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Pop Rock Nation

Category: Charts

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  • Raging Against Christmas: Anarchy in the U.K.

    It’s quite a big deal to have the #1 single in the UK over Christmas. Over the years, that spot has hosted artists ranging from Band Aid (whose “Do They Know It’s Christmas” topped the chart in 1984) to Mr. Blobby (don’t feel bad if you don’t know who that is…unfortunately, I do).

    Anyway, for the past few years, the Christmas #1 in Britain has been tied in with “X Factor”, AKA the British version of “American Idol”. Like “Idol”, “X Factor” is spearheaded by Simon Cowell. Although the show doesn’t mean much on U.S shores, it has spawned at least one certified hitmaker (for a brief time, anyway) in Leona Lewis.

    One guy took exception to Cowell’s domination of the UK charts (and what it represents to true music fans) and started a Facebook campaign to get people to download Rage Against the Machine’s “Killing in the Name” in the hopes that it would prevent “X factor” winner Joe McElderry from hitting the #1 spot with his cover of Miley Cyrus’s “The Climb” (I can’t make this stuff up folks).

    So, the results are in and the #1 single in the UK is…”Killing in the Name” by Rage Against the Machine! Half a million people downloaded it last week, pushing the 18-year old song to the top of the charts. This chart victory is all kinds of symbolic, proving the fact that British music fans are a little tired of having processed musical cheese shoved down their collective throats (although it might have been better had they used their Facebook clout to promote a new artist who needs the publicity). It’s also cool that the guys from Rage have promised to donate money to charity as a result of their chart-topping success. Now if we could just do something about Susan Boyle here in the States…

  • Chart Chat 12/16/09: New Release FAIL

    Folks continue to run out in droves to buy Susan Boyle. The British singer’s “I Dreamed a Dream” spends a third week on top of the Billboard Album charts, moving 582,000 copies of her debut effort. In three weeks, “Dream” has sold a mind-boggling 1.8 million records. It is currently the fourth biggest selling album of 2009 and has a chance to catch Taylor Swift for the #1 crown with 2 weeks left.

    As has been custom these past couple weeks, Italian singer Andrea Bocelli holds down the #2 spot with “My Christmas”. 400,000 copies slide across store shelves this week, giving Bocelli a grand total of 1.5 million sold in just six weeks.

    The week’s top debut? The second volume of songs from the hit television show “Glee”. A collection of remade popular favorites from the likes of Kelly Clarkson, this soundtrack moved 173,000 copies to land at the #3 spot overall and also dislodges Michael Jackson’s “This is It” from the #1 spot on the Soundtrack charts after a six week run.

    Other folks who put albums out last week are probably not as in the mood to celebrate as the “Glee” cast. Last week’s most high-profile debut was Chris Brown’s “Graffiti”. The album manages to come in at #7 with 107,000 copies sold. Not a bad amount, and it is the week’s biggest selling R&B album, but it’s also 1/3 of what his previous album, “Exclusive” sold in it’s first week. It’s also just a little more than half of what Rihanna’s latest album sold in its’ first week. Brown doesn’t sport this week’s only disappointing debut. Snoop Dogg bows all the way down at #23 with his latest, “Malice N Wonderland”, and Timbaland’s “Shock Value II” slides in at a lowly #36. The albums sell 59,000 and 39,000 copies respectively. All I can say to those numbers is “Yowsa!!”

    One of this season’s surprise strong sellers comes from Canadian teenager Justin Bieber, who probably has swiped a large chunk of Brown’s audience. The Usher protege’s debut EP “My World” hangs in at #8. It’s scanned just under 400,000 copies in four weeks of release. Couple a teen-friendly artist with an agreeable price, and chances are, you’ll have a hit. Just ask Miley Cyrus, whose “Time of Our Lives” EP sits down at #20 and becomes the 20th album this year to cross the million sales mark.

    Next week’s big chart news will be the debut of the new Alicia Keys album. With the Boyle and Bocelli juggernauts at full speed and without a big radio single, I’d say the chances of Keys scoring a #1 debut are kinda slim. Will she score her fifth consecutive chart topper? Stay tuned and catch us next week with another Chart Chat column.

