Bruno Mars became the first male solo artist since Mika in 2007 to top the U.K. singles and album charts simultaneously on Sunday (Jan. 23). Meanwhile, the “Glee” Cast broke the record for the shortest time for any act to achieve 20 top 40 U.K. appearances.
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Mars’ “Grenade” (Elektra//Warner Music) started a second week atop the singles survey, with two-week sales to Saturday in excess of 250,000. His “Doo Wops & Hooligans” album debuted at No. 1, selling twice that of the album it replaced, Rihanna’s “Loud,” (Def Jam/Universal), which fell to No. 2.
Video: Bruno Mars performs “Grenade” for Billboard Tastemakers
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“In 2010,” commented Atlantic Records U.K. chairman Max Lousada, “Bruno co-wrote four [U.K.] No. 1 singles and this year he’s already achieved the rare feat of a No. 1 album and No. 1 single during the same week, which shows what an extraordinary talent he is.”
“Grenade” won the battle for singles supremacy with another high-profile new entry, British star Adele’s “Rolling In The Deep” (XL Recordings), which had led earlier in the sales week but ended with a No. 2 debut. Her sophomore album “21” is released today (Monday). Jessie J’s “Do It Like A Dude” (Lava/Universal Island) fell 2-3 as “Coming Home” (Interscope/Universal) by Diddy Dirty Money featuring Skylar Grey debuted at No. 4.
The new singles top ten contained three further new entries, with “Traktor” (Levels/Ministry of Sound) by Wretch 32 featuring L at No. 5, Britney Spears scoring her 21st U.K. top ten single with “Hol d It Against Me” (Jive/Sony Music Entertainment) at No. 6, and “Like U Like” (Future/Universal) at No. 8 for Brazilian-born English rapper Aggro Santos, featuring Kimberley Walsh of Girls Aloud, at No. 8.
The “Glee” Cast’s version of “Toxic” (Epic/Sony Music Entertainment) debuted at No. 40, meaning that the TV phenomenon has taken just 57 weeks to generate 20 top 40 singles appearances. Their U.K. chart debut, “Don’t Stop Believin’,” entered at No. 75 in Christmas week 2009, on its way to No. 2.
The arrival of “Doo Wops & Hooligans” atop the album chart, with Rihanna falling to No. 2, prevented London rock band White Lies repeating the No. 1 debut of their first album “To Lose My Life…” two years ago. The follow-up set “Ritual” (Fiction/Universal) arrived at No. 3.
Ellie Goulding’s “Lights” (Polydor/Universal) climbed 7-5 in its 38th chart week, and Adele’s previous album “19” also continued its revival, dipping 6-8 in its 70th week. There was also a No. 24 debut for Portland, Oregon’s the Decemberists with “The King Is Dead” (Rough Trade).