“American Idiot” (Reprise) gives Green Day a sixth week at No. 1 on European Top 100 Albums. It spends another week at the top in Switzerland and holds down top-five positions in five other countries. Warner Music International VP of international marketing Dion Singer says the album has shipped 2 million units in Europe, from a global total of 6.5 million.
Ray Charles has two top-10 titles on the European chart. The soundtrack to “Ray” (Warner Bros.) races from No. 13 to a new peak of No. 3, after climbing 20-2 in France and 5-2 in Switzerland. It also holds at No. 3 in Austria. Meanwhile, his “Genius Loves Company” (Concord/EMI) is up 14-6, its highest position since last September. “Genius” moves 2-1 in Austria, 16-3 in Belgium and 8-4 in Switzerland. In the United Kingdom, Charles’ performance is more modest, as “Genius” moves 35-33 and “Ray” dips 47-53.
The highest debut on Top 100 Albums is the third album by Doves, “Some Cities” (Heavenly/EMI), at No. 7. The British act bows at No. 1 at home with 59,000 units, according to the Official U.K. Charts Co. — an improvement of more than 7,000 units on the opening week of 2002’s “The Last Broadcast,” which also debuted at No. 1. Additionally, “Some Cities” bows at No. 2 in Denmark.
German rock veteran Westernhagen returns to Top 100 Albums at No. 8 with “Nahaufnahme” (Warner Music), which opens at No. 1 in his home market. The Düsseldorf-born artist’s last album, “In den Wahnsinn,” debuted No. 8 on the European chart and No. 1 locally in November 2002.
Next to arrive on Top 100 Albums is Tori Amos’ “The Beekeeper” (Epic), which opens at No. 13. Its best start comes in Germany, where it is No. 8. In the United Kingdom, the set is new at No. 24, two spots higher than the debut of its studio predecessor, “Scarlet’s Walk” in 2002. Amos conducts an in-store signing session this evening (March 3) at the De Bijenkorf department store in Amsterdam.
Chanteuse Lynda Lemay is new at No. 20 on Top 100 Albums with “Un Paradis Quelque Part” (WEA). The set bows at No. 1 in France and No. 5 in Switzerland. Lemay was born in 1966 in Portneuf, Québec, and has been recording since the late 1980s.
Over on Eurochart Hot 100 Singles, Jennifer Lopez’s “Get Right” (Epic) starts a second week at No. 1, despite falling 1-2 in the United Kingdom and Ireland and 3-4 in Holland and Denmark. The track holds at No. 1 in Italy, No. 3 in Switzerland and No. 7 in Spain; it climbs 3-2 in France, 4-3 in Spain and 5-4 in Belgium. Lopez’s album “Rebirth” was released across Europe on Monday.
“Over and Over” (Universal) by Nelly featuring Tim McGraw is the big Eurochart climber, jumping 33-2. It is boosted by a No. 1 debut in the United Kingdom, on sales of 41,000 units. The single is also new at No. 1 in Ireland and up 11-8 in Germany.
