Who needs bathrooms? ([email protected])
Sun, 10 Jan 1999 09:34:46 -0700
Below is the most recent album and single chart
news that I could find on-line. Because of my vacation,
I missed a week on some charts. Also, the Irish album
chart has not been updated since Nov. 28th. If anyone
has access to that chart or any chart with missing
information, please let me know. All missing data is indicated
with a "?".
At the end of the chart data I have some other
sales/chart information that might be of interest
to some.
U.S.:
"Best Of + B-Sides":
#2-5-21-28-29-33-38-45
"Best Of":
#57-45-68-70-70-56-58
"The Sweetest Thing":
13 total weeks on the Modern Rock charts, last
nine weeks: #17-13-11-11-10-9-10-9-10
Revised Hot 100 chart:
#66-69-63-?-?-?
U.K.:
"Best Of + B-Sides":
#1-2-15-21-23-25-?-37-62
"Best Of":
#8-9-4-8-9-?-8-7
"The Sweetest Thing":
#3-4-10-18-31-38-44-60-?-55-70
Canada:
"Best Of + B-Sides":
#1-4-11-19-27-?-?-out of top 75 (sold out?)
"Best Of":
#5-8-6-5-6-6-6
"The Sweetest Thing":
Part 1:
#1-3-3-3-6-8-?-9-10-8
Part 2:
#3-4-2-7-7-7-?-10-11-10
Ireland:
"Best Of":
#1-1-1-1-?-?-?-?-?
"The Sweetest Thing":
#1-2-4-9-11-17-20-22-?-?
Australia:
"Best Of":
#1-1-1-1-3-3-2-1-3
"The Sweetest Thing":
#6-6-10-10-15-19-21-23-22-20-15
TidBits:
1) "The Best Of + B-Sides" is no longer on
the Canadian charts, even though the "Best Of"
single CD release is in the top 10. I can
only presume that the "Best Of + B-Sides"
has sold out in Canada (since it was a limited
numbered release).
2) "The Sweetest Thing" has enjoyed 5 weeks in the
top 10 on the U.S. Modern Rock charts.
3) Note that on several charts U2's releases
have actually increased in the past few weeks!
This chart endurance suggests that the "Best Of"
will remain on the charts for some time and
may outsell "POP" and "Zooropa".
Certifications:
1) "The Best Of + B-Sides" has been certified as
PLATINUM in the U.S. (1 million copies
sold). "The Best Of" has been certified as GOLD
(500,000 copies sold).
2) "The Best Of + B-Sides" has been certified as
TRIPLE PLATINUM in Canada (300,000 copies
sold). "The Best Of" has been certified as PLATINUM
(100,000 copies sold).
Differences Between Certification and Sales:
Organizations like the RIAA or ARIA that certify
albums and singles as Gold, Platinum, etc. do
so based on how many copies of a release are
sold to STORES. Music charts in many
countries use SoundScan, which measures
direct consumer sales. Consumer sales may
not equal certification. For example, Garth
Brooks' "Double Live" release has already
been certified as selling 12 million copies
just in the U.S.! This really means that U.S.
*stores* have bought 12 million copies of this
release. However, according to SoundScan, "only"
3.7 million units have been sold to customers.
There is also the issue of 2-CD releases. A
double CD release is counted as two CDs, so
in actuality only 6 million copies of Garth
Brooks "Double Live" were bought by stores.
But since that is a double CD, it counts
as 2 CDs, hence why it was certified as selling
12 million.
The same is true for U2's "Best Of + B-Sides".
This would explain why the album was
certified as triple platinum (300,000 copies
sold) in Canda when only 175,000 numbered
copies were released there.
Chart Postions and Sales:
In the past I estimated U.S. sales based on chart
positions. Typically a release at #20 was selling
at a rate of 50,000 copies per week. An item
at #50 sold at 20,000 copies per week. Usually
items in the top 10 sold over 100,000 copies.
Recent changes in SoundScan's reporting system
combined with holiday sales nullify those estimates.
For example, while perusing the newspaper
the other day, I read an article that stated how one
artists' release charted at #29 selling 149,000 copies
that week. This is triple the sales for that position
(based on past chart/sales information).
