In one of the most amazing comebacks of pop music history, Mariah Carey debuted at the top of this week's Billboard pop albums chart with her album The Emancipation Of Mimi. She sold over 400,000 copies making it the best opening week sales in her career. Carey's last album to top the chart was 1997's Butterfly. The new album release also helped the single "It's Like That" to head back into the singles Top 30 alongside the new single "We Belong Together."
Gwen Stefani continued her hot streak and "Hollaback Girl" looks set to top the singles chart next week finally ending 50 Cent's stranglehold on the top. I must admit I'm still amused by the finger-to-the-mouth shushing for the edited version of "Hollaback Girl" in Gwen's video. Expect to hear 'It's my sh--' echoing through sports arenas for years to come. With the new edit, "Hollaback Girl" is finally starting to replace "Rich Girl" in the upper reaches of radio playlists.
Guess who's back? Remember Kevin, Brian, Nick, Howie and AJ? Yep, the Backstreet Boys are back with "Incomplete," the leadoff single from their upcoming album, Never Gone, which is due this summer. The group has been together 12 years, the boys are now men, and they have one of the hottest hits in the land.
Black-Eyed Peas are also showing off new music with the single "Don't Phunk With My Heart." It includes a revisit to Lisa-Lisa and Cult Jam's classic "I Wonder If I Take You Home."
