So can we say that Elliott outperformed TPTB favorite Blake Lewis in light of this first-week entry, just posted at HDD:

– 9 BLAKE LEWIS ARISTA/RMG 98,017 —
AUDIO DAY DREAM

18 24 JORDIN SPARKS 19/JIVE/ZLG 52,276 +8%
JORDIN SPARKS

Added Jordin just for interest.

So Elliott debuted much further up, and sold 93K I think in the late-winter sales trough; Blake sells more but is in the high-traffic Christmas rush.

Who would get bragging rights?

You know - I hate to say it, but probably Blake on numbers. There are all sorts of caveats to that if we want to use them - he had label and AI promotion, Elliott didn't. Elliott can be more proud of his 93,000 because he worked harder to get it.

As far as where something debuts on the charts, I think it's all a crapshoot as to what is debuting in the same week -

sure proves that Elliott's number is VERY respectable!!

There are some 'performers' that when I try to compare them to Elliott, I just can't. Some are about 'gimmicks' IMO and Elliott is always about the voice. But there is room for all tastes. Just like Eric Clapton is mesmerizing just sitting on a stool playing, Elliot is mesmerizing just singing. His joy in performing is palatable.

As Elliott said, he's not in competition anymore. I think that they both should feel proud that that many people bought their music the first week.

I think that each is happy for the other. I hope that the respective fanbases will feel the same.

Well, there's no doubt that these are two completely different artists! The only thing they really have in common was the idol alma mater. I saw Blake on Ellen today - and to be sure, he's not my style - but I have always admired that he actually HAS something original and he knows what he wants to sound like and he goes for it. I hope he'll be very successful.

Georgefan1, my post sounded so harsh and I didn't mean it to. I'm sure Blake's fans are happy with his cd.

It all just means that Elliott is doing very well.
I guess, we Elliott's fans, are always trying to prove that all those predictions about Elliott not having a chance of succeeding, not being marketable, being likely forgotten by next Christmas, were wrong.
I know it does not matter for Elliott if Blake sells 20k more or less than him but it sure feels good when Elliott’s sales are as big as other Idol’s.
I have never got over the May 17-the 2006 night when Elliott was voted off. I want him to have this yellow convertible (was it yellow ?) they gave to Taylor and Kat .
In some 10 years or more when other Idols are forgotten and Elliott is one of the big ones all this competition will be over but it’s not over yet.
:elliottelliott:

Yes, I certainly did not mean to invite a flame war between E and Blake fans. I dig the hell out of Blake. I admire his love of music and sense of respect toward all the people who really created the music he loves -- an attitude he shares with Elliott.

You hit it right on the head to discuss it purely in the larger context of how hard it is for an artist to really come out strong, especially when year after year, you realize those 30 million viewers don't amount to the smallest fraction of actual sales.

I can't stand Blake. FLAME ON :) lol

I do believe Elliott's sales were 96000+ --a little closer without a major label...

HDD's estimates for Elliott were 96K.
their estimate for Blake is 98K.

It's a wash; SoundScan will reveal actuals late tomorrow.
Look for a downgrade for Blake, maybe 93K or so in actuals.
Both would be considered modest debuts.

What were Blake's shipment numbers?

Heck yes!... But I don't think anyone doubted that :P

:xmascheers: