Patriotism rules Billboard chart
Red-blooded Americans flocked to record stores last week to spike sales of the patriotic compilation God Bless America, which will debut at #1 on next week's Billboard 200 albums chart. The 15-track God Bless America - featuring Celine Dion's rendition of the title track; Mariah Carey's "Hero"; Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the U.S.A.", a country-radio staple since September 11; and Bruce Springsteen's "Land of Hopes and Dreams" - will take the top slot with more than 180,000 copies sold, according to SoundScan figures released Wednesday (October 24).
John Mellencamp plays a dual role in next week's chart, with his "Peaceful World", a song that's been omnipresent following the tragedy, appearing on both God Bless America and his 18th album, Cuttin' Heads, which will debut at #15. Enya's A Day Without Rain will continue its stronghold in the top bracket, coming in at #2 for the second straight week, staked by "Only Time", another track used to comfort in these shaky times.
Ozzy Osbourne's Down to Earth, the metal godfather's first solo album in six years, will debut at #4 with more than 152,000 copies sold. The LP follows Ja Rule's Pain Is Love, the top album for the past two weeks, which now settles at #3 with more than 158,000 sold. Nickelback's Silver Side Up will hold its #5 position for the fifth week in a row, while the Totally Hits 2001 pop compilation will stick at #6 for the third straight week, after debuting at #3 four weeks ago. Linkin Park's Hybrid Theory, which was released exactly one year ago and now has sold 3.6 million copies, will move up a slot to #7. Jay-Z's The Blueprint will fall four spots to #8. Usher will remain at #9 with 8701 and Alicia Keys' Songs in A Minor will slide three spaces to #10, with total sales nearing 3 million.
Southern MC Bubba Sparxxx will take claim to having the biggest brick in the top 20, as his debut, Dark Days, Bright Nights, will dip to #12 after debuting at #3 this week. The "On the Line" soundtrack, featuring new tracks by Britney Spears ("Let Me Be", which will also appear on Britney, due November 6), 'NSync ("Falling", "That Girl [Will Never Be Mine]") and Joey Fatone ("Ready to Fall"), will land at #35 after its first week in stores. The film stars 'NSync's Lance Bass and Fatone.
Other notable debuts in next week's chart include opera singer Andrea Bocelli's Cieli Di Toscana at #11; former Lost Boyz rapper Mr. Cheeks' John P. Kelly at #32; Lit's third album, Atomic, at #36; New Order's first album since 1993, Get Ready, at #41; and Journey's double-disc, greatest-hits collection, Essential Journey, at #47. (MTV News)
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