Post by Jimmyzz on Aug 24, 2023 3:27:40 GMT
billboard.com
21 of The Most Anticipated Sophomore Albums of the 21st Century
By Kyle Denis
07/03/2023
As Olivia Rodrigo officially kicks off the campaign for Guts, her second studio album, Billboard looks back on 21 of the most anticipated sophomore pop albums of the 21st century.
Olivia Rodrigo attends the revealing of the #vampireOR2 Shorts challenge and premiere the video for her single "vampire", (Geffen Records) at YouTube Space LA on June 29, 2023 in Los Angeles, Calif. Timothy Norris/Getty Images for YouTube
The second album is always tricky territory for artists, especially for stars whose debut records were critical and commercial successes. The “sophomore slump” — a phrase that refers to the phenomenon where an artist’s second album fails to live up to the heights set by their first — is a term that is often thrown around in music conversations. Although the phrase is sometimes used incorrectly, it remains a helpful way to discuss and analyze the commercial and artistic progression, or lack thereof, of an artist.
Grammy-winning pop superstar Olivia Rodrigo is currently gearing up for what is arguably the most anticipated sophomore album of the young decade. Rodrigo’s debut, the Billboard 200-topping Sour, spawned two Hot 100 No. 1 singles, garnered billions of on-demand streams, and earned acclaim from critics and fans alike. With the release of her new single “Vampire,” all eyes are on Rodrigo as she officially kicks off the campaign for Guts, out Sept. 8, 2023. Rodrigo isn’t alone among pop stars getting ready to release their sophomore album: Fans are also still eagerly awaiting sophomore records from the likes of Cardi B, Omar Apollo, Tate McRae and Lil Nas X.
Although Guts is understandably on everyone’s minds, it is only the latest example of a sophomore album that has captivated the pop music scene. From B’Day, Beyoncé’s follow-up to her blockbuster debut solo album, to 21, Adele’s historic follow-up to her Grammy-winning 2008 debut, the 21st century has offered pop audiences a litany of sophomore albums that have premiered to varying degrees of success and acclaim. While some records fold under the pressure and others turn that anticipation into record-breaking numbers, they all embody the peculiar position of the sophomore album.
The second album is always tricky territory for artists, especially for stars whose debut records were critical and commercial successes. The “sophomore slump” — a phrase that refers to the phenomenon where an artist’s second album fails to live up to the heights set by their first — is a term that is often thrown around in music conversations. Although the phrase is sometimes used incorrectly, it remains a helpful way to discuss and analyze the commercial and artistic progression, or lack thereof, of an artist.
Grammy-winning pop superstar Olivia Rodrigo is currently gearing up for what is arguably the most anticipated sophomore album of the young decade. Rodrigo’s debut, the Billboard 200-topping Sour, spawned two Hot 100 No. 1 singles, garnered billions of on-demand streams, and earned acclaim from critics and fans alike. With the release of her new single “Vampire,” all eyes are on Rodrigo as she officially kicks off the campaign for Guts, out Sept. 8, 2023. Rodrigo isn’t alone among pop stars getting ready to release their sophomore album: Fans are also still eagerly awaiting sophomore records from the likes of Cardi B, Omar Apollo, Tate McRae and Lil Nas X.
Although Guts is understandably on everyone’s minds, it is only the latest example of a sophomore album that has captivated the pop music scene. From B’Day, Beyoncé’s follow-up to her blockbuster debut solo album, to 21, Adele’s historic follow-up to her Grammy-winning 2008 debut, the 21st century has offered pop audiences a litany of sophomore albums that have premiered to varying degrees of success and acclaim. While some records fold under the pressure and others turn that anticipation into record-breaking numbers, they all embody the peculiar position of the sophomore album.
Below, Billboard reflects on 21 of the most anticipated pop star sophomore albums of the 21st century.
Oops!... I Did It Again (Britney Spears, 2000)
The Hype
The year was 2000, the new century had just arrived, and Britney Spears was arguably the single biggest solo musical act on Planet Earth. The year prior, Spears made her formal debut with …Baby One More Time, a blockbuster pop record that sold 10 million copies within its first year of release, earned her a Grammy nomination for best new artist, and spawned the hit singles “…Baby One More Time,” “Sometimes,” and “(You Drive Me) Crazy.” For Spears, it was “kind of hard following ten million,” but she maintained that she was “really confident” in her follow-up to Baby One More Time “after listening to the new material and recording it.”
Did It Live Up?
Absolutely. Oops!… I Did It Again debuted atop the Billboard 200 with over 1.3 million copies sold in its first week, setting a record for the fastest-selling album by a female artist in the SoundScan era — a record that would stand for 15 years. Like its predecessor, Oops sold over 10 million copies in the U.S. and eventually landed as the sixth-biggest album of the 2000s as per Billboard. The set also launched a series of hit singles including its title track, “Lucky,” and “Stronger.” Moreover, Oops!.. I Did It Again was warmly received by critics, and earned Spears her first Grammy nomination for best pop vocal album.
