I have a feeling Drake might release the album on the last Friday of this month.

 

Bank holiday weekend will be a good time to release and could mean good streams for that weekend too.

 

That's unlikely to factor in unless it's also a holiday in the US or Canada, surely?

Great to see the beloved back in the top 20, hope they can stay top 40.

It's weird how Cardigan along with other songs like Exile from Folklore have charted well in English speaking countries but have mega flopped in nearly every other country like in Germany Cardigan debuted at number 67. Very strange. You'd even think Cardigan would debut ok on its first week in most countries with fanbase/media hype and then tumble down the chart.

Edited August 10, 20205 yr by Zeebre12

Scott Mills curs us say dance monkey on way out climb back 5 place

 

That completely reminds me of when Jameela used to say this would be Let It Go's last week then it kept rebounding every time. Funnily enough its last ever week was also her ever last week presenting the chart. That was written in the stars...

It's weird how Cardigan along with other songs like Exile from Folklore have charted well in English speaking countries but have mega flopped in nearly every other country like in Germany Cardigan debuted at number 67. Very strange. You'd even think Cardigan would debut ok on its first week in most countries with fanbase/media hype and then tumble down the chart.

The real reason why Cardigan (and Folklore for that matter) is flopping in mainland Europe is because it lacks beats you can dance or vibe to. It's a very lyric heavy song, and relies heavily on that to succeed. Since this requires understanding of the English language, and most people in mainland Europe don't speak English, nothing from Folklore will do well there. There's a reason why its lowest peaks are from there. Plus, Taylor is not very big there in the first place, so a song that's not very radio friendly in the first place won't do well there at all. You're basically trying to imply that she's a local artist.

The real reason why Cardigan (and Folklore for that matter) is flopping in mainland Europe is because it lacks beats you can dance or vibe to. It's a very lyric heavy song, and relies heavily on that to succeed. Since this requires understanding of the English language, and most people in mainland Europe don't speak English, nothing from Folklore will do well there. There's a reason why its lowest peaks are from there. Plus, Taylor is not very big there in the first place, so a song that's not very radio friendly in the first place won't do well there at all. You're basically trying to imply that she's a local artist.

I think you'll find almost everyone in Europe speaks English :lol: maybe you just mean English isn't their first language but I doubt that would be the reason for Taylor flopping there. I think you're along the right lines with your first point, Europeans tend to favour something with a beat.

You really expected cardigan to be a hit in places like Spain or Italy where there is like 2 English songs in the whole top 100 lol

Just looked at Taylor's wiki page and there's no info on how her previous singles have done in places like Germany or Sweden so maybe she's just never been that big in Europe. In France she's only ever had three top 10 hits. So there's your explanation for why Cardigan is flopping in Europe!

Plus, Taylor is not very big there in the first place

Yeah, although I hadn't noticed how poorly 'cardigan' had done and am surprised how big the difference is, I think Taylor's success in mainland Europe has always been limited. Looking up her bigger(-ish) singles in a few countries:

 

'Love Story' - #22 Germany, #50 Switzerland, #14 France, #10 Sweden, #13 Netherlands

'You Belong With Me' - DNC Germany, #58 Switzerland, DNC France, #47 Sweden, DNC Netherlands

'We Are Never...' - #21 Germany, #21 Switzerland, #18 France, #16 Sweden, #16 Netherlands

'I Knew You Were Trouble' - #9 Germany, #8 Switzerland, #14 France, #37 Sweden, #19 Netherlands

'Shake It Off' - #5 Germany, #7 Switzerland, #6 France, #3 Sweden, #5 Netherlands

'Blank Space' - #9 Germany, #12 Switzerland, #27 France, DNC Sweden, #17 Netherlands

'Bad Blood' - #29 Germany, #28 Switzerland, #14 France, DNC Sweden, #33 Netherlands

'I Don't Wanna Live Forever' - #2 Germany, #2 Switzerland, #4 France, #1 Sweden, #7 Netherlands

'Look What You Made Me Do' - #3 Germany, #6 Switzerland, #26 France, #7 Sweden, #7 Netherlands

'ME!' - #12 Germany, #12 Switzerland, #66 France, #11 Sweden, #17 Netherlands

'You Need To Calm Down' - #36 Germany, #22 Switzerland, #154 France, #35 Sweden, #26 Netherlands

'cardigan' - #67 Germany, #51 Switzerland, #138 France, #31 Sweden, ? Netherlands

 

It's not an even comparison because of so many countries having different methodologies (and Sweden being fully Spotify-dominated meaning 'Shake It Off' went 3-12-out when it was removed, and 'I Knew You Were Trouble' only charted there 7 months after album release), but it's clearly always been nowhere near the US, Australia or UK.

 

Edit: ^ here's (some of) the Germany/Sweden info you were looking for :D

Edited August 11, 20205 yr by Rush

Just pointing out that France is unbelievably difficult country to anyone.

Just pointing out that France is unbelievably difficult country to anyone.

I think it's especially difficult for Taylor. For example, Katy Perry's Witness, an underperformer by any standard of analysis, peaked at number four on the SNEP Albums Charts. Taylor's most successful album peaked at no. 9 there. Fortunately she makes up for her severe underperformance in Europe by doing fantastic in Asia. All of her lead singles (except Cardigan) in Japan have debuted within the top ten, and she has 7 top ten hits there. For comparision, Rihanna (who's European dominance crushes Taylor) has had her biggest hit there peak at no. 42.

Just pointing out that France is unbelievably difficult country to anyone.

It's allowing for Ava Max to get hits though

the French charts being very difficult for International artists is even crazier in albums

Just checked and the entire top 25 are French artists (I think), at least I didn't see any name I recognised

China is an enormous market for Taylor as well, I've read that she is the most popular western artist there by a huge margin.

more than Jessie J? :)

Are their not some rules in the French Charts about French language being prefered? The French don't generally appreciate the use of English in everyday life?

China is an enormous market for Taylor as well, I've read that she is the most popular western artist there by a huge margin.

By a very huge margin. Lover is the best selling Western (or even by any non-Chinese artist) digital album there of all time, followed by Reputation, which is followed by 1989 and that is followed by Folklore (after 1 week of sales).

 

I think you'll find almost everyone in Europe speaks English :lol: maybe you just mean English isn't their first language but I doubt that would be the reason for Taylor flopping there. I think you're along the right lines with your first point, Europeans tend to favour something with a beat.

 

It's only Netherlands, Austria, Scandinavia and possibly Belgium where the English language is widely understood in the continent.

more than Jessie J? :)

This got me :rofl:

 

Back on topic, pleased to see Head & Heart still comfortable at the top. Nowhere near bored of this yet. Holiday needs to start making some progress now.

Ava Max does very well in continental Europe.

 

Gaga is also one of the international faves in France. ASIB is huge bestseller there (certified Diamond) and Chromatica debuted at #1 which is super rare for international artist. No wonder that she is startingThe Chromatica Ball tour from Paris next summer.

Edited August 11, 20205 yr by SKOB