Taylor Swift breaks chart records with new album despite mixed reviews

Taylor Swifthas broken multiple UK chart records after the release of her 12th studio album The Life Of A Showgirl.

The US pop superstar has had the biggest opening week of her career so far after shifting 423,000 combined chart units, according to the Official Charts Company. The success also marks the biggest overall opening week for an album in the UK since Ed Sheeran ’s Divide in 2017, as well as the biggest for an international album in the UK this century.

Taylor, 35, has now racked up 14 number-one albums, overtaking Elvis Presley ’s record as international artist with the highest number of chart-topping albums in the UK. She is now level with The Rolling Stones, who also have 14 number-one albums.

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Taylor has been producing more than one chart-topping album a year since 2012, taking just under 13 years to achieve her 14th number one. That achievement is a record in itself, marking the fastest time for any artist to get 14 number one albums, according to the Official Charts Company.

The only artists who have more number one albums now are The Beatles and Robbie Williams, with 15 each. The Life Of A Showgirl has also won the title of being the UK’s fastest-selling album on vinyl this century, as well as achieving the most UK album streams in a week.

Meanwhile, in the UK singles chart Taylor has three out of the top 10 positions. Lead single from the album, The Fate Of Ophelia, made its debut in the top spot, and earned the biggest first week for any song from Taylor, with 132,000 chart units, the Official Charts Company said.

Number two in the singles chart is Opalite, a track which is reportedly written about her fiance, NFL star Travis Kelce.

The Kansas City Chiefs tight end was born in October, making his birth stone an opal. Several other tracks on the album are also thought to have been penned about Travis, including including Wood and Eldest Daughter.

The Life Of A Showgirl is the first body of work Taylor has released since she announced her engagement to Travis back in August, and revealed in May that she had regained control over her back catalogue after a lengthy legal battle with Scooter Braun.

Martin Talbot, chief executive of the Official Charts, told the Standard, “What an incredible week for Taylor Swift, which has topped the many other incredible weeks of her career.

"Her list of achievements this week is extraordinary, not least the fact that The Life Of A Showgirl has just registered comfortably the biggest first week in the UK of her career.

“Taylor is bigger than she has ever been in the UK – and shows absolutely no sign of letting up.”

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