When told about the achievement, Steve Jobs proudly stated that SuBo’s music has been available on iTunes from day one.
But just what is this accomplishment that is clearly going to take the music world, spin it on its axis and leave us all the better when the dust settles? Quite simply, Scotland’s finest songstress has the number-one album in the U.S. and U.K. at the same time. And what’s more, it’s the second time it’s happened this year (our more musically-inclined friends would call it a reprise). The Beatles and the Monkees are the only ever acts to pull this off, in 1967 and 1969, but Boyle’s record company, Sony, said she’s the first woman to do the double whammy.
(See pictures of Susan Boyle’s road to fame.)
New album The Gift reached the heady heights of the top in the U.K. Sunday, and repeated the trick in the U.S. Wednesday. I Dreamed a Dream did similar business and was the biggest-selling album in the world over this past year. When told, Boyle said, “I’ve never felt happier in all my life. This is an amazing result and one I never expected.”
Simon Cowell, who reacted with amazement to SuBo’s famous first audition in 2009 on Britain’s Got Talent, seemed even happier, saying, “I’m thrilled for Susan. She has once again defied the odds. She is my superwoman.”
(See pictures of American Idol‘s past winners.)
When superwoman Boyle comes down off her understandable high, she’ll also be able to reflect on some 400 million views on YouTube and appearing for the Pope and on Oprah. Not too shabby for someone who only ever wanted to emulate the British singer Elaine Page.
But if Boyle, or anyone else, needs a reminder of how fleeting fame can be, this Sunday’s current chart sales shows that the British boy band, Take That, will be enjoying a number one with their new album, Progress. Indeed, if there’s one person that rules the roost in the U.K. when it comes to music, it’s Robbie Williams and his rejoining the band has sealed that particular deal. Still, for the next few days, let’s revel in Boyle’s success and hope that John Lennon isn’t turning in his grave. (Via the Guardian)