For the past two weeks the bewildering power of Quebec’s music scene has dominated Canada’s Albums sales chart. Two weeks back 63 year-old Quebec superstar Ginette Reno, affectionately known as “La Reno” to her fans, toppled the world’s hottest ticket, U2, with Fais-Moi De La Tendresse debuting at #1. This week Ms. Reno tacks on a further 25,000 album sales in the province, giving her a gold album in two short weeks, but her album is subtly nudged into second place by another Quebec fascination, a compilation package from a French reality TV show, entitled Star Academie, which managed to sell 33,000 copies in La Belle Province.
The sheer purchasing power of Quebec considerably aided Diana Krall’s debut on the Albums chart this week as well. The BC native established her career in Montreal when she was first signed by Jim West to his Fusion 111 imprint. Ms. Krall’s Quiet Nights debuts at #3 with an impressive first week sale of 24,000 albums.
Another Montrealer on the chart is Leonard Cohen with his Live In London set debuting at #7, making a total of four Canadian (three from La Belle province) albums in the top 10. U2’s much hyped No Line On the Horizon drops seven places to hang in at #10.
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You may want to get your information straight.
It’s a well-publicized fact that Diana Krall is from Vancouver Island. BC, not Quebec, is her home province.
Editor’s note: Much appreciated for pointing out the goof. Of course, Krall’s early success was through Jim West’s Montreal-based Fusion 111 label, and the city has had a long-term love affair with the woman and her music.