British music week

 

Let us be very clear: the British invasion is far from over, people! If anything, it is only getting stronger: while Coldplay reigns over the UK album charts with their new Music of the Spheres, Adele blasts her way to the top of the Hot 100… and the Beatles are back. Again. Imagine that…

1. Coldplay may “only” be standing at #4 on the current US album charts, which some might say is not that bad considering that above it are incredibly prominent hip hop artists Young Thug, Drake and the late Mac Miller (more proof that the hip hop culture is perhaps the defining genre of our times, by the way), but they are very much #1 in their native UK. Where they actually beat local rapper Dave’s 2021 sales record, making it the biggest week in UK album sales since Ed Sheeran, way back when in 2017. A clear message that Coldplay is indeed the UK’s reigning pop band — if not band. With Sheeran as the UK’s reigning solo artist.
2. Meanwhile, Adele went ahead and destroyed everything, everywhere, including in the US. Granted, her first new material in 6 years was bound to attract a few ears, but it is still quite remarkable that she manages to so demonstrably hit the jackpot with “Easy On Me“, her fifth #1 single stateside. The way she did previously with “Someone Like You” or “Hello”, the British singer once again manages to create an impossibly catchy ballad which makes divorce talks the talk of the town. The accompanying album, 30, will be released in a couple of weeks: one can only imagine what will happen then. Adele, the only — and rather unlikely — threat to hip hop domination?
3. While we discuss current British pop royalty, the all-time (British) kings of worldwide pop are actually back as well! That’s right, we’re talking about The Beatles (not that blues cover band): as it happens, the Fab Four currently stand at #5 on the Billboard 200 — i.e. right below Coldplay — with the deluxe edition re-issue of Let It Be, their legendary last album. The re-issue comes in the heels of Peter Jackson announcing a new documentary on the making of the album — due for release in November. Famously produced by Phil Spector, with the stylistic controversy that ensued (Spector was very much a Lennon choice), it was later re-released in its “naked” version, i.e. sans Spector overdubbing. This newest edition was remixed by Giles Martin, the son and collaborator of The Beatles’ late legendary producer himself, Sir George Martin. Let’s just say the material is in good hands — and great charting positions!

Tune in next week for the latest news in British music. Sorry, worldwide music.