The Hype
The year was 2000, the new century had just arrived, and Britney Spears was arguably the single biggest solo musical act on Planet Earth. The year prior, Spears made her formal debut with …Baby One More Time, a blockbuster pop record that sold 10 million copies within its first year of release, earned her a Grammy nomination for best new artist, and spawned the hit singles “…Baby One More Time,” “Sometimes,” and “(You Drive Me) Crazy.” For Spears, it was “kind of hard following ten million,” but she maintained that she was “really confident” in her follow-up to Baby One More Time “after listening to the new material and recording it.”
Did It Live Up?
Absolutely. Oops!… I Did It Again debuted atop the Billboard 200 with over 1.3 million copies sold in its first week, setting a record for the fastest-selling album by a female artist in the SoundScan era — a record that would stand for 15 years. Like its predecessor, Oops sold over 10 million copies in the U.S. and eventually landed as the sixth-biggest album of the 2000s as per Billboard. The set also launched a series of hit singles including its title track, “Lucky,” and “Stronger.” Moreover, Oops!.. I Did It Again was warmly received by critics, and earned Spears her first Grammy nomination for best pop vocal album.
No Strings Attached (*NSYNC, 2000)
The Hype
Unlike Britney, *NSYNC had a curiously lengthy gap between their debut and sophomore albums. Their eponymous 1997 debut had a soft debut on the Billboard 200 at No. 82 with around 14,000 units sold. Nonetheless, the album grew into a sales behemoth, eventually selling 10 million copies and lasting on the Billboard 200 for a whopping 109 weeks, eventually peaking at No. 2. Hit singles such as “I Want You Back,” “Tearin’ Up My Heart,” and “(God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time on You)” helped the album grow into a commercial juggernaut.
The boy band followed up their debut with a Christmas album and a Germany-exclusive compilation as legal issues delayed the release of their sophomore record. Two months before the release of their sophomore album, the boy band unleashed “Bye Bye Bye,” a blistering kiss-off that rocketed into the top 10 of nearly every country in which it charted and earned the group a Grammy nomination for record of the year. Between the success of “Bye Bye Bye” and the three years since their debut, anticipation for No Strings Attached was at a fever pitch.
Did It Live Up?
Indubitably. No Strings Attached debuted atop the Billboard 200 with a then-record 2.4 million copies sold — a mark that would remain untouched for 15 years. The album inevitably finished the decade as the best-selling record of the year. With the help of producers like She’kspere, Teddy Riley and Kandi, the boy band leaned a bit more into R&B for No Strings Attached — a move that simultaneously separated them from similar acts like Backstreet Boys and yielded a number of smash hits including “This I Promise You” and “It’s Gonna Be Me,” their lone Billboard Hot 100 No. 1. Widely considered the peak of the SoundScan era, No Strings Attached is arguably the 21st century pop album that has most impressively avoided the “sophomore slump.”
The Hype
Unlike Britney, *NSYNC had a curiously lengthy gap between their debut and sophomore albums. Their eponymous 1997 debut had a soft debut on the Billboard 200 at No. 82 with around 14,000 units sold. Nonetheless, the album grew into a sales behemoth, eventually selling 10 million copies and lasting on the Billboard 200 for a whopping 109 weeks, eventually peaking at No. 2. Hit singles such as “I Want You Back,” “Tearin’ Up My Heart,” and “(God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time on You)” helped the album grow into a commercial juggernaut.
The boy band followed up their debut with a Christmas album and a Germany-exclusive compilation as legal issues delayed the release of their sophomore record. Two months before the release of their sophomore album, the boy band unleashed “Bye Bye Bye,” a blistering kiss-off that rocketed into the top 10 of nearly every country in which it charted and earned the group a Grammy nomination for record of the year. Between the success of “Bye Bye Bye” and the three years since their debut, anticipation for No Strings Attached was at a fever pitch.
Did It Live Up?
Indubitably. No Strings Attached debuted atop the Billboard 200 with a then-record 2.4 million copies sold — a mark that would remain untouched for 15 years. The album inevitably finished the decade as the best-selling record of the year. With the help of producers like She’kspere, Teddy Riley and Kandi, the boy band leaned a bit more into R&B for No Strings Attached — a move that simultaneously separated them from similar acts like Backstreet Boys and yielded a number of smash hits including “This I Promise You” and “It’s Gonna Be Me,” their lone Billboard Hot 100 No. 1. Widely considered the peak of the SoundScan era, No Strings Attached is arguably the 21st century pop album that has most impressively avoided the “sophomore slump.”
Under My Skin (Avril Lavigne, 2004)
The Hype
Two years before the release of Under My Skin, Avril Lavigne captivated the world with her angsty debut album Let Go. That record, which housed the seminal 2000s pop-rock hits “Sk8r Boi” and “Complicated,” sold over six million copies in the United States and climbed to a peak of No. 2 on the Billboard 200. Lavigne had become the preeminent “anti-pop star” of the day, a punkier response to the bubblegum pop of Britney Spears and Backstreet Boys. In support of Let Go, Lavigne embarked on a worldwide 70-date concert tour, further stoking the flames of anticipation for her sophomore record.
Did It Live Up?