    This week’s Top 20 albums:

    1) Susan Boyle “I Dreamed a Dream”
    2) Andrea Bocelli “My Christmas”
    3) Glee Cast “Glee-The Music Vol. 2”
    4) Taylor Swift “Fearless”
    5) Carrie Underwood “Play On”
    6) Lady GaGa “The Fame”
    7) Chris Brown “Graffiti”
    8) Justin Bieber “My World (EP)”
    9) Michael Buble “Crazy Love”
    10) Gucci Mane “The State vs. Radric Davis”
    11) Glee Cast “Glee-The Music Vol. 1”
    12) Michael Jackson “This is It”
    13) Various Artists “Now 32”
    14) Lady GaGa “The Fame: Monster (EP)”
    15) Norah Jones “The Fall”
    16) Josh Groban “Noel”
    17) Jimmy Buffett “Buffett Hotel”
    18) Soundtrack “Twilight: New Moon”
    19) 30 Seconds to Mars “This is War”
    20) Miley Cyrus “Time of Our Lives (EP)”

  • Chart Chat 12/9/09: Boyle and Bocelli Do it Again!!

    Young folks might be the coveted consumers when it comes to most advertising campaigns, but this week’s Billboard Album Charts prove that it’s the grown-ups who are spending the money. Last week’s champion Susan Boyle spends a second week on top, adding another 527,000 copies to a two-week haul of 1.2 million. To put that in more eye-popping terms, after only two weeks, Boyle has the 10th best selling album of 2009.

    Right behind Boyle is Italian crooner Andrea Bocelli, who has by far the year’s biggest selling Christmas album. 428,000 copies of “My Christmas” crossed counters this week, giving Bocelli a very impressive 1.1 million units scanned in 5 weeks. Look for both those albums to maintain those numbers through the month of December. At this point, the question is can Boyle sell enough units in the next three weeks to overtake Taylor Swift’s total, with is 2.5 million units so far this year. Considering Taylor’s reenergized sales, I’d say it’s possible but doubtful-she moves another 127,000 copies of “Fearless” this week to land at #3.

    The week’s highest-and only notable-debut comes from R. Kelly. His much-delayed “Untitled” project debuts at #4 on the Top 200 and #1 on the R&B album chart. All of Kelly’s solo studio albums have debuted at #4 or higher on the charts, a streak that goes back to “12 Play” in 1993. However, a mediocre first week of 114,000 units hints that Kelly’s reign as the Pied Piper of R&B might be coming to a close.

    The only other debut of note comes from 3rd place “American Idol” finisher Allison Iraheta. Her “Just Like You” manages a so-so #35 finish, with around 32,000 units sold. This season’s “Idol” finalists all appear to be washouts-Adam Lambert dives from #3 to #22 this week, while Kris Allen finds himself languishing at #52 in his third week.

    The charts have taken a decidedly adult contemporary flavor these last couple weeks, as Moms and Dads are buying CDs (or people are buying CDs for their moms and dads). Most albums drop in sales considering it’s the week following Thanksgiving, but among the albums that increase this week are Michael Buble and Rod Stewart’s latest efforts. Also hanging tough is Norah Jones, who had a mediocre debut a few weeks back, but actually moves up three spots to #7 this week. Other albums that debuted that week aren’t faring as well-John Mayer’s former #1 slides down to #17, and 50 Cent’s “Before I Self Destruct” finds itself at 40.

    Next week’s chart’s biggest debut might just be the new one from Jared Leto’s band 30 Seconds to Mars. Also look out for Chris Brown’s new album, which has allegedly been selling above expectations.

    Here’s this week’s Top 20:

    1) Susan Boyle “I Dreamed a Dream”
    2) Andrea Bocelli “My Christmas”
    3) Taylor Swift “Fearless”
    4) R. Kelly “Untitled”
    5) Lady GaGa “The Fame”
    6) Carrie Underwood “Play On”
    7) Norah Jones “The Fall”
    8) Michael Jackson “This is It”
    9) Soundtrack “Twilight-New Moon”
    10) Michael Buble “Crazy Love”
    11) Various “Now 32”
    12) Justin Bieber “My World”
    13) Lady GaGa “The Fame: Monster (EP)”
    14) Josh Groban “Noel”
    15) Casting Crowns “Peace on Earth”
    16) Rihanna “Rated R”
    17) John Mayer “Battle Studies”
    18) Miley Cyrus “Time of Our Lives (EP)”
    19) Sting “If On a Winter’s Night…”
    20) Glee Cast “Glee The Music Vol. 1”