Social progress is a finicky thing, folks. The questions are myriad: What constitutes it? Is it actually happening? What is true equality? You can't argue with the facts though. For the week ending January 3 (the first week of a new decade), the top five spots on the Billboard album charts belonged entirely to women.
In order, from number one through five, the albums holding the spots right now are Susan Boyle's I Dreamed a Dream, Lady Gaga's The Fame, Alicia Keys's The Element of Freedom, Mary J. Blige's Stronger With Each Tear and Taylor Swift's Fearless.
Not exactly Exclaim! faves, to be sure, but maybe a telling indicator of social progress throughout the past decade? Either way, it's an interesting statistic. It's been nearly 20 years now since women held four of the spots, on April 21, 1990, when Bonnie Raitt, Sinead O'Connor, Janet Jackson and Paula Abdul sat at the top of the charts.
Thanks to Yahoo's Chart Watch for the tip.
In order, from number one through five, the albums holding the spots right now are Susan Boyle's I Dreamed a Dream, Lady Gaga's The Fame, Alicia Keys's The Element of Freedom, Mary J. Blige's Stronger With Each Tear and Taylor Swift's Fearless.
Not exactly Exclaim! faves, to be sure, but maybe a telling indicator of social progress throughout the past decade? Either way, it's an interesting statistic. It's been nearly 20 years now since women held four of the spots, on April 21, 1990, when Bonnie Raitt, Sinead O'Connor, Janet Jackson and Paula Abdul sat at the top of the charts.
Thanks to Yahoo's Chart Watch for the tip.
