Springsteen Tops Billboard Charts In Incredibly Depressing Sales Week

(YouTube, Via You Ain't No Picasso)

Bruce Springsteen's latest album Magic regained the top spot of the Billboard charts after slipping to number 2 last week. That's not depressing. In fact, it's probably expected. What's depressing is that the record sold only 77,000 copies, which itself was a 42 percent sales drop from last week's total. Granted, there weren't any huge releases scheduled last week, but still, wow.

What's even more mindblowing is that around this time 5 years ago (Oct. 30th, 2002), former Destiny's Child singer Kelly Rowland solo debut Simply Deep sold 77,000 copies in its first week. That album's chart position? #12.

You know what's not depressing and, in fact, quite hilarious? Ben Stiller's imitation of Bruce Springsteen, specifically, his counting. Watch the video at the top. It's an old favorite of mine, one that I imitated so often that threats of violence if I didn't stop came my way. Thanks to You Ain't No Picasso for pointing out the video.

(Jonathan Graef)