For eight days Weird Al has taken over the internet and now for the first time ever, he has appeared at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200. Mandatory Fun, his 14th album, sold over 104,700 copies in the first week since it was released. This sent him to the No. 1 spot and shocked the Billboard’s expectations that it would sell roughly 70,000 to 75,000 copies.
Related: Weird Al Talks About His New Album
Only two of his albums have hit the top ten. This is also the first time in 54 years that a comedy album has reached No. 1.
After hearing the news, Weird Al took to Twitter to thank his fans.
It’s official. MANDATORY FUN enters the Billboard album chart this week at #1. Wow. WOW.
— Al Yankovic (@alyankovic) July 23, 2014
If you’d told me 30 years ago this would happen, I never would’ve believed it. If you’d told me 2 WEEKS ago, I never would’ve believed it.
— Al Yankovic (@alyankovic) July 23, 2014
I’m so pleased everybody is enjoying the album, and I’m enormously grateful for everyone’s support. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU.
— Al Yankovic (@alyankovic) July 23, 2014
Over the past eight days, we’ve witnessed an album campaign like no other. Weird Al released previously recorded parody music videos of Robin Thicke, Iggy Azalea, Lorde, and Crosby, Stills & Nash, among others.
