Coldplay It Again, Sam
It’s still hard out there for a pimp, but apparently it’s not much easier for a saint.
Mötley Crüe’s Saints of Los Angeles and Three 6 Mafia’s Last 2 Walk were the week’s biggest bows, but neither came close to the three albums that pulled a Groundhog Day up top.
Coldplay’s Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends held the No. 1 spot for the week ended Sunday, selling another 249,000 copies, per Nielsen SoundScan. Lil Wayne followed at No. 2 with 209,000 copies of Tha Carter III, and the Jonas Brothers-led Camp Rock soundtrack held at No. 3 with 169,000.
In just three weeks, Lil Wayne has sold 1.53 million copies, giving Tha Carter III a commanding lead as the year’s best-selling album. Coldplay’s Viva la Vida is already the fifth best-selling album of 2008, with 971,000 copies sold in just two weeks.
The Crüe, meanwhile, scored the week’s biggest debut, opening at No. 4 with 99,000 copies, while Three 6 Mafiabest known for the Oscar-winning “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp”sold 77,000 copies at No. 5.
Shinedown’s The Sound of Madness landed the third and final top 10 bow at No. 8, moving 50,000 copies.
Other notable debuts included Sigur Rós’ Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust at No. 15, Cute Is What We Aim For’s Rotation at No. 21, Amos Lee’s Last Days at the Lodge at No. 29, Dwele’s Sketches of a Man at No. 35 and Superchick’s Rock What You Got at No. 65.
Over on the digital tracks chart, Katy Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl” held the top spot on 187,000 copies sold, though the Jonas Brothers’ “Burnin’ Up” sold a massive 183,000 copies in its debut. Expect a huge bump for the sibling singers on tomorrow’s Hot 100 chart.
Overall, album sales were down nearly 8 percent from last week and 13 percent compared to the same week last year, when the Hannah Montana 2 soundtrack led the charts.
Next week, look for the Fiddy-led G-Unit to make a play for No. 1 with T.O.S. (Terminate On Sight).
To recap, the top 10 albums were as follows:
- Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends, Coldplay
- Tha Carter III, Lil Wayne
- Camp Rock soundtrack, various
- Saints of Los Angeles, Mötley Crüe
- Last 2 Walk, Three 6 Mafia
- Now That’s What I Call Music! 28, various
- Here I Stand, Usher
- The Sound of Madness, Shinedown
- Indestructible, Disturbed
- Good Girl Gone Bad, Rihanna
Coldplay Rocks Today Show Stage
Coldplay Rocks Today Show Stage
Always one to brighten the day of others when he can, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin made a young, injured fan’s day during an appearance on the Today Show on Friday (June 27).
According to press on hand, “The singer was rehearsing ahead of a live performance on the popular breakfast program in New York City, when he noticed a young boy named Lucas Bell in the front row with his arm in a cast.”
From there, “Martin stopped singing, reached down and grabbed Bell - the son of Today show executive producer Jim Bell - lifting him up onto the stage before grilling him about how he broke his arm.”
After the heartfelt moment, Chris and his fellow Coldplay rockers performed a string of hits for the thousands of fans who gathered outside the show’s Rockefeller Center studio - with hosts Meredith Vieira and Ann Curry kissing onstage while holding up some lingerie - like true rock star groupies!
Chris Martin: Thanks for the Mammaries
Or at least for the over-the-shoulder boulder holder that carries ’em.
Chris Martin, who burst on the scene with his band Coldplay a few years ago with the song “Yellow,” found himself seeing pink during the group’s performance on the Today show Friday, when an overzealous fan decided to toss the troubadour a token of appreciation.
No word on who threw it, but personally, we’re hoping it wasn’t one of Willard Scott’s centenarians.
Gwyneth Paltrow, Chris Martin Celebrate Coldplay in NYC
Gwyneth Paltrow, Chris Martin Celebrate Coldplay in NYC
Released a week ago, the new Coldplay album Viva La Vida has already been receiving public and critical acclaim. And last night, Chris Martin and company rocked Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Martin’s wife Gwyneth Paltrow was spotted hanging out after the concert at a post-show party in the Big Apple’s West Village, along with guy pal Ed Burns.
And the “Shakespeare in Love” beauty looked understatedly stunning in a black dress with a black jacket overtop and some strappy brown peep-toe shoes.
Meanwhile, the “She’s the One” actor was looking chic in a black button-up shirt with dark distressed jeans and a pair of black leather shoes.