Billie Eilish seemed to have secured direct number 1 on the charts with the release of her excellent new album, 'HIT ME HARD AND SOFT', our Record of the Week.
This was the case, for example, in the United Kingdom, where over the weekend, Billie Eilish managed to sell the equivalent of 42,000 copies. 29,000 of them physically. Zayn and Taylor would have tied for 2nd place, with 12,000 units this weekend.
In the United States, 'HIT ME HARD AND SOFT''s projection of reaching 300,000 copies would have earned it number 1 on the Billboard 200 almost any week. For example today, when 'The Tortured Poets Department' has shipped 260,000 units in its 4th week on the list.
But Taylor Swift has fought back for some reason, perhaps simply her desire to be number 1 for the 5th consecutive week, and has released one more edition of her album by surprise. Specifically, one on CD that contained an acoustic version of 'But Daddy I Love Him' as a bonus track. This edition did not come out until May 31, but mysteriously it has been brought forward. Someone on Popjustice wrote: “something has happened between Billie and Taylor, no matter how small.”
As a result, according to Hits Daily Double forecasts, 'The Tortured Poets Department' is ahead with 350,000 copies. Meanwhile, 'HIT ME HARD AND SOFT' would remain at 300,000.
Perhaps reacting to this, Billie Eilish has published in the early hours of Wednesday to Thursday, accelerated and slowed down versions of her album 'HIT ME HARD AND SOFT'. They can only be obtained for $6.99 through her website, for a very limited time. Only this Thursday, just the day the week that Billboard tracks ends.
We leave you with the latest musical news from both: a remix of 'Fortnight' – Swift's single with Post Malone – for the dance floor by BLOND:ISH, and an extended version of 'L'amour de ma vie' .
