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HER ‘WAY’: Jordin Sparks is back in the top 10 of The Billboard Hot 100 for the first time in four years, but not as an artist. Although the season six winner wrote “The Way” with Sevyn Streeter, Sherrod Lambert and Harmony Samuels based on her relationship with fiancé Jason Derulo (as she revealed to The Hollywood Reporter last week) and intended to record the song for her next album, she ended up giving the composition away to Nickelodeon star Ariana Grande. This week, Grande’s recording of “The Way” rebounds 12-9 on the Hot 100, achieving a new peak position. The track previously went as high as No. 10.
As an artist, Sparks has three top 10 hits to her credit. In 2007, her single “Tattoo” peaked at No. 8. The follow-up, “No Air” (recorded with Chris Brown), spent four weeks at No. 3 in 2008. A year later, “Battlefield” peaked at No. 10.
While this is Sparks’ first time on the charts as a songwriter, she is not the first Idol competitor to reach the top 10 by writing a song for another artist. Season one’s Tamyra Gray co-wrote “I Believe,” a No. 1 hit for Fantasia in 2004. And Ace Young wrote “It’s Not Over” with fellow season five contestant Chris Daughtry. That song peaked at No. 4 for Daughtry in 2007.
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‘SEE YOU’ AND RAISE YOU: This was a great chart week for the fourth single from Carrie Underwood’s Blown Away album. “See You Again” makes a big move on the Country Digital Songs chart, soaring 23-11. That sales burst fuels moves on other charts. The single is up 17-14 on Hot Country Songs, while climbing 76-62 on the Hot 100 and debuting at No. 52 on Hot Digital Songs.
With the single heating up, the parent album is still doing well in it 58th week on The Billboard 200, moving back up from 69-62. On Top Country Albums, Blown Away re-surges 22-19.
Meanwhile, “See You Again” is getting some northern exposure, rising 74-59 on the Canadian Hot 100.
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‘PEOPLE’ MOVEMENT: It’s a good chart week for Kelly Clarkson’s “People Like Us.” Edging even closer to No. 1 on Hot Dance Club Play, the song is up 4-2 and could claim the top spot next week. The track breaks into the top 10 on the Adult Top 40 chart, where it climbs 11-9. On Adult Contemporary, “People” debuts at No 26. Sales are improving too, as “People” rises 75-69 on Hot Digital Songs. And on the Canadian Hot 100, the singles improves 35-33.
BITS AND PIECES: Fantasia’s Side Effects of You rebounds on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, moving up 7-6. Both of the albums’ singles are doing well. “Without Me,” featuring Kelly Rowland and Missy Elliott, advances 15-13 on R&B Songs, while its predecessor, “Lose to Win,” stands adjacent with a slide of 13-14 (but with a bullet for gaining traction since last week)… Phillip Phillips’ “Gone, Gone, Gone” marches 4-2 on the Triple A Audience chart and is up 19-17 on Adult Contemporary. On the Hot 100, the single glides into the top half of the chart with a move of 52-50… Mandisa’s new single, “Overcomer,” ascends 41-38 in its second week on Christian Songs… Kellie Pickler’s “Someone Somewhere Tonight” also has a good second week, jumping 57-52 on Country Airplay.
Twitter: @Idol_Worship
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