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Bruno Mars on the Surf Countdown

Bruno Mars Takes the Crown on the Surf Countdown

"I Just Might" Climbs to #1 on Valentine's Day, Proving the Carolina Coast Has Room for Everyone

Jay Kinlaw had a Valentine’s gift for his listeners on February 14th, and it didn’t come wrapped in a box of chocolates. When the host of the Surf 94.9 Beach Music Countdown unveiled this week’s chart, a global superstar sat in the seat usually reserved for Carolina royalty. Bruno Mars and his silky new single “I Just Might” had climbed all the way to number one.

Let that sink in for a moment. On a station that lives and breathes the music of the Grand Strand—where North Tower, Jim Quick, and the Swingin’ Medallions are household names—a pop megastar topped the chart not because of hype, but because the listeners put him there. That says something important about what Beach Music actually is in 2025, and what it has always been at its best: a feeling, not a formula.

A Song Built for the Floor

“I Just Might” earns its place honestly. The track sits at a comfortable mid-tempo pace, roughly 115 to 120 beats per minute, and rides a steady, soulful backbeat that practically dares you to stay in your seat. For line dancers, it’s a natural fit—the groove locks in and doesn’t let go. For Shag dancers, it runs slightly faster than a traditional walking-tempo number, but experienced couples will find plenty of room to settle into a smooth style, letting the rhythm carry them rather than fighting the clock. West Coast Swing devotees will feel right at home with the high-energy pocket the song creates.

The Chart Runs Deep

What makes this week’s countdown worth studying isn’t just the song at the top—it’s the company it keeps. North Tower holds strong at number two, Jim Quick is right behind at three, and Jackie and Terri Gore’s “Unforgettable” sits at four. Drop down to number seven and you’ll find the Swingin’ Medallions bringing the horns with “Hit Me with Them Horns,” a title that doubles as a mission statement. The Tams deliver the soulful harmonies that have defined Carolina dance floors for decades, while Gary Lowder & Smokin’ Hot remind everyone why the smooth end of the spectrum never goes out of style. That’s the depth chart of a scene that is thriving, not merely surviving. When a Bruno Mars single can coexist at the top alongside artists who have spent their careers playing Myrtle Beach pavilions and Shag club fundraisers, you’re looking at a musical ecosystem that knows exactly what it is.

Your Chart, Your Call

This chart is yours—every number-one record, every bubble song that crashes the Top 20, every surprise appearance by a national act traces back to the listeners who call in, message, and show up. If you’ve got a favorite grinding its way up the countdown, make your voice heard. In a world of algorithmic playlists and corporate programming, a chart shaped by actual human beings who actually dance to the music is something worth protecting.

Bruno Mars may hold the crown this week. But on the Carolina coast, the real king has always been the crowd.

This Article first appeared in the 3rd issue of The Surfline

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