Biggest peak of the century: 21 or The Fame+Monster?

[Jessie]

Gaga’s singles run from Just Dance through Alejandro was more trailblazing than Adele’s three big soul ballads from 21, had a videography that helped revitalise the art form for a new generation and creative performances that spearheaded her debut arena tour to a final gross over $200m. Gaga’s celebrity awe invaded cultural spheres from celebrity to political, there were even sociology courses being taught about Gaga’s rise. She was doing all that with dance/pop music that is normally dismissed with no artistic merit, especially pre-2010s poptimism and yet she was demanding to be taken seriously as an artist and everyone had an opinion on it. Truly bringing back the energy the big 80s superstars were giving during the MTV generation boom, and the idol worship of turn of the millennium teen pop idols like Backstreet Boys and the Spice Girls. And was making it all explicitly gay. There are reasons so many artists name check her as an inspiration because she was fearless, and was making waves doing it.
 

Yes 21 as an album was a sales anomaly and stats lovers dream (not that TFM wasn’t to a lesser degree), Rolling in the Deep and Someone Like You have sold more units than any individual Gaga single, and yet Gaga still had the higher star peak and packed more moments and singles into it. Bad Romance song + video alone ate Ms Adkins and her mic up (and Gaga went on to have her own mega successful balladeer era anyway - a versatile artist )

Edited February 4, 2023 by Jessie

[So.. what now]

21, with the unnecessary album+ep combination, the fame monster, but You can’t just compare one album against one album and one ep.

 

[Hot Volcano]

14 hours ago, Tropez said:

It literally does not prove your point at all. It was not easy to get a diamond album or selling over 5 million units. That was still seen as a blockbuster album even back then. I cannot believe you are even tryng to argue going diamond was easy. 
 

Like you have to be joking. Let’s be serious for like a second please. 

I posted more than enough receipts to back up what I was saying, you choosing to ignore it and stick to YOUR own little narrative is your choice baby

 

Never said Britney wasn't huge back then, just pointed out she went Diamond because during that era all the big artists went Diamond or close to Diamond since it was the peak of the physical era. That is a VALID point in this discussions since we are comparing it to Adele's 21, which is the only album in the entire DECADE to go Diamond, meanwhile there were 6 albums that went Diamond in the YEAR Oops went Diamond, the way you are not seeing my point is beyond me so for your own sake I hope you are trolling.

[enchanted0]

The setup  

[Gagacharts]

If we only talk about the album, than 21 is unbeatable.

 

If we talk about the overall era (Album sales, Single sales, YouTube, Touring, Awards, Live Performances, Influence, Media expose), The Fame Montser is bigger.

[GlamSlam]

 

21 of course.

[Ichinaru19]

21

[Eternal220]

21 and 25 are bigger than the other

Edited February 4, 2023 by Eternal220

[byzantium]

It’s 21 without a doubt.  

[PrudenceHCharmed]

The one that did not need to combine two albums into one... 21 

 

Plus Adele didn't get blocked by The Black Eyed Peas, Kesha, Jay Z and Alicia Keys during her peak. So obviously it's Adele. 

[Lorenzo22]

the set up  obviously 21 but TF + TFM is second