Loading ...
Who’d have thought that a “YouTube sensation” would wind up with the best sales week of 2009? When all was said and done, Susan Boyle’s I Dreamed A Dream ended up selling 701,000 copies last week, reports Billboard. Needless to say, it debuted at #1 on the trade publication’s Top 200 Albums chart.
The warbling minx not only dethroned John Mayer from the top—his Battle Studies got bumped all the way down to #13. So how did things shake out with Adam Lambert, Lady Gaga and Rihanna?
* American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert sold 198,000 copies of For Your Entertainment and came in at #3 on the Top 200 chart. That’s obviously lower than the 225,000 that had been projected last week, but still enough to make Idol champ Kris Allen a bit red-faced (he sold 80,000 of his self-titled debut in week one).
* Rihanna debuted at #4 with Rated-R after selling 181,000 copies. Some are calling this a flop in comparison to the week’s other debuts, but Billboard notes this is actually Ri Ri’s best opening sales week ever. Apples and oranges, maybe?
* Lady Gaga comes in at #5 on a bit of a technicality with The Fame Monster. The eight-song release moved 174,000 copies on its own. However, Gaga’s first album The Fame also jumped up to #6, thanks in part to it now being available in a re-packaged edition with The Fame Monster. So depending on who bought what version, it gave her two releases a boost either way.
Now we turn to see how things play out next week for R. Kelly and Allison Iraheta—and if Andrea Bocelli will still be jamming things up at #2 with My Christmas.
The Top 10 of Billboard’s Top 200 Albums:
1. Susan Boyle, I Dreamed A Dream *new*
2. Andrea Bocelli, My Christmas
3. Adam Lambert, For Your Entertainment *new*
4. Rihanna, Rated-R *new*
5. Lady Gaga, The Fame Monster *new*
6. Lady Gaga, The Fame
7. Miley Cyrus, The Time Of Our Lives
8. Taylor Swift, Fearless
9. Carrie Underwood, Play On
10. Norah Jones, The Fall
Guess there aren’t as many hardcore Glambert fans as previously thought.
A respectable number but certainly not in proportion with the rabid postings declaring Glambert as the second coming of Jesus/Lennon/Presley on this site.
If he doesn’t generate a bona fide radio hit from this album, expect it to drop like a stone.
Not hating, just stating the facts.
what were Shakira’s sales like? Obviously not very good; a shame as it’s a great album
adam lambert is not the second coming of jesus, is just a rock star who will be iconic. despite people trashing him all over internet, he sold more than enough. buy his album, you will be blown away.
“is just a rock star who will be iconic” See Clara, that’s exactly the type of hyperbole I’m talking about. He could very well be an icon…in several years. He could just as easily be a footnote on the pop landscape as well. Only time will tell.
This guy could very well have a long-lasting career, it’s just that the culture of celebrity these days focuses on potential, not actual achievement.
Do you think anybody was hailing Madonna as a true visionary before the release of her first album in 1983? No. She had to earn it.
Devo, go to http://www.hitsdailydouble.com for full chart results Shakira debuted at #15 with 83k sold.
Susan Boyle is a “minx”?
One thing Ive noticed is that all of Rihanna’s albums debut low but end up selling modestly there slow movers her numbers are no surprise to me what is a surprise is that Lady GaGa who’s been all over with all the publicity and charting success of Bad Romance her numbers are really weak perhaps everyone isn’t buying into the hype & Gimmicks after-all.
Adam beating Rihanna GaGa and Shakira is quite the feat as is Susan’s massive numbers.
Shakiras numbers depress me her last album did about 55% more in its opening weak.
Kudos to Rihanna on beating GaGa though really hadn’t seen that coming.
These girls may be big but it goes to show they’ve got a long way to go before they can do Britney & Beyonce numbers if ever.
Yeah, Baker, and apparently one that “warbles” too.
[Thinking.] Actually, now that I consider the little wiggle she did on “Britain’s Got Talent” when she answered the question about her age… “minx” fits. Yeah. Yeah.
I sampled all the songs from Susan Boyle… and I just don’t see it, what exactly is her appeal? Her voice is nothing special to me, and her song interpretation is ugh-worthy. I guess it takes an internet sensation to sell albums these days. Good music from great artists isn’t enough anymore without some sort of hype.
Glad for Adam and I hope he sees the error in his ways with the AMAs performance. I believe he would have sold more w/o that performance. He needs to repeat the performance that he did on Ellen for the longevity of his album. Adam, you don’t need all that extra stuff and you see that some people were really turned off by Black Friday…Adam could have easily crossed 250,000+ if he had not done that AMA performance…good opening numbers, but Adam did hurt himself w/the AMAs. I really hope WWFM is a big radio hit for him…his album is really good.
Adam Lambert isn’t a rock star. Sales proved that. Adam is a media whore. And if he wants to be himself as an artist he could possibly headline as a Drag Queen in South Beach where his talents would be truly appreciated.
Jamie, stop being a homophobe…Adam did fine, but could have done better if not for the AMAs…and Adam knows this…
Mr. Middletown, I’m no Lady GagGa fan. I think she’s a joke, but she had two albums out this week and if you combined her totals, she more than out sold Adam.
How can I be a homophobe if I’m gay myself?
Kind of sad when you consider Bo Bice sold more copies in his first week…and we all know where he ended up.
He did beat David Archuleta by 15K though, so perhaps there is hope.
You can be a homophobe and gay at the same time…stop hating on Adam…plus Gaga has nothing to do with Adam…as it stands…he still did better than Kris…anyway, your negativity is off-putting and another example of gay on gay hate.
