See Also: • Review: Gotye at the Ogden Theatre, 4/6/12 • Slideshow: Gotye at the Ogden Theatre, 4/6/12 • Why This Song Sucks: Gotye's "Somebody That I Used To Know" featuring Kimbra
Adele may be back near the top of the charts this week with 21, but it is Lionel Richie, with his country album Tuskegee, that's the real surprise on the Billboard 200 albums chart. Climbing three spots, Tuskegee summits the chart this week, the first time for the set since debuting behind Madonna's MDNA two weeks ago. Last week's chart-topper, Nicki Minaj's Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, sits at number three this week, shifting only 81,000 units, as compared to Tuskegee's 129,000 and 21's 92,000 units.
The highest-charting new album on the charts this week is by Monica -- yep, that Monica from the '90s -- with New Life, which lands at number four. One Direction follows, with Up All Night, which remains at number five for another week. Bonnie Raitt's new set, Slipstream, debuts at number six. Gotye's Making Mirrors jumps eight spots to number seven.
The singles chart isn't nearly as exciting. Predictably, Gotye's "Somebody That I Used To Know" featuring Kimbra, fueled by a Glee cover and Gotye and Kimbra's performance of the song on Saturday Night Live last weekend, takes the top of the chart. Thus the track sold 542,000 digital downloads in the chart week. Gotye is the first Australian solo artist to top the Billboard Hot 100 since Olivia Newton-John did so in 1981 with "Physical."
The Glee Cast as an ensemble had a great week, too, as it notched its 200th hit on the Hot 100 chart and makes history with its placing. Elvis, in a distant second, has 108 songs that officially charted on the Hot 100 and an additional 31 songs that predate the chart but would also qualify. Lil Wayne ranks third with 101 songs charted.
Back to the present chart, fun.'s "We Are Young" sits far away at number two, selling 209,000 less than "Somebody That I Used To Know." The Wanted's "Glad You Came" lands another week at number three, as One Direction and Justin Bieber spend another week at four and five, respectively. Flo Rida and Sia gain one spot to number six with "Wild Ones." Nicki Minaj drops one to number seven with "Starships," while "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" and "Part Of Me" by Katy Perry both also drop a spot to numbers nine and ten, respectively.
On the U.K. charts, Carly Rae Jepsen spends another week at number one on the singles chart, and Adele's 21 reclaims the top of the albums chart, followed by Nicki Minaj with Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded and Alabama Shakes with Boys & Girls.
Next week: Gotye's reign at number one is just beginning, as "Somebody That I Used To Know" easily has another two weeks' worth of longevity at the top. The Billboard 200 albums chart is a bit harder to predict, but new albums by Jason Mraz, Neon Trees and Train should all chart in the upper echelons, with Train possibly landing in the top ten.
See Also:
• Madonna's back with a potent new drug called MDNA • Madonna's MDNA outsells Lionel Richie's Tuskegee (what year is this again?) • Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, is a Minaj-à-trois of pop, dance and hip-hop • Madonna's MDNA falls harder than Lady Gaga's Born This Way did, while Nicki Minaj takes the top in the U.S. and U.K.
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