France best selling albums ever:
Pokhara by Yannick Noah (2003)

Being successful on his own way as always been the trademark of Yannick Noah. Pairing with successful author Robert Goldman, brother of French superstar Jean-Jacques Goldman, can’t hurt.

This couple already released the million selling album Yannick Noah in 2000 which set high expectations on Pokhara. The debut in August 2003 was good, despite missing the #1 spot due to strong competition from Norah Jones‘ Come Away With Me. A few months later, in February 2004, irony made the album climb back to #2 again only to be blocked again by Norah Jones, this time by Feels Like Home on its debut week. Incredibly, many months later, in August 2004, the album took revenge by hitting the top spot for two weeks exactly one year after its release.

As per IFOP, the album sold 305,000 copies in 2003, 580,000 in 2004 and 76,000 in 2005, falling short of a million. As usual yet, and especially in the early years, IFOP sales largely downgraded supermarket sales, decreasing a lot results of French variety acts. The album shipped 1,1 million copies by the end of 2004, being certified Diamond in November 19 of that year. Considering its 2005 sales and copies remaining on shelves due to 2004 Christmas rush, the total to the end of that year was on 1,15 million.

Until 2009, Pokhara charted every year in the catalog chart, adding 75,000 copies. Sales haven’t been as good lately but still good enough for a 40,000 estimate from 2010 to date, plus 30,000 copies from various 2CD boxes.

Net shipment as of the end of 2015 is estimated at 1,295,000 copies.

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