France Album Sales: Mariah Carey
Daydream (1995) Era
While the singer popularity was undoubtable in France when she released her fourth studio album Daydream in September 1995, internet was barely starting at the time. Why do I mention the web? Because before it became a Media used by everyone, it was much harder to be aware of a release date even if you were a fan of an artist. Labels still had the possibility to delay the promotion in some countries time for the artist to travel and perform in popular TV and radio shows in all main markets.
Debuting at #9 only a few months after selling over a million was still possible then. The lead single Fantasy took one month and a half after the album release to peak at #5 as a result. The album itself quickly climbed to #2 after the slow start once promotion and radio airplay were launched. It missed the top position only due to Celine Dion largest selling album ever D’Eux stealing the #1 spot for 10 months. Remaining Top 20 during four months until the end of the year, Daydream had a significant reboost in early 1996 when it returned to #2 after the release of the second single, #5 smash One Sweet Day duet with the Boyz II Men.
Hitting 2xGold (200,000) in December 1995 and Platinum (300,000) at an unknown date in 1996, one may expect sales just over this latter criteria. This would be a mistake yet. Indeed, SNEP database misses dates for 1996 certifications but I can tell in chronological order daydream was the 10th Platinum album of the year out of 32 such records, implying a certification during usual first semester Sony audits that used to happen in April / May. Daydream was still selling decent amounts at this period and if this is true that it wasn’t certified 2xPlatinum during late 1996 second yearly audit, positions #17 in 1995 year end chart and #20 in 1996 year end ranking suggest sales truly close to the 600,000 units mark.
Top 3 Most Streamed Tracks on Spotify
- Always Be My Baby – 35,495,000
- Fantasy – 31,052,000
- One Sweet Day feat. Boyz II Men – 17,850,000