Why I Still Listen to Current Music; Ella Langley Charts 22nd week, Tying Mariah for Longest Number One; Sienna Takes SNS Top Spot (SNS Week of 9/13/2026)

 THERE'S A FEW THINGS GOING DOWN music-wise this week:    The Carolina Beach Music Awards nominations have been trickling in this week; some controversy with the two-time SNS year-end #1 artist Ed Sheeran over the decision to drop Macklemore from his current tour; and the charting period for the Scenes 'n' Soundwaves "Song of the Summer" contest ends this week.

While I will wait for things to settle in with the CBMA noms once they're all in, catch up on the Sheeran situation, and next week hope to post my top 20 2026 summer songs (and video), I wanted to respond to a comment on one of my "SNS #1" video montages.

As many of you know, aside from my blog and weekly SNS 100, I also create several montage videos that I post on my YouTube page.   Most of them are my "Top 100" songs of a particular year, starting from 1964 and going contiguously through 1990, as well as 1996 thru '98, 2001, 2009, 2010 and 2022-2025.   I also have a few "chart history" videos from either the Billboard Hot 100 and the SNS 100.  Finally, there are three "songs of the summer" top 20 montages from 2023 to 2025 (and will work on this year's shortly).   

Finally, I have my #1 songs of the blog era, showcasing every song that has topped my blog since its inception in August 2010 through the end of 2024 (my original edition ran to the end of 2022; I am currently working on a third edition which will take it to the end of this year.   I'm also working on songs that peaked at #2 on my blog as well. 

But it's the 2010-2024 edition of my #1 songs video that this week garnered a rather negative comment.  

"there should be a law against how SH*TTY music has gotten, even THE BEATLES, please stick with the 1960s boys !!!!!!!" - @nopopkrap4

Watching the video, much of the early songs are alternative rock, mixed in with some big pop hits.   In recent years, however, many of the songs are Carolina beach music as well as retro-soul, and some well-produced pop and country songs.    If you can't tell by the commenter's user-id, it's a comment on how pop music in general has become.    And regarding The Beatles, they are refering  to "Now and Then", the original John Lennon demo track that had been mixed, partially using AI technology, that's included in the video as it was number one here for four weeks.    

OK, I love the 1960's music--it's still my most favorite decade for music; in fact it was 60 years ago that I had started following the top 40 songs of the day.    I enjoyed the many styles of the seventies and eighties as well before I hopped onto the alternative bandwagon of the 90's, particularly the early part of that decade before things started getting worse.

The cliche about "there's great music, you just have to dig deep to find it", still holds true.    And, echoing the commenter's handle, yes, what has passed for popular music, especially compared to its decades-old counterparts is, to put it mildly, disappointing.   To be honest, pop music has improved a bit from recent years when what I called it "sparse pop" with limited texture and production, and the burnt-out hip-hop with its cluttered vocal over the same rhythm track; that genre has in my opinion, been dormant for thirty-plus years, yet people keep pretending like it's the music to end all.    Well, aside from Drake, there hasn't been much of it in the top 10 lately.    Still, with better production and melodic songs, much of what's in the top 10 still lacks something.    It's no wonder that country is dominating; say what you will about that genre being too much "pop" these days, but Nashville still knows how to make recordings.   

But nopopkrap4's comments are directed to my #1 songs video.    Yes, I could still listen to 60's music exclusively, and I occasionally do, but this is 2026.    Many songs from the past that you grew up to will take you back to that time that you first heard the song on the radio; where you were, who were you wish, and all that.   But I,  at 69 years old, still experience fun things and good times, and I wish to listen to current music that also will etch into my memories for the few years I have left.   Many of the songs on that montage take me back to what I was doing in say 2012, 2017 or any other year in the past sixteen, which to me is just as viable has what I was doing in, say, 1976.

And, if you haven't really noticed, a majority of the songs I feature leave much of the styles to that of the 1960's through the 90's, especially the former.   Songs from The Womack Sisters, Brooke Combe, Jalen Ngonda, Thee Sacred Souls and several others harken back to retro soul styles from the 1960's.   Then there's Carolina beach music, which dates back to the early 1950's and that good-timey, bouncy beat has evolved, but the quality hasn't waned at all.   Just head to North Myrtle Beach at several of the Ocean Drive clubs and you'll know what I mean.   The spirit of 60's pop carries on with Barry Walsh's recent top three "Star Ride", and the currently-rising "Hilltop High" by Sir Prize and the Twomorrow Knightz which captures the late 60s/early 70s Saturday-morning bubblegum sound.  Paul Czekaj's "Thunder in the Distance" recalls sixties-era Bob Dylan.   The songs by The Jay Vons are throwbacks to many 60's styles.   Don't forget Starbuck, whose 70s smash "Moonlight Feels Right" has directly carried forth to project leader Bruce Blackman's current string of blog and beach hits.  And then you have artists directly from that era still charting, like The Rolling Stones, The Tams, Paul McCartney & Ringo Starr, and Micky Dolenz (of The Monkees).    Add to that covers of sixties and seventies songs,  like "Suspicious Minds" by Jennifer James & Brad Cox, "The Mighty Quinn" (The Half-Cubes), and "Pretty Lady" (North Tower), and you'll see that the quality and spirit of that bygone era is still pertinent to listen to.     

