), and Ms. Branch has scored several other times, including some with the country duo The Wreckers.     Michelle has made the SNS 100 twice, both landing in the top 10:  "Loud Music" got to #6 in 2011, and "Hopeless Romantic" (the title track from her fourth album) peaked at #9 in 2017.   Her last album, 2022's The Trouble with Fever, unfortunately landed under the radar.   

As for the remake of "The Game of Love", the intro starts off similar to "You Get What You Give", but then launches to territory familiar to the song.   Gregg and Michelle trade off vocals.     As she was the only vocalist on the Santana original, the duet adds a lot to the song.     It's currently #33 on the Adult Pop Airplay chart on Billboard.   This new version should make some noise here as well.

Moving on to other new entries, we have "Tokyo Rain" by the duo Loaded Honey, which consists of Lydia Kitto, and Josh Lloyd-Watson.   Featuring strings and soulful harmonies, this is another great retro soul song, which seems to be the way to go for me these days.   It's a myriad of vibes coming on here from the 60's and early 70's.   The duo was originally a part of the band Jungle, which had two entries on the SNS 100 in 2014-15: "Time", which logged 29 weeks on SNS despite not getting above #50, and the follow-up "Busy Earnin'" which peaked at #5 in the spring of 2015.   While that band had somewhat of a similar surround sound, it's not quite as soulful as "Tokyo Rain".  

After three blog hits covering semi-forgotten (but very awesome) songs from the past from the 1960's through the 1980's, The Half-Cubes move on to the 90's debuting with a remake originally done by the band Jellyfish, "The Ghost at Number One".   The original hit #9 on the Alternative chart in 1993.    The excitement of those past remakes carries over to this one.   Jellyfish had somewhat of a psychedelic pop sound, which sems to be right up the Half-Cubes alley; they take the song and run with it, with an even more pronounced sound from that era. 

Finally we have the latest from U2, the ultimate Irish band which still has all its members since its formation, with "Street of Dreams".    It's the classic U2 sound, but somehow, they put a spin on it to make it sound fresh with this one.  "Atomic City" from their last album, reached #6 in 2024, so the band--at least here---is still relevant.   It enters at #99. 

Several songs which debuted last week on the Tremors chart, move over to the big chart as well.   Two new songs enter that region this week.   Seth Storer, who records solo as well as with his band Whiskey-Chitto Ramblers (who also have a new song out that will debut next week). At #102, "Anchor in the Fire" is aimed at the contemporary Christian market, but it should do well in the mainstream/secular arena as well.    Coming on like a cross between Eddie Vedder and Scott Stapp, it nonetheless has that southern blues sound that is always a plus.     Finally, as mentioned earlier Morgan Wallen's "Been By Now", enters here at #104 (and #2 on the Hot 100), and is a good-sounding country tune that should do well. 

Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist

August 2, 2026

This Week	Last Week	ARTIST-Title	Weeks on List
1	1	NUMBER ONE: DEB BROWNING and TOWNSEND LINK "The Sea, Sand and You" (Single Release) (4 Weeks at #1)	13
2	2	The Womack Sisters - If I Let You	4
3	4	Barry Walsh - Star Ride	10
4	7	Marsha Morgan - Whenever There's Summer	5
5	3	Ella Langley - Be Her●	22
6	6	Ella Langley - Choosin' Texas▲	28
7	8	The Black Keys - Where There's Smoke There's Fire	10
8	5	The Tams - I Tried●	16
9	10	Vaughan Penn - Bands on the Beach●	17
10	14	Starbuck ft Elsie B - Sleeping in the Rain and Thunder	11
11	15	Caroline Rose - Yip Yip Yow	10
12	16	The Six Piece Suits - High Tide, High Life	9
13	17	Megan Moroney - Wish I Didn't	9
14	11	Devon Gillfillian - Hold On (Hourglass)	13
15	19	Starbuck - Doo Wop Bop	10
16	12	Christina Cooper Black - A New Lease on Love	14
17	24	TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK: ELLA LANGLEY and MORGAN WALLEN "I Can't Love You Anymore" Album: Dandelion	10
18	13	Alexia Jayy - Rent Free	13
19	25	The Womack Sisters - You Went Away Too Long	8
20	9	Jennifer James and Brad Cox - Suspicious Minds	11
21	23	Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr - Home To Us	8
22	28	Orbis Max - Falling Through the Cracks	7
23	29	Ruth Morayniss - You Don't Know	10
24	30	Bradley Denniston - No Saving You	7
25	32	Interpol - See Out Loud	6
26	39	Ashen Ringlets - Waltzing Days in Maidenhead	4
27	20	The Rolling Stones - In the Stars	11
28	35	R. Mark Black - Just Love	12
29	18	Brooke Combe - Tears Won't Lie●	17
30	21	The Chelsea Curve - Ride	12
31	37	Jalen Ngonda - Burning Temptation	6
32	47	Wendy Lucas - Down For the Drive	5
33	40	Rivermist - Heaven's Not That Far Away	6
34	22	Ruth Morayniss - Another Tragic Love Story	11
35	41	Trails and Ways - Next of Kin	7
36	57	Thee Sacred Souls - Any Old Fool	3
37	34	James Hunter Six - Believe It When I See It	12
38	42	Feature Attraction Band - Call Me	8
39	53	Iration - Roots	4
40	44	Blair Sparrow - I Gave You Everything	9
41	46	Karen Wallo - Plum Loco Blues	4
42	48	Weezer ft. Best Coast - Go Away	6
43	80	MOVER OF THE WEEK: SIENNA SPIRO "Material Lover" Album: The Devil Wears Prada 2 (Soundtrack)	2
44	27	Clarion -- Hello Juliet	11
45	60	Stella Lefty - Boston	7
46	26	Sarah Teti - Borrowed Time	18
47	36	Teddy Swims - Mr. Know It Alll	11
48	55	Taylor Swift - I Knew It, I Knew You	7
49	31	Sombr - Homewrecker●	24
50	51	Kurt Vile - Chance to Bleed	9
51	38	Kasey Musgraves - Dry Spell	13
52	59	David F. Porfirio - The Drifter	5
53	72	Jerry Powell - Nights on Ocean Drive	3
54	33	Rick Strickland and Lesa Hudson - Too Late	15
55	61	Sombr - Potential	5
56	77	Jennifer Licko - Danny Boy	2
57	75	The Womack Sisters - Chauffeur	3
58	76	Andy and Oneida - Young Again	3
59	43	Courtney Barnett - Lotta Love	15
60	67	Sombr - My Body Isn't Ready	4
61	68	The Beaches - Should've Known Better	13
62	66	Micky Dolenz - Terri	5
63	74	The Amplifier Heads - A Song Called Sha La La	4
64	69	Ariana Grande - Hate That I Made You Love Me	6
65	63	Juliet Callahan - XOXO	6
66	----	TOP DEBUT:  VAUGHAN PENN "Sandbar Shuffle" (Single Release)	1
67	---	Brooke Combe - Love Was Made of Stone	1
68	81	Sir Prize and the Twomorrow Knightz - Hilltop High	3
69	45	Don Toliver - E85	14
70	79	Kathleen Turner Overdrive - I Want to Believe	4
71	---	Michelle Branch and New Radicals - The Game of Love	1
72	73	Bleachers - The Van	6
73	95	The Pink Slips Band - Windows Rolled Down	2
74	49	Kelli Bruno - Love and Games	14
75	64	Beck - Ride Lonesome	9
76	82	Brad Cox - Girl Like You	3
77	78	The Holiday Band - Music Makes the World Go Round	6
78	50	Paul Carrack - Sleep on It	13
79	85	pMad - NineFortyFive	4
80	52	The Half-Cubes ft. Glen Burtnik - Bend Me, Shape Me	12
81	---	Loaded Honey - Tokyo Rain	1
82	87	Role Model - High Hopes 3000	5
83	56	Tim Sidden - Don't Let Us Fade Away●	17
84	54	Rhonda McDaniel and Gary Lowder - Jump on It	7
85	93	Gary Alexander - Soul Full of Sunshine	2
86	92	Brandi Carlile - Life on the Run	3
87	96	Lemonhead - Red Flags	2
88	58	Michael Bright - Nothing Else Will Do	8
89	62	Sylvia Johns Ritchie and Doyle Wood - Just Can't Help Its	14
90	99	Party Pupils ft. Mayer Hawthorne - Baby Come Back	2
91	65	Suki Waterhouse - Tiny Raisin	9
92	104	Violet Grohl - Bug in the Cake	1
93	106	Young the Giant - Evergreen	1
94	71	Malcolm Todd - Earrings	15
95	107	In Color - Headlights	1
96	---	The Half-Cubes - The Ghost at Number One	1
97	70	The Milk - Loaded Dice	9
98	102	Barry Duke - Written in the Key of You	7
99	---	U2 - Street of Dreams	1
100	103	Cigarettes After Sex - Twizzler	2

Tremors:

101. Kelly Clarkson - I'd Be Lyin'

102. Seth Storer - Anchor in the Fire

103. Phoebe Bridgers - Lost Boys

104. Morgan Wallen - Been By Now

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

Murmurs:

Harley Olivia - Try Me On For Size

The Revivalists - Heart Stop

Thee Sacred Souls - Waiting for the Right Time/One and the Same

Charcoal Greys - Blisters

Classic Soul ft. Terri Gore - Where Did You Go

Paul Czekaj - Thunder in the Distance 

Sam Fender ft. Olivia Dean - Rein Me In

Beabadoobee - The Sun Has Set

Cage the Elephant - Beaches in Tennessee

The Jayhawks - Keeping Our Heads Above Water

Maren Morris - Hard Liquor and Soft Water

Samzidat - Broken Illusion (EP)

Whiskey-Chitto Ramblers - Drivin'

Mayer Hawthorne - Ice Water

Starbuck - Bongo Bay

Pepper Creek - Turning 17

Alabama Shakes - I Feel Hope Coming

Ruth Morayniss - Waiting on You

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