Female Artist of 2005

[Black Jesus]

This should give way to some interesting debates...I'll start it off....

Kelly Clarkson

Kelly's "Breakaway" truly is the album of the year. Why? Because her album has been on the Billboard 200 Top 20 for 62 consecutive weeks, no artist this year has done that:
------------------------------------------------------------
ALBUMS WITH MOST CONSECUTIVE WEEKS IN THE TOP 20

(# of weeks, peak chart position, title, act, album debut year)
Note: soundtracks and original casts are not included in this list

101 1 Music For Lovers Only Jackie Gleason (1953)
99 2 Come On Over Shania Twain (1997)
96 1 Peter Paul & Mary Peter, Paul & Mary (1962)
91 1 Hysteria Def Leppard (1987)
91 1 Born In The USA Bruce Springsteen (1984)
84 1 Thriller Michael Jackson (1982)
81 1 Jagged Little Pill Alanis Morissette (1995)
73 4 In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida Iron Butterfly -1968
70 1 Can't Slow Down Lionel Richie (1983)
70 1 Forever Your Girl Paula Abdul (1989)
69 3 No Fences Garth Brooks (1990)
68 1 Appetite For Destruction Guns N' Roses -1988
67 1 Falling Into You Celine Dion (1996)
66 1 Whipped Cream & Other Delights Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass (1965)
66 1 The Student Prince Mario Lanza (1954)
66 1 The Glenn Miller Story Glenn Miller & His Orchestra (1954)
66 1 Cracked Rear View Hootie & The Blowfish (1995)
65 1 Whitney Houston Whitney Houston (1985)
64 1 Sing Along With Mitch Mitch Miller & His Orchestra & Chorus -1958
63 1 Faith George Michael (1987)
62 4 Backstreet Boys Backstreet Boys (1997)
62 3 Kelly Clarkson "Breakaway" (2004)
60 3 Crazysexycool TLC (1994)
60 1 Belafonte Harry Belafonte (1956)
59 3 Breakaway Kelly Clarkson (2004)
59 2 Wilson Phillips Wilson Phillips (1990)
59 1 ... Baby One More Time Britney Spears (1999)
58 2 Moving Peter, Paul & Mary (1963)
58 1 Voice Of The Xtabay Yma Sumac (1950)
58 1 Rumours Fleetwood Mac (1977)
58 1 Ropin' The Wind Garth Brooks (1991)
58 1 Reckless Bryan Adams (1984)
58 1 Mariah Carey Mariah Carey (1990)
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Yeah, Mariah Carey did outsell Kelly but Mariah re-released her album once or twice, Kelly never rereleased "Breakaway". Kelly also had 4 #1 hits this year (all the singles she released) Sadly, I don't think Gwen stands a chance in this poll. Mariah and Kelly will battle once again

[danny]

Mariah Carey.


Sure, Kelly's album spent 62 weeks in the top 20, impressive, and she has done incredibly.

But, Since Mariah's TEOM debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 (a peak position "Breakaway" didn't reach), it hasn't left the top 20 either. Unless anyone has a crystal ball and can look into the future there's nothing to say TEOM won't have a run equally or near enough as impressive.

.. Not that it matters anyway, because since it's release, TEOM has outsold "Breakaway" by a considerable amount in the USA, given that Breakaway had near a 5 month head-start on TEOM, and 2004 + 2005 Christmas and Thanksgiving sales (Also considering part of the chart run of "Breakaway" was in 2004, and the poll is for the female artist of 2005).

Both of them have achieved so much, and has an awesome year, but the edge definately goes to Mariah.

Also, Mariah's hit singles had the crossover appeal to become hits at more formats than Kelly's singles. Rythmic, Urban, Pop, Urban AC and AC support, so therefore her music reached a larger audience. I think WBT even entered the lower half of the top 30 at Hot AC.

Mariah was HUGE at Rhythmic and Urban. But even at Kelly's core format, who had the longest running #1 song at Pop in 2005? Mariah of course :)

Also, people use the rerelease as an argument to say the album wouldn't have done so much ... but really, with or without the rerelease, TEOM would still be outselling "Breakaway". Since DFAU was released to radio in October, and TEOM wasn't rereleased with DFAU until November 15th, there was no version of TEOM available with the current radio single, which means less people would have bought the album in that period, waiting for the rerelase to get the version with DFAU. Then it did get a boost from the rerelease, but to some extent it would have made up for the lost sales in the period where people couldn't get the album with DFAU on it. The continued success of the album after the rerelease is obviously because the album was still doing well, seeing as most of the hardcore fans would have picked up their copies in the first week . If you wanted to compare, take a look at how 50 cent's rerelease bulleted his album up the charts, and it plumetted back down afterwards.

Both have also won heaps of awards this year! They have both done incredibly, but there's no denying the #1 overall female artist of 2005 was Mariah Carey!

If you were to talk specifically about Pop, it would be Kelly. But not overall.

[ayoPiT0]

Kelly Clarkson. Mariah may have had the comeback, but Kelly had that growth of superstardom. It was fun to watch that this year especially since she came from a little show called American Idol.

~I'm Bossy~

[DaveZ35]

Wow, that's a very impressive record for Kelly. But I think when you compare the two artists, Mariah had a bigger year overall.

[That Skipping Rope.]

Kelly.

Mariah didn't give a solid live performance without lipping the whole year.

[Pulse]

What about Ciara? I would have added her to the list (Although compared to the other 3, I dont think at least Kelly and Mariah would beat her). I thought Breakaway fell out of the top 20 for a week?

[musiclives]

If we are talking about exposure, and media appearences (which is why her album did so well) then Mariah Carey. But if we are talking about success and longevity then it goes to Ms. Clarkson. I just have to give it up to her, 2005 was the year of Kelly Clarkson.

[iMoan]

musiclives said:

But if we are talking about success and longevity then it goes to Ms. Clarkson. Mariah. I just have to give it up to her, 2005 was the year of Kelly Clarkson Mariah Carey.

This post is going to turn into another Mariah vs. Kelly

[Love Plastic Love]

Kelly-great combination of domination at three different formats with 4 different songs, two high profile grammys, and amazing longevity...and surprisingly gimmick free.

[themakshack]

Mariah Carey. It was an amazing comeback for her; and there's no denying about it.

[britrocks16]

underneathobsidian said:

KellyMariah-great combination of domination at three FOUR different formats with 3 different songs, two THREE grammys, and amazing longevity

[Black Jesus]

I would guarentee you that TEOM will not stay in the Billboard Top 20 for 63 consecutive weeks...I'd be willing to be my life on it

[7thfairway]

zach said:

I would guarentee you that TEOM will not stay in the Billboard Top 20 for 63 consecutive weeks...I'd be willing to be my life on it

I wouldn't bet my life on it but I agree with your premise. I think eventually Breakaway will outsell TEOM in America and it will certainly outsell it worldwide. Breakaway is the album that will still be in CD players decades from now. TEOM not so much.

[punkydoodle]

Kelly.

[jond7699]

Mariah Carey. It was her year

[Filthy Pop]

7thfairway said:

zach said:

I would guarentee you that TEOM will not stay in the Billboard Top 20 for 63 consecutive weeks...I'd be willing to be my life on it

I wouldn't bet my life on it but I agree with your premise.  I think eventually Breakaway will outsell TEOM in America and it will certainly outsell it worldwide.  Breakaway is the album that will still be in CD players decades from now.  TEOM not so much. 

I agree with that to an extent, they're both great albums but I can see Breakaway outselling TEOM when it's all said and done with.

[babyboylrtm]

Kelly

[Caution]

Mariah Carey and not only the female artist but overall. She sold more albums than anyone. Had the biggest hit of the decade, won more grammys than any female.
Tied wih Elvis in #1 singles.

[OUcultjam]

I'll add two more little numbers to the mix... 11 and 5.

11 = the number of Billboard year-end charts that KELLY topped

5 = the number of Billboard year-end charts that MARIAH topped

And Breakaway didn't fall out of the top 20 until the week before the Grammys. That one week ended the streak which otherwise would still be going since she's back in the top 20 again.

[MinusName]

oucultjam said:

I'll add two more little numbers to the mix... 11 and 5.

11 = the number of Billboard year-end charts that KELLY topped

5 = the number of Billboard year-end charts that MARIAH topped

And Breakaway didn't fall out of the top 20 until the week before the Grammys.  That one week ended the streak which otherwise would still be going since she's back in the top 20 again.

Yes, Kelly Clarkson topped more charts. Mariah just had larger audience that is all, doesn't mean that it was necessarily bigger. I'm sorry but I think "Since U Been Gone" was much more talked about than "We Belong Together."

[die Lotterie]

#1 song of the year + #1 album of the year = Mariah's year.

Kelly can have all the hits at pop she wants, but it was still Mariah's year. Mariah made an extraordinary comeback, and even though many people are tired of hearing it, it's amazing to have Mariah back at her best, which is only one of the reasons why it's her year.

I think Kelly's best year is yet to come. She has a lot of potential.

[Itz]

2 #1 singles (total of 16 weeks at #1)
1 #2 single
3 #1 airplay hits
3 #1 R&B singles
The biggest airplay single in the history of music
#1 album of 2005
6x platinum certification
3 grammy awards, 1 AMA, 5 Billboard awards, 4 WMA, 2 Lady Of Soul awards...AMONG OTHERS

I don't know how anybody can say this wasn't Mariah's year. Kelly did have an amazing year as well, but Mariah overshadowed it. Kelly's next album is going to be GIGANTIC.

[Waffles]

Mariah

[Gorminako]

There just haven't been enough Mariah vs. Kelly vs. Gwen polls!

[XXIX]

Mariah Carey...

[threeonthetree]

no doubt mariah carey, kelly comes in second tho. both are deserving anyways and i love both