Hayley Williams is out front in the race to the U.K. chart title.
The Paramore frontwoman’s debut solo album Petals For Armor (Atlantic) leads the midweek chart, with an advantage of 1,100 chart sales over its nearest rival, D-Day Darlings’ I’ll Remember You (Sony Music CG), according to the Official Charts Company.
Williams has tasted the high life on two previous occasions with her alternative rock outfit, bagging No. 1 with Brand New Eyes in 2009 and with Paramore’s self-titled 2013 set.
Petals For Armor was the best-selling album in the U.K. on CD and vinyl over the weekend, the OCC reports.
The most downloaded album at the midweek stage is I’ll Remember You, the debut LP from the Britain’s Got Talent alum D-Day Darlings. The set originally dropped in November 2018, peaking at No. 15, though it’s surging off the back of a “Celebration Edition,” reissued with four new songs to commemorate the 75th anniversary of VE Day, May 8.
Also new to the Official Chart Update is Kehlani, whose sophomore album It Was Good Until It Wasn’t (Atlantic) opens at No. 6, while Canadian rapper Nav sees Good Intentions (Republic Records/XO) open at No. 9, and Chicago hip-hop artist Lil Durk sees Just Cause Y’all Waited 2 (Interscope) arrive at No. 22.
With VE Day celebrations sweeping across the nation, Dame Vera Lynn is set to impact both main U.K. charts. She’s on track for a return to the top 40 albums chart with 100 (Decca) at No. 17 on midweek data, and her former chart-leader We’ll Meet Again: The Very Best Of (Decca) at No. 32.
Both releases saw the Dame set chart records.
With the 100 collection from 2017, Lynn become the first centenarian to chart in the U.K., while her 2009 release We’ll Meet Again saw the legendary singer become the oldest living artist (then aged 92) to have a best-selling album. Meanwhile, Lynn’s signature song “We’ll Meet Again” is at No. 21 on the Official Singles Chart Update.
The former “forces’ sweetheart,” now aged 103, made her name entertaining the troops during World War II.
The best-selling single at the midweek stage belongs to Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber, whose charity fundraising collaboration “Stuck With U” (Def Jam/Republic Records) nudges Drake’s “Toosie Slide” (OVO/Republic Records) from top spot. Doja Cat’s viral hit “Say So” (Ministry of Sound) holds at No. 3.
Finally, after setting a new Instagram Live streaming record with his public appearance since release from prison, Brooklyn native Tekashi 6ix9ine could bag his first top 10 single. The controversial rapper’s comeback track “Gooba” (Scumgang) is at No. 9 on the midweek chart.
