Hilderic

I had read the rest of the thread and I already said that I accept what you said afterwards. But after explaining, you suggested that "so many" were wrong because of their inability to read between the lines. I know I am being irritating but this actually irritates me. Torresgirl commented on your post after you explained your point so her ability to infer from the original post is a pure hypothesis. But I do realise I am being irritating so I conclude this post with my apologies.

You suggested ignorance on the part of others here: When your original post means one thing and one thing only. I accept what you said afterwards (which is a different thing and cannot be inferred from the original post, no matter how much reading between the lines one does).

Reading comprehension test: Data: 21 becomes the second best-selling studio album ever. Statement: There is no way 21 is the second best studio album ever. Question: What is the assumption in this statement? Answer: That best-selling equates to best.

Given that you seem to equate quality and quantity you might be interested in knowing that, with all probability, 21 has already outsold Sgt. Pepper.

In February, ABBA were at 4,989,000 and The Beatles at 5,044,000 whereas now they are at 5,046,000 and 5,059,000, respectively. It will take much less than 18 months.

I think she has a chance of overtaking The Beatles once ABBA have overtaken them (which will happen soon), so that she would be number three. It would take years, of course.

I'm actually curious to know what the effect will be when 21 finally gets reduced.

Oscaaaaaaar

Hurts and Burns. That would make an interesting collaboration!

I like the album, it's the overexposure that is ridiculous. I am actually surprised that she "only" sold 1.1 million copies. Even in this sales climate she should be past 2 million after iTunes festival, V festival, Olympics opening, closing (twice), X factor (twice, including finale) and on and on...

Rumer

Go Skyfall! And congratulations to the movie too.

Skyfall may actually rise from last week? Oh, joy.

Should Adele win the Oscar (as it now seems quite likely), do you think there will be any effect in Februrary?

This is the very site that confirmed that Adele would be singing the theme. I sincerely hope she is but there still hasn't been any official confirmation. If she isn't, that would be quite a shock, I assume.

"Almost" is key! Moreover, I would say that this also has the "song out of nowhere" advantage. See Aserejé and Party Rock Anthem.

Why this pessimism? I highly doubt that, in 2012 Internet-connected world, a song can be number one everywhere (as this probably will) but fail to do so in the UK.

(While I think that it is pretty much impossible to happen) I predict that, if Adele does perform, then she'll have the best-selling album of the year again.

Interesting that Adele beats Mike Oldfield's record for weeks in the top 10 when Mike Oldfield himself is in the top 10.

Michael Jackson's Thriller with 81 weeks (76 in the initial run + 5 weeks in 2009).

21 now ties Tubular Bells for most weeks in the top 10 for a studio album by a British act. It is seven weeks away from the record for longest-running top 10 album by a solo artist.

Given that it's so close between Mraz and Adele, I guess that 21 may be number one. There's a lot of Adele's news around (Ivor Novello+Time 100+ Billboard Awards) and the album is rising on Itunes.

If she does both (but I doubt that), then 5 million by next January.

Maybe Adele will be number one next week as well. She only needs to do a tiny amount of promo to stay at the top. Though she obviously won't.

There are 26.3 million households in the UK.