Dame Vera Lynn has sold more copies of her 2017 album ‘Vera Lynn 100’ than any other album released by a female artist in the UK this year.
The popular singer, who became known as “the forces’ sweetheart” during the Second World War, celebrated her 100th birthday earlier this year by releasing a new compilation album.
Upon its release in March, ‘100’ went straight in at number three in the UK charts, making Lynn the oldest living artist to have ever scored a top 10 album in this country.
The Official Charts Company have now announced that Lynn’s record is currently the best-selling album to be released by a female artist in the UK this year, with ‘100’ the 28th biggest-selling album of 2017 so far. Lynn’s LP has also outperformed albums that have been released this year by the likes of Lana Del Rey, Zara Larsson and Dua Lipa.
However, she will face a stern test in holding onto the record from the likes of Taylor Swift, P!nk and Kelly Clarkson, who are all due to release new albums before 2017 is out.
Speaking to The Guardian upon ‘100”s release, Lynn expressed her surprise and delight that people still bought and listened to her records.
“It’s truly humbling that people still enjoy these songs from so many years ago, reliving the emotions of that time,” she said. “I was after all just doing my job as a singer – and it’s so wonderful for me to hear my songs again so beautifully presented in a completely new way.”
Lynn’s birthday was also marked by her label Decca, who arranged for an image of the singer to be projected onto the white cliffs of Dover.