So, yes, it is the musical style I grew up with, but it's new nonetheless, and it creates new memories for me.   If you recall, Spotify, in its annual "wrap" of 2025 suggested that I have a listening age of 17.   Let's face it....there's no new worthy trends in music nowadays, much of it is a throwback to the "golden" era, and it's those songs, whether it's influenced by 1960's soul and pop, 70's classic rock, '80 hits, or '90s alternative, it's an advantage to do well on the charts.    And if I choose the right ones, they'll be just as memorable (for me, anyway) as those from back in the day.  

MAKE THAT 22 WEEKS:   Turning to the Hot 100, the big news, is of course, Ella Langley's "Choosin' Texas" logging its 22nd week in the top spot.   This ties the all-time record originally set by Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You", which arrived at that total through seven straight holiday seasons logging at least two weeks (and sometimes as much as five) every year.  With the top 10 on the Billboard chart once again showing no movement (only one new song, "Bby WOW" by Karol G, moving 15-10), and not looking like any new superstar releases in the near future, it is quite possible that "Choosin' Texas" could rack up several more weeks, to the point that even if Mariah once again runs the table this coming holiday season, Ms. Langley could conceivably hold onto the record.   But again, this is premature.   "Choosin' Texas", in addition to its non-consecutive tying of the all-time feat, also has a consecutive streak of 12 weeks going.     Of course, given the continuous lack of movement that has somewhat taken away from this accomplishment, this is also a statement as to how these charts are compiled.    While Billboard has taken some steps to combat this by putting limits on the number of weeks on the Hot 100 based on its ranking, the limitations place a burden on many other deserving songs that should normally be in the top ten.   It is a big shame that---and I've said this many times---that with all the songs available for streaming out there, it's the same ones that get played over and over.

Perhaps "nopopkarp4" had the right idea.

Sienna Spiro's "Material Lover" hits the #1 spot this week on the SNS 100.

IMMATERIAL:   Turning to the SNS 100, which in recent weeks had very little moment a la the Billboard chart, finally has some action in the top 20.   That includes a new #1, "Material Lover" by Sienna Spiro.    It's her first blog chart topper and is from the movie The Devil Wears Prada 2.   The song is also on John Hook's Beach Music Top 40 list, although not on any local charts.    Moving up to #2 is Brooke Combe's "Love Was Made of Stone", her third song to make the top two this year; her "How Can I Tell You (To Love Me More)" topped the SNS 100 earlier this year.   The Womack Sisters' former blog #1, "If I Let You" holds at #3 as it continues to move up the Radiowave Monitor Triple-A chart (31-26).    "The Sea, Sand and You" by Deb Browning and Townsend Link, which last week logged its 6th non-consecutive week at the top, drops to #4, while Vaughan Penn's "Sandbar Shuffle" moves 6-5.  

But it's positions 6 to 13 that make significant moves.  Tokyo Rain's "Loaded Honey" (a snippet of which was featured on the series Sterling Point's third episode of its first season) moves 14-6, while Alabama Shakes' "I Feel Hope Coming" is right behind with a 15-7 move.  The Womack Sisters are back again with "Chauffeur" (11-8), and Stella Lefty's "Boston", currently still #2 on the Hot 100, also enter the top ten here (13-9).   Starbuck's "Bongo Bay" not only enters the top 20, but also the top 10, garnering the Impact award (21-10).

In the second ten, Sam Fender and Olivia Dean's "Rein Me In" (23-11), Andy and Oneida's "Young Again" (18-12) and Michelle Branch and New Radicals' "The Game of Love" (19-13) make big moves.   Finally, The Mac Daddy's Band's "Shirley, You're Kidding" advances into the top 20 (25-20).  Outside the top 20, we have yet another Womack Sisters entry to go along with the three currently in the top section as "Monster" moves 42-25 to grab Mover of the Week honors.  

