Paramore And Mariah Carey Beat By Barbra Streisand On Billboard Album Chart

Barbra Streisand, Paramore's Hayley Williams, Mariah Carey - Wireimage/Getty Images

There was a battle brewing last week for the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 album chart between Tennessee pop-rockers Paramore and the diva to end all divas Mariah Carey.

With their respective albums, Brand New Eyes and Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, being closely watched in the chart clash, many counted out another new release by a not-so-new artist, the legendary Barbra Streisand. It was probably that focus that made it all the more upsetting when the final numbers came in and Babs took her rightful place on the top of the chart.

Streisand’s album, Love is the Answer, pulled in 180,000 units according to Nielsen SoundScan. It’s her ninth No. 1 album on the chart, giving her the title as the only female artist in the history of the Billboard 200 to accomplish such a feat.

Paramore’s second place debut isn’t too shabby. Brand New Eyes raked in 175,000 units, their best showing in terms of sales and chart placement yet.

Carey’s debut, on the other hand, is a bit disappointing. At 168,000 copies sold in its first week out, “Memoirs” sold less than half the amount of its predecessor, E=MC², which sold 463,000 in its debut week.