BB Grooves: Ariana Grande Settles For No. 2 On The Billboard 200

Ariana Grande (Dangerous Woman) debuts at no. 2 behind Drake (Views). 

Ariana Grande has failed at something.  No, it’s not her voice – she’s still the one to beat.  No, it’s not the quality of album Dangerous Woman – Grande was on-point, most critics agree. Where she failed was topping the Billboard 200, where ubiquitous “6God” Drake won’t relinquish the throne.  His Views, hence, remain firmly planted.  But those are just two stories from the Billboard 200 chart dated June 11, so let’s waste no more time!

1. Drake remains the no. 1 pick in the draft…err the Billboard 200 that is.  Views wasn’t even the top selling album of the week but managed to hold on relatively comfortably to no. 1.  Drake’s a winner thanks to the SPS (streams plus sales) formula.  Four weeks’ strong baby!

2. Ariana Grande probably isn’t too thrilled with Drake, but she also wouldn’t be too thrilled with Blake Shelton either (more on that in a moment).  Dangerous Woman couldn’t best Views in the streams department, essentially the new approach that drives the Billboard 200, so she lands at no. 2 for the first time in her career.

3. Blake Shelton is probably pissed at both Drake and Ariana Grande, while Ariana Grande is probably giving Blake Shelton the side eye.  Shelton had the week’s bestselling album (If I’m Honest), hence beating Ariana Grande’s Dangerous Woman on the Top Albums Sales chart. Drake and Grande both outpaced him in streams/track sales, hence his placement at no. 3 on the Billboard 200.

4. With so much drama surrounding Drake, Ariana, and Blake, Beyoncé’s Lemonade slips quietly to no. 4.  No big deal – the Queen is still packing a punch.

5. Eric Clapton debuts at no. 6 with I Still Do.  Indeed, Eric – you “still do!” Get it, get it!

6. Bob Dylan wants in on the top 10 debut fun and he gets in.  Fallen Angels lands at no. 7.

7. Meghan Trainor didn’t have the most triumphant week as Thank You slid from no. 3 to no. 8 in its sophomore frame.

8. Mudcrutch ekes out a top-10 debut as 2 debuts at no. 10.

9. For the first time since his death, there is no Prince album in the top 10.  The Very Best of Prince slips from no. 7 to no. 12, while his next highest charting album, Purple Rain, slipped from no. 19 to no. 32.

10. Interestingly, Kevin Gates has remained a ‘mainstay’ in the top 20 of the Billboard 200.  Gates’ Islah moves up three spots from no. 18 to no. 15 in its 17^th week.

11. Chance The Rapper’s Coloring Book slips from no. 8 to no. 17 in its second week.

12. Issues’ Headspace debuts modestly at no. 20.   The band’s previous album performed better, scoring a top 10 debut.

13. Sia sees album This Is Acting improve seven spots from no. 28 to no. 21.

14. Jennifer Nettles’ Playing With Fire definitely doesn’t perform in fiery fashion this week.  The album slips 20 spots from no. 10 to no. 30.

15. Radiohead’s A Moon Shaped Pool takes a might tumble in week three from no. 9 to no. 36.

16. Mike Posner’s At Night, Alone continues to perform lukewarmly.  The album slips 11 more spots this week from no. 29 to no. 40.

17. Saosin’s Along The Shadow debuts modestly at no. 45.

18. What a ‘misadventure’ for Pierce The Veil’s Misadventures this week! The album free falls 44 spots from no. 4 to no. 48!

19. Day of the Dead, the Grateful Dead tribute compilation debuts at no. 49.

20. Kygo had a poor second week.  Cloud Nine plummeted 52 spots from no. 11 to no. 63.

21. Sick Puppies’ Fury debuts at no. 92.  Yeah, this album is going nowhere and fast!

22. Maybe God sensed that Montana of 300 probably wasn’t talking about the ‘sanctuary’ when he titled his album Fire In The Church.  It modestly enters the Billboard 200 at no. 95. Yeah, Montana of 300 is certainly experiencing “chart hell” and yes, such a thing exists.

23. Ziggy Marley ekes out a top-100 debut with his self-titled album, which enters at no. 99.

24. Has it been mentioned that A$AP Ferg’s Always Strive And Prosper isn’t selling? This week it slips from no. 105 to no. 123 in only its fifth week.

25. Who had the worst week? Poor Corinne Bailey Rae! The Heart Speaks In Whispers fell 96 spots in its sophomore week from no. 31 to no. 127.  Phew!!!

Photo Credit: Republic