The Top Debut goes to Michigander's "Freaking Out" which moves from the Tremors list to the main chart at #80.    Kasey Musgraves has the highest new entry on the chart with "Mexico Honey" which follows-up "Dry Spell" which hit the top 30.  This is a cool, emotional in the country lane, but has wide appeal, nonetheless.    Her songs have always been melodic, and this is one of her best.    "Mexico Honey" should be another hit for her, and it enters at #81.

Just behind at #82 is the latest from Bradley Denniston, "Full Bloom".   A bit more rhythmic than in prior outings, but the melodic emotion from his past few blog hits, is still present.    This artist has yet to make noise on a national level, but he could follow in the success of singers like sombr.  He has the potential.

Sonja Grier debuts at #92 with "Another Day, Another Story".  I've been talking about 1960's retro-soul, but this one echoes the R&B sounds of the early 1970's, a genre sorely missed.   The intro reminds me of "Band of Gold" by Freda Payne, but which gets into a funky sort of groove.   This song sounds like it could have been from those early 70's "Blaxploitation" films.     Very haunting and makes you want to revisit that era of music.   The song also spent 34 weeks on John Hook's Beach Music Top 40 chart.  

Finally, we he Hannah Goodall's "Imperfect Blur", a rather haunting, introspective take.  Coming in at #97, it's her "single-most-likely" since 2023's "The Girl Who Once Loved You".    A nice song that will make noise on SNS.

BUBBLING UNDER:   Two songs enter Tremors this week:  Steve Owens' "I Want To Love You For a Long Time", already on some local beach music charts.  An awesome song; let's hope it's available on Spotify or as a download as it will help its chances on SNS......Julia Wolf's "In My Room" (not the Beach Boys classic) has been riding the top of the Alternative charts and could score with several listens. 

Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist

September 13, 2026

This Week	Last Week	ARTIST-Title	Weeks on List
1	2	NUMBER ONE: SIENNA SPIRO "Material Lover" Album: The Devil Wears Prada 2 (Soundtrack)	8
2	4	Brooke Combe - Love Was Made of Stone	7
3	3	The Womack Sisters - If I Let You●	10
4	1	Deb Browning and Townsend Link - The Sea, Sand and You●	19
5	6	Vaughan Penn - Sandbar Shuffle	7
6	14	Loaded Honey - Tokyo Rain	7
7	15	Alabama Shakes - I Feel Hope Coming	5
8	11	The Womack Sisters - Chauffeur	9
9	13	Stella Lefty - Boston	13
10	21	TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK; STARBUCK "Bongo Bay" (Single Release)	6
11	23	Sam Fender and Olivia Dean - Rein Me In	6
12	18	Andy and Oneida - Young Again	9
13	19	Michelle Branch and New Radicals - The Game of Love	7
14	8	Thee Sacred Souls - Any Old Fool	9
15	9	Ella Langley - Choosin' Texas▲	34
16	17	Wendy Lucas - Down For the Drive	11
17	5	Marsha Morgan - Whenever There's Summer●	11
18	7	The Womack Sisters - You Went Away Too Long	14
19	10	Megan Moroney - Wish I Didn't	15
20	25	The Mac Daddy's Band - Shirley, You're Kidding	4
21	12	Interpol - See Out Loud	12
22	20	Ella Langley - Be Her●	28
23	24	Karen Wallo - Plum Loco Blues	10
24	27	Jerry Powell - Nights on Ocean Drive	9
25	42	MOVER OF THE WEEK: THE WOMACK SISTERS "Monster" Album: The Womack Sisters	3
26	22	Ashen Ringlets - Waltzing Days in Maidenhead	10
27	30	Jungle - Sunshine	4
28	32	Sir Prize and the Twomorrow Knightz - Hilltop High	9
29	26	Rivermist - Heaven's Not That Far Away	12
30	16	Starbuck ft Elsie B - Sleeping in the Rain and Thunder	17
31	28	Jennifer Licko - Danny Boy	8
32	37	Paul Czekaj - Thunder in the Distance	6
33	33	The Amplifier Heads - A Song Called Sha La La	10
34	36	The Pink Slips Band - Windows Rolled Down	8
35	43	Pepper Creek - Turning 17	6
36	50	The Jay Vons - Want You Tomorrow	3
37	34	Vaughan Penn - Bands on the Beach●	23
38	45	Charcoal Greys - Blisters	6
39	39	Christina Cooper Black - A New Lease on Love●	20
40	48	Party Pupils ft. Mayer Hawthorne - Baby Come Back	8
41	31	Barry Walsh - Star Ride●	16
42	29	Iration - Roots	10
43	41	The Tams - I Tried●	22
44	52	Ruth Morayniss - Waiting on You	4
45	35	Ella Langley and Morgan Wallen - I Can't Love You Anymore	16
46	40	Caroline Rose - Yip Yip Yow	16
47	51	Tame Impala - Loser	5
48	54	The Linda Lindas - Burning Out	4
49	53	Gary Alexander - Soul Full of Sunshine	8
50	38	Starbuck - Doo Wop Bop	16
51	44	The Beaches - Should've Known Better	19
52	55	C. Lynne Smith - Close to Me	5
53	64	The Colliflowers - Arizona	3
54	57	U2 - Street of Dreams	7
55	66	Steve Lacy - oh yeah?	5
56	47	Bradley Denniston - No Saving You	13
57	75	Anna Lavigne - One Black Swan	2
58	60	Seth Storer - Anchor in the Fire	6
59	62	Sylvia Johns Ritchie and Doyle Wood - I've Got the Just Can't Help Its	19
60	65	The Pozers ft. Roger Manning Jr- Somewhere In My 21	4
61	63	Whiskey-Chitto Ramblers - Drivin'	5
62	68	Lainey Wilson and John Mayer - Phone, Keys, Wallet	5
63	46	Ruth Morayniss - You Don't Know	16
64	49	Micky Dolenz - Terri	11
65	72	Orbis Max - Cure For Hope	3
66	58	Lemonhead - Red Flags	8
67	73	Mike Browning - She Gets Carried Away	3
68	70	Young the Giant - Evergreen	7
69	92	Devon Gilfillian - Black Dog Rabbit Hole	2
70	59	Taylor Swift - I Knew It, I Knew You	13
71	78	Cage the Elephant - Beaches in Tennessee	4
72	82	Kelly Clarkson - I'd Be Lyin'	4
73	86	The Rolling Stones - Jealous Lover	2
74	81	Phoebe Bridgers - Lost Boys	4
75	91	Leon Bridges - Light the Way	2
76	95	The Half-Cubes - The Mighty Quinn	2
77	97	Bruno Mars - Risk It All	2
78	56	Weezer ft. Best Coast - Go Away	12
79	99	Fontaines DC - Marianne	2
80	103	TOP DEBUT: MICHIGANDER "Freaking Out" Album: Over Before You Know It	1
81	---	Kasey Musgraves - Mexico Honey	1
82	---	Bradley Denniston - Full Bloom	1
83	85	Morgan Wallen - Been By Now	6
84	88	Olivia Rodrigo - Stupid Song	4
85	61	Kathleen Turner Overdrive - I Want to Believe	10
86	107	David F. Porfirio - The Velvet Grindhouse	1
87	67	The Black Keys - Where There's Smoke There's Fire●	16
88	76	Jennifer James and Brad Cox - Suspicious Minds	17
89	69	Violet Grohl - Bug in the Cake	7
90	96	Teddy Swims - Mr. Know It Alll	17
91	71	Orbis Max - Falling Through the Cracks	13
92	---	Sonja Grier - Another Day, Another Story	1
93	77	Dolly Parton - Jolene	3
94	102	Brandon Flowers - Plans	1
95	90	Maren Morris - Hard Liquor and Soft Rock	4
96	94	Dolly Parton - I Will Always Love You	3
97	---	Hannah Goodall - Imperfect Blur	1
98	83	Ariana Grande - Hate That I Made You Love Me	12
99	104	The Jayhawks - Keeping Our Heads Above Water	1
100	105	Beck - Disappearing Act	1

Tremors:

101. Michael Hyatt - Shagging in Carolina

102. Steve Owens - I Want To Love You For a Long Time

103. Julia Wolf - In My Room

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

Murmurs:

Mayer Hawthorne - Ice Water

Ariana Grande - Petal

Marlisa Kay Small - In Way Over My Heart

The Feature Attraction Band - Rondels Medley

Harley Olivia - MADONNA/WHØRE

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

Classic Soul ft. Terri Gore - Where Did You Go

Paul Czekaj - I Saw Sparks/Tell Me What I Have To Do/The Waves Come Crashing In

Bruno Mars - On My Soul

Temper City - Self-Aware

Jennifer Licko - Carolina Scot

Strawberry Alarm Clock - Since You Have Gone Away

Blair Sparrow - Someday In Your Life

Low Cut Connie - Can't Be Wrong

K.Flay - Ants

The Six Piece Suits - Moment With You

Sir Prize and the Twomorrow Knightz - Bugaboo

September in the Park - Brenda

Kathleen Turner Overdrive - Grass Code

Colorjoy - Woman

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