Billboard Names Adele’s ’21’ As Greatest Album of All Time

Published: Thursday 12th Nov 2015 by Rashad
adele-new-album-2015-tgj

Michael Jackson, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan may have topped many-a-‘greatest ever’ list over time, but for once the legendary group have to take a back seat to a relative “newcomer” – Adele.

Indeed, as the year draws to a close, Billboard is unveiling a slew of “greatest ever” lists from artists to singles and, of course, albums.  And, as fans expect to see the songstress’s new album ’25’ comfortably perched at #1 on Billboard’s chart upon its release next week, they were greeted with surprising news that its predecessor – ’21’ – is lodged at the same spot…on the greatest Billboard 200 album ever list.

Big news for the big voiced-diva below:


Note:  The list is not based on critical acclaim, but is instead the result of an inverse point system developed by Billboard and explained below:

On this all-time list, albums are ranked based on an inverse point system, with weeks at No. 1 earning the greatest value and weeks at the lower reaches of the chart earning the least. Due to changes in chart methodology through the years, eras are weighted differently to account for chart turnover rates over various periods. Artists are ranked based on the combined point totals of their albums, as outlined above. – Billboard (source)

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  1. Bow Down B****** November 12, 2015

    My girls Adele, Tay-Tay, and Gaga! Those hooes give me life!!!!!!!!!

    • You tried November 13, 2015

      Really??? Who is billboard ran by..?? Some little kids??! Taylor swift has catchy Pop music but really she is in the top 3 ALBUMS OF ALL TIME??? ADELE because she had a good year with 1ALBUM! Only Four BLACK artist in the top 20 and BLACK ARTIST CREATED EVRY SINGLE GENRE THERE IS IN MUSIC! Smh

      • Chile, leave my weave at the door and don’t steal it like those broke ass barb stans November 13, 2015

        Speak it!!!!

      • Danyboo November 13, 2015

        Bihhhhhh thats because black ppl dont buy music…

      • Jmarx November 13, 2015

        Relax. This isn’t about good music, it’s about sales and how many weeks it was at #1. Nothing else.

      • madbrax November 13, 2015

        so much butthurt lol maybe black artists should make better albums then? this list is based on sales, weeks spent at the top and chart points. get the f*** over yourself. quite pathetic

    • lisa01 November 13, 2015

      bilboard named Taylor Switft in the top ten?? but left out Janet, Mariah, Aretha?

      girl bye.

      Bilboard wonders why the American record buying public ignores billboard and only uses Itunes.

  2. HailBeysus November 12, 2015

    I was about to Gasp!!! Then i read what it why it greatest and what for lol! Because lyrically and musically thwir are so manh better albums. No shade cause i still love me some Adele!! Congrats gurl keep on slaying!!!

    • HailBeysus November 12, 2015

      Lol sorry for my illiterate comment! I was in shock and excitement lmao!

    • Kelvin November 13, 2015

      Imo even Bruno Mars’ foo-wops & hooligans is better than 21.
      21 had the same sound thruout. Slow ballads
      D&H hAd a collection of sounds and they were cohesive and remained great through out

  3. ????Queen Molly???? November 12, 2015

    21 was good but best album ever? Nah sway…. Where is King Bey? This list is trash.

    • HailBeysus November 12, 2015

      Its based on critical acclaim and public opinions. The list is based on how long the albums stayed with in the Hot200

      • HailBeysus November 12, 2015

        Oops ment to say not on critical acclaim lol sorry for the.confusion

      • ????Queen Molly???? November 12, 2015

        Oh i see smh what a mess…

    • Ok November 13, 2015

      Slùt bucket stop clinging to the hive bītch we dont fūck with you we dont claim you continue stanning for ciara you spineless worthless trash files b*****

    • MUSICHEAD November 13, 2015

      Beyonce has never had a “huge” selling album. Her solo albums have yet to surpass The Writings On The Wall by Destiny’s Child.

    • madbrax November 13, 2015

      “King” Bey hahaha she’ll never be near a best of list

  4. QueenTaylor November 12, 2015

    NoNE of Beyawnce’s albums made the chart.

    Lmaooooo

    Overrated p*** star!

    • RihYonce November 13, 2015

      No these biiiitches Adele & Taylor swift are overrated , especially Taylor Stiff her overexposed ass

  5. Pray for the Youth November 12, 2015

    Eh, as tgj stated. This is not based on critical acclaim. It’s just a joke of list to glorify mainstream success. In other words, this list doesn’t matter. At least to true music lover, it doesn’t. Weeks at number one should not be worth the most value when conjuring a “all time” list for greatest albums. But this is billboard were talking about, so why would anyone look to them to put together a list that puts quality, musicality, lyricism, and everything else that matters above chart positioning. I get it… It’s still trash though…

  6. Arianator Barb November 12, 2015

    Just got out of jail a few hours ago!!! Billboard outta line..

