IFPI Platinum Europe - Certifications for November 2003

IFPI Platinum Europe - Certifications for November 2003

© www.IFPI.org

Ten albums achieved IFPI Platinum Europe Awards in November, including six albums receiving awards for the first time.

Beyonce's debut solo album Dangerously In Love, first released in May this year, has been awarded a first IFPI Platinum award for sales of one million in Europe. Following huge success as part of Destiny's Child, which amassed over 33 million in record sales, Beyonce co-wrote and co-produced her solo album with collaborators including Missy Elliott, Jay-Z, Sean Paul, Luther Vandross, The Neptunes, Scott Storch, Fanatic and Outkast's Big Boi, many of whom are featured.

David Bisbal's first solo album Corazon Latino, released in Spain in June 2003, has brought accolades to the 24 year old and fan hysteria to Spain. Bisbal began his singing career with Orquesta Expresiones, but came to the attention of the Spanish-speaking world most recently on Operacion Triufuno - the most successful show in the history of Spanish TV. Tours of Latin America followed, and Bisbal's most recent in a series of awards was for Best New Artist at the Latin Grammys.

Indochine's album Paradize has garnered for the band its first-ever Platinum Europe Award in a career spanning more than 20 years. The uncompromising latest release from the band has already been the recipient of a number of awards including the Gold-Export award for outstanding sales outside of its native France. It has also won a French Victoire award for Best Pop/Rock album, an N-R-J award for Best French Album, and an MTV Europe Award for Best French Act. Most recently it picked up the prestigious French-Canadian Victoire de l'Adisq for Most Prevalent French Artist in Canada, in 2003.

Now that Red Hot Chili Peppers can look back on a good two decades of making music, Greatest Hits is a brilliant reminder of the band's achievements, hitting all the rights spots with tracks including Under The Bridge, Give It Away, Californication and Higher Ground.

Two years ago Sting found himself in the extremely difficult position of having to perform a show on the grounds of his home in Italy on September 11, 2001. The gripping intimacy of the result was documented on a live album and DVD All This Time. The songs of his new album Sacred Love, although not specifically about the situation, nevertheless reflect his feeling that love can save the day. The album is a bold attempt to weave together the struggles of individuals with the larger events wracking our political and social worlds. Recorded in Paris, and co-produced with Kipper, the record features Mary J. Blige and Anoushka Shankar.

And The Darkness fell across the land: yes, the UK phenomenon almost single-handedly reviving the spirit of rock n' roll glamour has won an IFPI Platinum Europe Award. Permission To Land... receives the award for European sales of one million. The debut album from The Darkness was one of year's most anticipated, with the band consolidating its name for exciting live performances with festival shows across the UK, as well as support slots with Deep Purple and Lynryd Skynrd on their arena tour, and Metallica in Dublin.

Elton John's Greatest Hits 1970 - 2002 hit double platinum in November, a year after its release. John's songs on the album range from 1970s hits such as Yellowbrick Road and Rocketman right up through I'm Still Standing and This Train Don't Stop There Anymore.

Dido's second album Life For Rent has been nesting in the top echelons of the European charts since its release in September, and breaking sales records around the world. It was the fastest-selling UK album since 1997, has been number 1 in 20 countries, and reached the top five in almost every country that has a chart. Life For Rent is a little bit of everything - folk, rock, pop, hip hop and dance - blended into one intelligent, beguiling and utterly Dido-esque brew. The album has achieved a triple Platinum Europe Award.

The widespread European success of Celine Dion's A New Day Has Come continues with a triple Platinum Europe Award - the honour also marking her 37th IFPI Platinum Europe Award over a total of ten albums. The 2002 release has picked up national gold, platinum or multi-platinum awards in 19 countries across Europe.

Bruce Springsteen's Greatest Hits becomes one of the select handful of albums IFPI has certified as achieving sales of five million or more across Europe. The album has already picked up a total of 45 national platinum or multi-platinum awards in 16 European countries. The comprehensive collection of highlights from Springsteen's career was released in 1995. [Corrected version!]