Short answer: Yes. Although Under My Skin did not yield any singles as culturally massive as “Sk8r Boi” or “Complicated,” though the album did house the Hot 100 top 10 hit “My Happy Ending” (No. 9). Regardless, the album did become Lavigne’s first to top the Billboard 200, with the largest first-week sales total of her career (381,000 copies), to boot. Under My Skin also spawned the Bonez Tour, a 145-date marathon that visited North America, Europe, Australia, Africa, Latin America, and Asia. The album also won pop album of the year at the 2005 Juno Awards, following in the footsteps of Let Go.
The Hype
Two years before the release of Under My Skin, Avril Lavigne captivated the world with her angsty debut album Let Go. That record, which housed the seminal 2000s pop-rock hits “Sk8r Boi” and “Complicated,” sold over six million copies in the United States and climbed to a peak of No. 2 on the Billboard 200. Lavigne had become the preeminent “anti-pop star” of the day, a punkier response to the bubblegum pop of Britney Spears and Backstreet Boys. In support of Let Go, Lavigne embarked on a worldwide 70-date concert tour, further stoking the flames of anticipation for her sophomore record.
Did It Live Up?
Short answer: Yes. Although Under My Skin did not yield any singles as culturally massive as “Sk8r Boi” or “Complicated,” though the album did house the Hot 100 top 10 hit “My Happy Ending” (No. 9). Regardless, the album did become Lavigne’s first to top the Billboard 200, with the largest first-week sales total of her career (381,000 copies), to boot. Under My Skin also spawned the Bonez Tour, a 145-date marathon that visited North America, Europe, Australia, Africa, Latin America, and Asia. The album also won pop album of the year at the 2005 Juno Awards, following in the footsteps of Let Go.
Late Registration (Kanye West, 2005)
The Hype
From both a critical and commercial standpoint, Kanye West’s The College Dropout was the kind of record most artists dream of. Despite some delays due to West’s perfectionist tendencies, the album roared to a No. 2 debut on the Billboard 200 with 441,000 copies sold, eventually crossing 2.3 million in sales in its first nine months of release. The set earned West the Grammy for best rap album, and spawned a plethora of Hot 100 top 20 hits including “Through The Wire,” “All Falls Down,” “Jesus Walks” and the No. 1-peaking “Slow Jamz.”
The College Dropout proved to be a hit with fans and critics alike, and the world was more than ready for new Kanye music. Leading up to its release, Late Registration was named one of the most pre-ordered albums in iTunes history, and Time Magazine confirmed that, due to expectations of the album being the biggest-selling musical release of the year, 1.6 million copies of Late Registration were shipped to stores for its first week of release. Prior to the release of the album, West released the Jamie Foxx-assisted “Gold Digger,” which had not yet hit its peak, and “Diamonds from Sierra Leone,” the set’s lead single.
Did It Live Up?
Unquestionably. Late Registration debuted atop the Billboard 200 with 860,000 copies sold, a figure West would surpass with his next studio album. His sophomore record sold over three million copies within its first year of release, eventually earning a quintuple-platinum certification from the RIAA in 2022. Late Registration spawned hit singles such as “Heard ‘Em Say” and “Touch the Sky,” and after the album’s full release, “Gold Digger” vaulted to No. 1 on the Hot 100 where it stayed for 10 weeks. The album also earned West three Grammys, including his second consecutive win for best rap album. West’s sophomore album proved to be even more successful than his debut, and the record has since found success on streaming platforms like Spotify, where it boasts over one billion streams.
The Hype
From both a critical and commercial standpoint, Kanye West’s The College Dropout was the kind of record most artists dream of. Despite some delays due to West’s perfectionist tendencies, the album roared to a No. 2 debut on the Billboard 200 with 441,000 copies sold, eventually crossing 2.3 million in sales in its first nine months of release. The set earned West the Grammy for best rap album, and spawned a plethora of Hot 100 top 20 hits including “Through The Wire,” “All Falls Down,” “Jesus Walks” and the No. 1-peaking “Slow Jamz.”
The College Dropout proved to be a hit with fans and critics alike, and the world was more than ready for new Kanye music. Leading up to its release, Late Registration was named one of the most pre-ordered albums in iTunes history, and Time Magazine confirmed that, due to expectations of the album being the biggest-selling musical release of the year, 1.6 million copies of Late Registration were shipped to stores for its first week of release. Prior to the release of the album, West released the Jamie Foxx-assisted “Gold Digger,” which had not yet hit its peak, and “Diamonds from Sierra Leone,” the set’s lead single.
Did It Live Up?
Unquestionably. Late Registration debuted atop the Billboard 200 with 860,000 copies sold, a figure West would surpass with his next studio album. His sophomore record sold over three million copies within its first year of release, eventually earning a quintuple-platinum certification from the RIAA in 2022. Late Registration spawned hit singles such as “Heard ‘Em Say” and “Touch the Sky,” and after the album’s full release, “Gold Digger” vaulted to No. 1 on the Hot 100 where it stayed for 10 weeks. The album also earned West three Grammys, including his second consecutive win for best rap album. West’s sophomore album proved to be even more successful than his debut, and the record has since found success on streaming platforms like Spotify, where it boasts over one billion streams.
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