For a Canadian artist who has recorded primarily in French to make the Top 5 of the Canadian Billboard album chart is formidable, whether a release is in English or French or both.  Celine Dion and Roch Voisine are among the few who were able to make such an accomplishment.  Ariane Moffatt’s debut at No. 2 on the chart with her new bilingual studio album MA (most of the tracks are in English) is even more remarkable given that she has competition from the likes of Adele, Whitney Houston, Leonard Cohen, and compilation album of 2012 Grammy Nominees.  In short, Ariane has cleaned up.  Well done!

There is a new semi-Canadian entry on the Canadian Billboard Hot 100 singles chart this week.  American rap band Far*East Movement has recruited Justin Bieber to vocalize their new track “Live My Life”.  It has debuted on the chart at #4.  Speaking of the number 4, Carly Rae Jepsen is No. 1 for the 4th week with her double-platinum “Call Me Maybe”.  Her United States radio tour is helping the song to climb the American chart; it is #31 now in that country and has cracked the iTunes Top 10 there.  K’naan and Nelly Furtado’s “Is Anybody Out There” is just outside the Top 20 at #23 this week.