    • Carey Like Mariah November 12, 2015

      Why were you in jail? Let me find out that Arianator Barb is a bad boy…

      • Arianator Barb November 13, 2015

        I’m not gonna go into details of what happened that night but I’m banned from a certain club in Vegas and the warrants caught me girl. I’m actually out sooner than was expected but I ain’t mad!!! 🙂

    • HailBeysus November 12, 2015

      ????????????????????????????????

    • Carey Like Mariah November 13, 2015

      Lol you gotta chill, you’re too cute to be locked up. & Lmaooo I think you mean *bro–I’m definitely male ????; I should probably change my Gravatar to a photo of me. && Did you have fun at the club, at least? Or was it whack?

    • Chile, leave my weave at the door and don’t steal it like those broke ass barb stans November 13, 2015

      I don’t know why, but I kii’d at “the warrants caught me girl”. I’m just glad that your safe and free now, Ariana to r Barb. We gotta stick together to defend the little Italian Pop queen.

    • AnnaliseKeatingsNewWig November 13, 2015

      #FreeArianatorBarb 🙂

  7. shakira stan November 13, 2015

    Lol Adele over thriller like a virgin Whitney mariah Carey prince etc
    Even Beyonce’s album I would place it over Taylor Swift …..billboard must behigh on racist juice

  8. Chile, leave my weave at the door and don’t steal it like those broke ass barb stans November 13, 2015

    So no Janet or Mariah album is in the top 25, yet these women RULED the 90s? It seems a little too good to be true. Now, what I really don’t understand is how “21” got more points than “Thriller”. I see Sam got y’all ignoring the Hot 100 GOAT list simply because Bey is number 39 and Rih is number 13. Post it and face the truth that Iconanna is still getting praise with no album released.

    • Fy November 13, 2015

      Mariah and Janet made the list of billboard greatest artist of all time. Also Mariah three albums on this list as well. They are just out of the top 20. Music box, Mariah Carey, and emancipation all made the list. TGJ just covered the top 20

  9. No favs, just here for the music November 13, 2015

    Ummmm wtf type of list is this??? Smh no words. This is just sad.

  10. HailBeysus November 13, 2015

    Why does no one read!!! The chart is based on Charting success only not anything else! We all know their are FAR BETTER ALBUMS out there than Adele’s and Taylor lol!!! No shade to Adele she deserves all the acclaim accolades and success. But stop getting pressed about a nothing chart.

    • Chile, leave my weave at the door and don’t steal it like those broke ass barb stans November 13, 2015

      To be completely honest, “21” is a great album, but “19” was much more consistent around a central theme. Plus, it was when she was as raw as could be before the fame bug she has now bit her. She can make great and emotionally-vulnerable music from this point forward, but “19” is the epitome of her being as truthful and real as possible.

      • HailBeysus November 13, 2015

        Why are you telling me this? I never said her album wasn’t great. But i stand by my comment because their are loads of albums that surpass the likes of Adele. Like i said no shade at all she deserves her success and I’m still a fan, but i also keep shiiit real.

    • JOHNVIDAL November 13, 2015

      The problem is the list doesn´t seem to represent the real success of albums either. You can cook numbers whichever way you want to get to the result you want to some point. And they just did that. They needed to put Adele and Taylor Swift (LOL) there somehow.

  11. Ok November 13, 2015

    This fat trash is number 1 before the king of pop? Billboard is a joke

  12. la femme November 13, 2015

    MJ DIDN’T DIE FOR THIS

  13. Rima November 13, 2015

    Gaga did that. I feel so bad for the hive, navy, and barbz Gaga will forever be superior to them.

  14. King Mark111 /.\ November 13, 2015

    Billboard been thirsty for a while now. They’re just trying to get magazine sales nd clicks now.

  15. RihannaIsMadonna November 13, 2015

    Ahahaha love me so Adele but is this a joke? Where Madonna, Mariah, Janet?

  16. Ask4yall November 13, 2015

    I love 21 as well as Adele but where are singers that started it all

  17. Theman November 13, 2015

    Adele is outstanding. But Mariah & Janet should easily rule this chart.

  18. JOHNVIDAL November 13, 2015

    Complete and utter nonsense. They could have kept this list. Not even going by numbers (manipulating them all the want to cook whatever list they want) an album like the FROZEN soundtrack should be anywhere near any list about most successful albums ever. That wasn´t as successful to begin with. many many many other soundtracks have been soooo much bigger. And that´s just a little example.

  19. .::Centurion::. November 13, 2015

    Absolute trash. How can they base greatness with their own “inverse point system” that nobody knows and the number of weeks an album spent on the charts? SMH.

  20. .::Centurion::. November 13, 2015

    Like everyone’s saying, where are Mariah, Janet and Madonna albums? And did those Taylor Swift albums really have an impact? SMH

  21. Danny Bey November 13, 2015

    Adele is cool and all, but you know America is depethroating the fukk outta her d*** when they say her album full of depression and pity party jams is better than THRILLER?! The FUKK kinda white power is Billboard smoking on? Or which of Adeles tits are they sucking the most? Cuz tis too much.

