Times David Bowie Literally Helped Save The World

Of that sum, 174,000 were in pure album sales – Bowie’s biggest sales week for an album since Nielsen began electronically tracking point-of-sale music purchases in 1991. Among them are two further titles in the top 40: the greatest hits collection Best of Bowie (No. 4) and The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars (No. 21).

Nineteen of David Bowie’s albums have entered the United Kingdom album charts, after fans sought out his classic hits in the wake of his death. Previous record holder Adele attracted 36 million views when her “Hello” video premiered in October.

It took Bowie to stop Adele, whose run at number 1 has gone on for two months.

Bowie’s dominance continued in the singles chart, with five tracks re-entering the Top 40 and peaking at number 12 with Heroes – a new high for a song that only reached 24 on release in 1977.

However, Bowie’s mammoth presence does not discount the efforts of other artists, especially on this ladder, where Justin Bieber reigns supreme for another week with Love Yourself, doubling up his top-five presence with Sorry, down a spot to #4 this week.

After David Bowie passed away on Sunday at age 69, fans around the world grieved and responded in a number of different ways.

Bowie was reportedly cremated in NY, and his family said the singer would be commemorated in a small private ceremony. “And he wanted to do it his way and he wanted to do it the best way”.

One source said: ‘In many respects you don’t need a memorial or service to remember David by… you have his music instead. This would totally be his style.

Seventeen of the late rock singer’s albums now feature in the Top 100 albums, with his 25th and final release Blackstar debuting at No 1.