Coldplay and BTS collaboration ‘My Universe’ debuts at no. 1

Members of K-pop boy band BTS pose for photographs during a news conference promoting their new album “BE(Deluxe Edition)” in Seoul, South Korea, Nov. 20, 2020. Image: Reuters/Heo Ran

LOS ANGELES — The Coldplay and BTS collaboration “My Universe” was met with about as close to universal acclaim as the two groups could hope for, landing at no. 1 on the Rolling Stone songs chart, the first time topping that ranking for either ensemble.

“My Universe” was not a streaming monster, compared to the tunes that usually top the chart; it amassed 8.5 million streams in its debut week, Variety reports. But that was more than made up for by the track’s sales strength, something that’s to be expected with any BTS track, with 136,000 downloads for the premiere frame.

The news was just as good on the Billboard charts, where “My Universe” bowed at no. 1 on three key charts: the Hot 100, the Global 200 and the Global Excl. United States rankings.

Worldwide, according to Billboard, the collaboration claimed 95.4 million streams and 142,400 downloads in its first week.

Probably needless to say, being at no. 1 is a rarer position these days for Coldplay than BTS. The British group had only reached the top of the Hot 100 once before, with “Viva la Vida” back in 2008. BTS has reached that Billboard peak six times now, all within the last 14 months, with “Dynamite,” “Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat),” “Life Goes On,” “Butter,” “Permission to Dance” and now “My Universe.”

The two bands took turns congratulating one another on social media. Coldplay tweeted: “Congratulations RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook… Thank you to Coldplayers and ARMY and everyone who made this happen. love c, g, w, j & p.” BTS responded: “It’s been always an honor to make this all happen with you! Big love and congrats! Thank you to ARMY and Coldplayers. love r, j , s, h, j, j, v.”

Drake’s “Way 2 Sexy,” featuring Future and Young Thug, fell to no. 2 on the Rolling Stone songs chart, but he still maintains four positions in the top 10, with that second-place finisher joined in the upper ranks by “Knife Talk,” “Girls Want Girls” and “Fair Trade.” All four of Drake songs had at least 13 million streams for the week, but “Way 2 Sexy” was way up there with 23.5 million.

Lil Nas X had three out of the top 10 songs last week, when his album was debuting, but he’s back down to one this week, the no. 4-ranked “Industry Baby.” It racked up another 20.6 million streams.

The highest debut was for Youngboy Never Broke Again’s “Bad Morning,” which arrived at no. 10 with 12.1 million streams as the most popular song off his new album, which bows at no. 1 on the album chart this week.

In slower-burning chart action, Glass Animals’ “Heat Wave” finally edged its way into the top 10, moving up to no. 9, after a six-month climb.

Other holdovers include “Stay” by the Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber at no. 5 and country upstart Walker Hayes’ “Fancy Like” at no. 6. JB

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