Olivia Rodrigo has secured her third consecutive number one album on the Billboard 200 with You seem pretty sad for a girl so in love, per npr.org.
The 23-year-old’s latest release generated 485,000 equivalent album units in its opening week, outperforming the first-week debut metrics of her previous albums, Sour and GUTS, by more than 60 per cent.
The album’s commercial success has extended to the singles chart, with all 13 tracks landing within the top 30 of the Billboard Hot 100. The release is spearheaded by the single “stupid song,” which debuted at number three, alongside top 10 placements for “drop dead,” “the cure,” and the album track “honeybee”.
A notable driver of the record’s cross-generational appeal is a collaboration with Robert Smith, the lead vocalist of rock band The Cure, on the track “What’s Wrong With Me”. Entering the singles chart at number 17, the track is the first solo hit of Smith’s 50-year career.
Despite Rodrigo’s dominant performance, Taylor Swift’s “I Knew It, I Knew You” retained the number one spot on the Hot 100 for a second week, boosted by radio play and its inclusion in the cinema release Toy Story 5. Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” maintained its position at number two.
Elsewhere on the charts, the independent Quebec math-rock duo Angine de Poitrine secured an unexpected double debut on the Billboard 200 following a viral KEXP live session. Conversely, singer Lizzo’s new album Bitch failed to enter the chart, following recent brand controversies. Additionally, the debut album of late singer-songwriter Oliver Tree re-entered the chart at number 46 following his death in a helicopter crash on June 14.
Sustaining chart longevity remains historically difficult for modern artists due to the enduring popularity of catalogue titles and dominant releases from established figures like Taylor Swift, Drake and Morgan Wallen. Rodrigo’s milestone expands her career total to 43 Billboard Hot 100 hits since her 2021 breakout debut.
•Featured image: Olivia Rodrigo/Xavi Torrent/Getty Images