MARY J. BLIGE'S STYLISH 'BREAKTHROUGH' RACKS UP SALES

By: Janine Coveney

Vocalist Mary J. Blige is having a very happy New Year indeed, as her brand-new studio album The Breakthrough has proven to be a holiday sales winner. Released on December 20th, the album sold 727,000 copies in its first week, to debut in the Number One position on the Billboard 200 albums chart. That sales showing gives Blige the best opening week for a solo Ramp;B female artist in the Nielsen SoundScan era, according the Billboard.com.

The Breakthrough also bests the first-week showing of the singer's previous album, 2003's Life amp; Love. Blige says the new album represents the stronger, more positive place she finds herself spiritually. "My goal was to make my fans happy, and I knew that Love amp; Life was something that disappointed them," she told Billboard.com. "None of us were in a good place. Too many cooks spoiled the soup. You had (co-producer P. Diddy) saying, 'Do this, do that,'and I wanted something else. I have to give the glory to God (for) giving me the strength and guidance to do this."

Sales may well have been helped by Blige's high-profile media blitz, including television appearances, magazine covers, and her designation by Vibe Magazine as a V Legend for both her talent and her personal style. Blige, who debuted in 1991 with the multi-platinum What's The 411?, began her career wearing mostly baggy hip-hop clothes and has evolved into a fashion icon. She recently explained: "I can't change what's in my heart, and what was in my heart is what made me dress like a dude-- and that's comfort and just, you know, I guess a more masculine side than a more feminine side. I'm not as feminine as most women because I'm just not into that. But I'm definitely into being comfortable and making people feel comfortable."

Blige's single from the set, "Be Without You," stands at Number One on Billboard's Hot Ramp;B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.