The real music story of 2011 is Adele and her “21” album. The album and the single, “Roliing in the Deep,” have been mega hits for six months. “21” has acted like an album from the early 1980s, defying the odds. This past week, sales were actually up ten percent, with “21” selling over 80,000 copies and finishing number 2 to Jay Z and Kanye West‘s “Throne” album. “21” has been in the top 3 for almost its entire run too, roundly trouncing all comers. Adele has proved the anti-Gaga, just shmearing that publicity hound sales wise. “Born this Way” has foundered since its big million plus debut week.
But “21” just keeps on trucking. Sony has finally released a second single, the ballad, “Someone Like You.” It’s doing all right considering “Rolling in the Deep” is just number 12 after 32 weeks. There are more singles, and Adele will be a heavy presence at the MTV Video Music Awards. Now everyone can say they knew her with “Chasing Pavements.” As for Lady Gaga: last night at the after party for “Idiot Brother” the deejay was playing one of her songs. A group of people couldn’t whether it was Madonna or Gaga.