During the holiday rush, U2's "Best
Of + B-Sides" lingered between #21 and #45. In the
past this meant sales between 20-50,000 copies
per week. However, based on the knowledge that
albums charting as "low" as #29 were actually
selling 149,000 copies a week, it's quite possible that U2's
"Best Of + B-Sides" has been selling at a rate of over
100,000 copies every week since its release.
U2's "Best Of" (without the B-Side CD) has floated
between #45 and #70 since its release. This could be
interpreted as selling between 20-100,000 copies per week.
It should be noted though that estimating sales from
chart positions has, for the moment, become almost
impossible.
Furthermore, even though an item may drop on
the charts, its sales may actually increase for that
week. It's just that other releases sold even more
thus accounting for the chart drop. For example, Garth
Brooks' release dropped to #2 this week, but
it actually sold BETTER this week than last week
when it was #1. The #1 album simply sold more.
It's with the above information in mind I stress
the need for a "grain of salt" whenever I present
chart information.
To repeat a comment I wrote in my last note,
many of you have kindly provided me chart news
for other countries. Thank you. However, due to time
limitations I only post news from 5 countries (as I feel
that these countries are a "fair" representation of
WIRE and U2Lemon members). If anyone has
any chart/sales information, please post it as
I'm sure many others are interested in U2's success
in other parts of the world. Also, if any of you
come across other certifications, please let me know.
Lastly, while visting my parents' home during the holiday,
I rummaged through some of my old belongings.
I came across a 1987 newspaper color feature discussing
U2's "Joshua Tree" release. If there is an interest,
I will post the article on "U2Lemon" later in the week.
-------------
Kirk Franklin's "Lean on Me" nominated for 3 "Give it to
whoever shows up"...er...Grammy Awards
Song of the Year (songwriter award)
R&B Performance, Duo or Group with Vocal
R&B Song (songwriter's award)
-------------
Bono spotted in Geneva, Switzerland:
On Monday (4th January) at about 11 a.m., Bono walked through
the staff area of the airport in Geneva, Switzerland. He was
pushing Ali, whose leg was injured, in a wheelchair. Jordan and
Eve, who were wearing big colorful fleece hats, were following them.
Bono was wearing his orange Popmart shades. He did not have hair
gel in his hair like in the "Sweetest Thing" video and at the Late
Late show. They were just the four of them with no bodyguards or any
other people.
Thanks to Oli G for the above.
-------------
UK Radio, Virgin Radio, held a Top 500 songs countdown.
Here's how U2 faired:
UF 489
Desire 434
WOWY 378
NYD 316
Found 255
Mys ways 130
SBS 62
Streets 50
Angel of Harlem 45
Pride 23
One 11
Thanks to Julian Hall for this info.
-------------
The Rolling Stone Interview with The Edge now seems to be
working properly for both IE4 and Netscape4.0x . You need
to download Real Player G2...
http://www.rollingstone.com/aolny/features/u2best/u2best.html
-------------
(Prarit's note: As always, until we hear anything official...
RUMOUR RUMOUR RUMOUR)
Condensed from Entertainment Weekly:
Making Tracks
Soundtracks will proliferate in 1999: Minnie Driver, Will Smith,
U2, and ElvisCostello are just a few who have new projects
...Phil Joanou's ''Entropy'' has U2 playing themselves on and
offstage, making the band a good bet for the soundtrack...
-------------
Henry Wagner recieved the following from Propaganda:
Subject: Re: U2 playing in Dublin for the Millennium
This is not an official press release. U2 are currently working
on a new album. We have no idea when the band will be
touring again.
Cecilia.
-------------
Thanks as always to Derek Mark McCallister for the following
breaking news. It's good to also hear that McG was not hurt
in the crash...
(Prarit this is not word for word)
Sunday Independent 3/1/99.
U2 Manager in terrible Car Smash.
U2's manager Paul McGuinness was involved in a car crash near his
home in Anamoe in County Wicklow, he was travelling near the
village of Roundwood when he crashed into a jeep. Local Gardai said
that Mr McGuinness was lucky to be alive as he had destroyed his
new Jaguar vechile.
