Substance Over Style



Something kind of amazing is happening on the British and American music charts right now and that something is actually a someone. That someone has a name. Her name is Adele. New album, 21, has spent six weeks at the top of the UK charts, with debut, 19, sitting behind it at #2 before dropping back to #4 this week. On the singles charts, 'Someone Like You' has spent three weeks at #1 with 'Rolling In The Deep' sticking around in the top 5. You know what that makes her? The first artist since The Beatles in 1964 to have two songs and two albums in the top 5 on each respective chart. But she's not just dominating in the UK... she debuted at #1 in the USA with the highest selling sales week of 2011 (hopefully securing her an Album of the Year nomination for the next Grammys) and 'Rolling In The Deep' has become her first top 20 hit. Is this just a rare one-off on the charts where substance triumphs over style? With Britney Spears, Lady Gaga and a plethora of flashy pop stars releasing albums in the next two months it could very well be. Regardless, we should enjoy it while it lasts.