It’s 2009 and the industry has changed…Boyle is the exception to all the rules…I think Adam’s album will have legs with the right singles…
Adam, please keep the focus on music and not on the image thing…you really hurt yourself with the AMAs…you need to continue the Ellen type of performances and interviews….and get more radio play…I wish you the best in this tough industry.
No Gay on Gay hate EVER! No hate on Adam. It just is what it is. Adam is more media famewhore than recording artist. Adam’s behavior casts an ugly light on us who are openly gay. Until you’ve lived your life as an openly gay male, do not tell me who I should like or how I should act. Save that for Adam.
Jamie, hear hear! Well said.
Somesense, you preach about people being negative for stating simple sales facts and then add “…he still did better than Kris…”. Bit of a double standard, dontchathink??
Jamie, it ain’t that deep…please calm down and let’s not even go there…I’m a minority and don’t behave like a childish victim..gays are not the only minority..get real and get into the human community.
Adam did better than Kris..it’s a fact..and I stated that he hurt himself with the AMAs..whatever…that AMA thing has nothing to do w/him being gay, it has everything to do with a bad judgement call…anyway, straight people make bad judgement calls as well…and Jamie is an eternal victim..I’m a minority and never behave that way…you think I think the movie “Precious” represents all black people?….grow up…please
Your jumps in logic confuse me to no end:
Jamie: I’m no Lady GagGa fan. I think she’s a joke, but she had two albums out this week and if you combined her totals, she more than out sold Adam.
(ie: It’s a fact)
Your response: Gaga has nothing to do with Adam
I call you out on then pointing out Adam outselling Kris.
Your response: it’s a fact
Hilarity.
And please don’t make these overarching statements about sexuality/race. Inappropriate to this conversation. To quote yourself “it ain’t that deep”. We’re talking about album sales here. Facts, if you will.
Your jumps in logic confuse me to no end:
Because you are stupid…Gaga, okay combine them..Adam is still at #3…whatever, you’re a hater and you cannot handle facts…obviously, I am not an Adam worshipper and thought his AMAs performance was not very good…glad he is coming to his senses and being about the music…someone talked to him finally….it’s too bad people like you are so negative and want him to fail…whatever…Adam did good considering everything else…btw “it ain’t that deep” is a quote from Mr. Lambert himself…so thanks for repeating him…let’s check back in January and see where Adam is…he does need a radio hit though…FYE was not the right first single…I actually expected Gaga to sell more because of her AMAs performance and the one on Ellen….oh, well and I am spot on about minorities projecting themselves onto individual entertainers or products…it’s a product, that is all…and Adam needs to be about his product, his voice….he really blew the AMA thing big time and should be happy that he sold as well as he did with all that stuff from last week…Adam wake up hun, it’s about the music and people respecting you…people did not respect you after the AMAs…anyway…done with this and I hope the negative people continue to be negative and wishing death on Adam ;);)
“Because you are stupid”. Classic response from somebody with nothing to say.
Can we please retire the term “hater”? It’s about as over-used as “indie hipster”. Besides, what have I specifically said that is so “hateful” about Adam? If anything I was just confronting you about your double-standard on the Kris Allen/Lady Gaga/Adam Lambert sales comparisons.
And I love how you’re addressing your posts to Adam directly. Because I’m sure a) He reads this site and b) he’d value your advice.
Again, hilarity!
Also…Adam and Kris are both AI alums…so they do have to do with one another….anyway, good luck to Allison and Kris….I will not say the same for Adam as a shotout to stryker. This week proves that Boyle is a sensation and that Adam is a new pop star on the scene and needs to regroup and fix his image.
It’s the internet stupid….I can address anyone I want…you are the one with the identity issues on the net…I can’t even see you….so why do you care if I post a post addressed to Adam…I can be and do anything I want on the net…just like you….you really suck…is that serious? Do you know me? Am I in your face?…no…so you still suck
I hope you have gained some sense of personal validation on this site stryker…you obviously need it….
“You are stupid” “you really suck” “so you still suck”.
On the net you can be anyone you want, but it’s becoming more and more apparent that I’ve been having an argument with a 12-year old.
Hilarity!
@ Jamie, Yes her a combined sum would mean she would “technically” have sold more by combining two separate albums in contrast that doesn’t exactly help “The Fame Monster” cause it was also double packaged to sell with The fame meaning that The Fame Monster alone by itself sold a mere 23k. People more interested in her former work than her newer its abit anti-climatic nonetheless for people you have went so far as to call her the new “princess of pop”.
Idolator has cracked the code:If only RiRi and Adam put BOTH hands on their faces on the covers their sales would have equaled or surpassed* Susan’s!
*gloves/handwear may or may not increase the effect
@Beaupreen YES!
WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT SUSAN BOYLE’S ALBUM BEING ONE -ARE YOU KIDDING. ALL HER LOYAL FANSINCLUDING ME KNEW THAT WOULD HAPPEN. ITS JUST ALL THE NEWS REPORTERS WHO REFUSED TO BELIEVE US.
SING SUSAN SING!
ZOMBIEBOT WONDERS IF PREVIOUS POSTER KNOWS HOW TO TURN OFF CAPS LOCK.
Debut numbers won’t mean as much as continued sales and interest. I predict that Adam, who is self-absorbed and using incredibly poor judgement, will not sell well after this initial, temporary response from recent Idol appearances. He’s managed to blow a major opportunity from his appearance on AMA. I know I wouldn’t touch his albums or attend his concerts. Some people will buy tabloid artists, but most won’t when the desperate attempt for flash fame is so obvious. Too bad too because he has a great voice.
susan boyle has a beautiful voice and her cd is wonderful everyone who likes lovely music will buy her cd it is the best album in years the the amount of sales proves that!!!!!!!
adam lambert is down to #13 on amazon and #16 on barnes and noble
Adam is NOT wanted in “South Beach”.