Mary J. Blige’s “Stronger With Each Tear” enters the U.S. albums chart at No. 2 with Susan Boyle’s “I Dreamed a Dream” stands in its way to the top. Mary’s effort opened with 330,000 copies, becoming her third studio album in a row to start with more than 300,000 units.

As for Susan’s album, this fastest-selling debut of the year added another 510,000, pulling in a total of 2,982,000 copies only after five weeks in U.S. stores. The continued domination of “I Dreamed a Dream” makes her the first artist in the Billboard Hot 200’s 53-year chart history to enter the chart at No. 1 with a debut album and spend five consecutive weeks at the top spot.

“Stronger With Each Tear” is not the only newcomer in the chart this week as “We Are Young Money” set from Lil Wayne and his crew also cracks the top 10. The compilation bows at No. 9 with 142,000 copies.

Other positions in the chart are pretty much the same as last week. Andrea Bocelli’s “My Christmas” holds at No. 3 with 284,000. Alicia Keys’ “The Element of Freedom” falls two slots to No. 4 with 280,000. As for Taylor Swift’s “Fearless”, the top-selling album of 2009 moves down one step to No. 5 with 224,000, garnering a total of 3,157,000.

Lady GaGa’s “The Fame” still sits at No. 6 with 169,000, Justin Bieber’s “My World” climbs to No. 7 with 157,000, Carrie Underwood’s “Play On” falls three slots to No. 8 with 153,000, and rounding up the Top 10 is Michael Buble’s “Crazy Love” with 137,000.

“I can do a record with Elton John, I can do ‘One’ with Bono, I can work with Method Man, Jay-Z, and no one says, ‘Why is she doing that?’ ” says Mary J. Blige. “And that’s because I know exactly who I am and what I want.” Blige’s 1992 pairing with rookie Sean “Puffy” Combs for What’s the 411? defined a new era for R&B, matching new-jack attitude with old-school emotion and songcraft. “She’s the true heir to Aretha Franklin,” duet partner Sting once said. Sixteen years later, Blige’s exposed-nerve vocals keep getting more precise and more powerful. “I’m vocally the strongest I’ve ever been,” says Blige. “I did the work, and now I can do whatever I want to do.”

Source:rollingstone.com