June 5, 2008

Chart Beat: Coldplay’s Biggest Hit Ever; Duffy Doffs Madge

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Well shut my mouth: I’ve been ragging on Coldplay’s upcoming Viva la Vida for a while now, but the lead single of the same name has just jumped to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the band’s highest-charting single ever in the U.S. (“Speed of Sound” peaked at #8 in 2005, and the ubiquitous “Clocks” never made it past #29). The album’s out June 17th. Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter III finally hits stores next week (I’ll believe it when I see it) and “Lollipop” remains at #1 on the singles chart for a fourth week, while second single “Got Money” debuts at #13. That’s only half of his four appearances in the top 40 this week, the most since 50 Cent back in 2005.

Over on the albums chart, Usher beat out the Sex and the City soundtrack this week, debuting at #1 with Here I Stand, while music to drink cosmos to landed at #2. Death Cab for Cutie’s Narrow Stairs dropped from #5 to #10.

Across the pond, hotly-tipped Welsh singer-songwriter Duffy hops back up to #1 on the European albums chart with her debut album Rockferry, replacing Madonna’s Hard Candy at the top spot. (Rockferry climbs to #7 in the US this week). Portishead’s Third is barely hanging on in the European Top Ten after five weeks, although it was just certified gold in the UK for sales of 100,000 copies.

A selection of accompanying videos, after the jump.

Coldplay – “Viva la Vida” (live at the MTV Movie Awards)

Usher – “Love in This Club”

Lil Wayne – “Lollipop” (explicit)

Duffy – “Mercy”

Portishead – “Silence” (live on Current TV)

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