Mr.McGuinness was not hurt at all in the collision. The accident
happened as he drove home and met the jeep on a corner on the road.
His Wife of 22 years Mrs. Kate McGuinness picked him up from the
local Garda Sation in Roundwood and drove him back to Anamoe. Other
local residents in the village of Annamoe include actors Daniel Day
Lewis, Mia Farrow and musicians that also live nearby include The
Cheftains and David Bowie.
-------------
Thanks to Pierluigi for this...
Einstein and U2? Read it and beLIEve it at
http://clove.net.au/~slc/index.htm
-------------
Condensed from CNN:
BOYZONE'S Wax Date
World Entertainment News Network 02-JAN-99
(JAN. 2) WENN/P - BOYZONE'S WAX DATE LATEST: Teen idols
BOYZONE are to be modelled next month (FEB99) for a display in the
National Wax Museum in Dublin, Ireland.
But their effigies won't be unveiled until July (99) at the earliest, as it will
take sculptors that long to get the likenesses right.
Other celebrities who have been waxed and are on display in the museum
include U2, BOB GELDOF and GARTH BROOKS.
Museum manager KAY MURRAY says, "We are inundated with requests
to have Boyzone in. They are so successful now that we just cannot put off
doing them any longer." (RXT/IM/TS)
-------------
Contact: Elizabeth Pendleton: 323.852.1043
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ROCK & ROLL POP QUIZ: WHAT DO U2, R.E.M., THE
SMITHS, AND SPINAL TAP HAVE IN COMMON?
ANSWER: SWEET WILLIAM.
Los Angeles-based band sweet william, set to release their debut CD
on Denali Records on September 29th.
In 1987 U2 singer Bono plucks a 16-year-old guitarist from the Summit
crowd
in Houston, Texas to join the band in its rendition of "People Get Ready."
Meanwhile in Boston, pioneering English popsters, the Smiths, invite a few
fans onstage for the show closer "Barbarism Begins At Home." Included in this
chosen few is a young, aspiring pop singer. During this time, an Alaskan
heavy metal drummer auditions for Spinal Tap at the LA Coliseum; while back in
Boston, a handful of audience members at Tufts University sit onstage for
R.E.M.'s set, among them is an up and coming keyboardist. Finally, in 1996 in
Los Angeles, the paths of these four fated musicians cross; they add a bassist
from Cleveland and form sweet william. Coincidence? We think not.
Drawing inspiration from these formidable influences, sweet william
have
created a unique and relevant, late 90's pop/rock sound all their own. The
disc is a gorgeous collection of intriguing melodies, sonic textures and
unpredictably engaging lyrics.
Bassist Rob Mackey says what separates sweet william's brand of melodic
pop
from current trends is the band's substance and sincerity. "We've managed to
balance the sweetness of Andy's (singer/lyricist) vocal lines and Charlotte's
(keyboardist, backing vocals) harmonies and piano parts with a strong and
solid rock & roll foundation. It's pop with guts."
Outstanding tracks on the record include the emotion-soaked "There You
Go",
the defiant rocker "Rather Not" and poppy opener "Kiss." Also included is
sweet william's melancholy take on Lou Reed's "Pale Blue Eyes".
Check out: http://www.sweetwilliam.com
-------------
Martin has created a list for those people who are travelling to
the Millenium Party in Dublin. The address is
[email protected], however you must subscribe from
http://www.onelist.com/subscribe.cgi/311299
-------------
Thanks to des of Interference.com for this:
There's an article re the influences of CS Lewis on rock and roll. They
mention the screwtape letters in HMTMKMKM.
http://www.ohyeah.net/ohyeah/features/CSLEWIS.htm
-------------
Prarit.....
[email protected]
http://www.members.home.net/u2-news/u2.html
This page is brought to you by the letter "U" and the number "2".
-- Prarit....[email protected] U2 news: http://www.members.home.net/u2-news/u2.html U2 NEWS is MOVING -- AGAIN!!!!
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