The first figures were already impressive: 50,000 pre-orders before its release and 94,306 copies sold after three days of sales and listening on streaming platforms.
But the success of "Civilization", Orelsan's fourth album, is even more massive than expected.
A week after its release, it reached 138,929 copies, according to the official list published this Friday by Snep.
Orelsan had the best start of the year ahead of the Enfoirés (118,000 sales) and put the other rap stars at a distance, SCH (63,851) and Booba (39,118).
He also managed the second performance of the year in physical sales with 96,615 CDs, behind the last show of the Restos du Cœur troupe.
His “Golden Tickets” operation - five lifetime passes in his concerts slipped into his records - has clearly borne fruit.
Read alsoWhy Orelsan's “Civilization” is the best French rap album of the year
These sales are all the more bluffing as “Civilization” has not yet been able to release on vinyl.
Due to the congestion in the pressing factories, due to the shortage of raw materials and the influx of record releases at the end of the year, the album will not be able to be ready in this format before December and no date. is advanced.
And it was also released during the most generous weekend of the year in new pancakes, in competition with Adele, but also Sting, Eddy Mitchell, Juliette Armanet, Bénabar ...
An expanding audience, even if it means disappointing the early fans
In the rap category, Orelsan also beats the record for the era of streaming held by the duo PNL with the album “Deux frères” which had sold 113,214 copies during its first week of operation in 2019 and which was the best score for a hip-hop record since 2010. The record in French rap history is still held by IAM, which had sold 100,000 copies of "The school of the silver microphone" alone. on the day of its release, March 18, 1997, and has since hit 1.6 million sales.
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Orelsan: a look back at a career neither simple nor basic
Except that at the time, streaming did not exist. So, can Orelsan do better with “Civilization”? In any case, it already surpasses its previous album, released four years ago, which started with 96,974 sales in one week, streams included and ended up at a million worldwide and a billion streams, after a sold-out tour of 97 dates.
"The party is over" immediately benefited from the "Basic" effect, huge hit and shocking clip.
"Civilization" was put into orbit by the excellent documentary series broadcast since October by Amazon and directed by Orelsan's brother, Clément Cotentin, "Never show that to anyone", and by "The smell of gasoline" , political song and fiery clip.
Word of mouth on social media has since been excellent.
With this particularly rich, open and diverse album, Orelsan once again gained in public what he somewhat lost in early rap fans who no longer find themselves in less hardcore songs like "Athena" or his duet. funky with The Neptunes, the Pharrell Williams duo.
Read also His documentary, his new album, his career ... Orelsan's confidences in front of our readers
When he met our readers, before the album was released, the 39-year-old artist confessed to them: “My music is rap but also melody, and I always try to make music. which corresponds to my age.
I don't want to be fasting.
"While confiding his happiness to see his audience widen:" People up to 60 years old, even children of 12 years old, come to see me in the street.
It's new and it makes me happy to please everyone.
It meets my tastes.
"