  22. When RIHsus Says Yes… November 13, 2015

    I pay this list dust because Adele’s album should never outrank ANY Michael Jackson album from 1979 to 1991.

  23. Sarah November 13, 2015

    Come thru Usher-Confessions!!! But you know its bad when Paula Abdul (though i love her) made the list & Mariah nor Janet did

    • Fy November 13, 2015

      This list doesn’t stop at 20. TGJ only is reporting the top 20. Billboard has this list with different categories and Mariah and Janet are on it. This particular list Mariah has three albums in the top 100. The other list (greatest artist of all time) mariah, Janet, Michael, Whitney and Madonna made the top ten.

  24. SAGE November 13, 2015

    LOL@Tranet not making the list. Nothing she did ever mattered anyways….all there ever was to her was MJ’s last name and JJTL’s production. THAT is why the plastic transexual was paid DUST!!!! Hahahahaha!!!!

    • Lmfao_Hoe November 13, 2015

      You better gtfoh with your hating ass. Control,Rhythm Nation, Janet., Velvet Rope, All For You,and Damita Joe are f****** classics/masterpiece don’t be talking out your ass now.

      • SAGE November 13, 2015

        All those albums are pure CRAP which why none of them are here! Thx! Hahaha. Tranet better just bask in the inclusion of THRILLER which she spent her career to have but could never! 😛

  25. What now November 13, 2015

    This list is eh, but I’m sure it was created by Adele’s team and sent to Billboard for more good girl publicity. A&R 101

    • Beyonce November 13, 2015

      LMAO…..U told no lies, it’s funny cuz i thought the same…it makes me think of the born this way era…i remember how all of the sudden gaga was breakin “came-outta-nowhere- records !!! lol

  26. RihYonce November 13, 2015

    Where is Brandy’s “never say never”!? It sold just as much as confessions why isn’t it up there , no “dangerously in love” either ? ????????????????

    • Essa November 13, 2015

      What?! Never Say Never didn’t sell anywhere what Confessions did. NSN is like 5 or 6x platinum. Confessions is diamond and was the last massive selling album the industry saw until 21. And albums sales in general were much lower in 2004 when Confessions was released than in 1998 when NSN came out, so the two albums can’t in any way be compared. Brandy never had a Confessions.

  27. RihYonce November 13, 2015

    I like Adele but I just don’t get all of the crazy hype around her…..but that’s just me she makes great music but people only on her Dck because of sales & it’s annoying , especially Taylor Stiff

    • Adele: queen of pop November 13, 2015

      You talking about hype but you stand for Rih and beyonce? LOL. nothing but hype. Your just made that Adele has out sold both of your faves with one album

  28. Beyonce November 13, 2015

    In my honest opinion, Dangerously in love, Bday and IASF slay “21” by far… this chick is so overrated, im willing to witness her career after that “25” album..she’s giving some gaga vibes…risin fast, totally overrrated, then the downfall..this is why i stick to my gurl bey forever, at least she has longevity….
    The bodyguard, whitney, GGGB by rihanna, D’eux by celine dion are all better than overrated 21….

    • Adele: queen of pop November 13, 2015

      obviously the general public disagrees with you since 21 has a higher meta critic score and out sold these 3 albums COMBINED. How is Adele going to be like gaga when she is on her third album and is expected to do 2.5 million first week? gaga flopped hard on her 3rd album.

      • Beyonce November 13, 2015

        u know what??? u bandwagon stan, u givin me back-then-gaga-bandwagon-stan vibes too… truth hurts, uh??? the thing is 21 is a boring album, while dangerously in love is listenable..im not here for her sellin 3millions in one week, that’s all a manufactured plot, im here for quality, n quality wise, 21 is overrated, and Hello is so so overrated too..
        As i said before, i’ll b there to check on the follow up of 25… 25 is sellin out only based on hype and 21’s success, that’s it..that same damn thing happened with born this way

    • Adele: queen of pop November 13, 2015

      but born this way stalled at 2x in the us lol? yes, check her follow up and watch her out sell your fav again. How does beyonce release a surprise album with media coverage, hype and a video for every song and she isn’t 5x plat?

      • Beyonce November 13, 2015

        Bey is been this for 20 Years now, she’s seen them come, rise fast, die, burn out faster my grandma’s candle…

        where are janet, mariah, madonna???? this list is a joke and adele is just way too overrated, she’s just another britney and gaga combined…everything’s based on hype

      • Lmfao_Hoe November 13, 2015

        Girl bye her album has not outsold there albums, especially THRILLER !

    • JOHNVIDAL November 13, 2015

      LOL No they don´t. Beyonce´s album are neither better nor more successful (which is what this list is about, supposedly) than “21”.

  29. OhNoYouDidn’t! November 13, 2015

    All I care about is Nippy got two albums on the list!!!! I am proud of Gaga, her albums deserves to be on the list. The Fame is THE game changer. For my Opinion, Thriller should be number one. 21 is a great album don’t get me wrong.

  30. stan November 13, 2015

    lmao STOP. how is that so-so album #1 when thriller is #2. the delusion is real.

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