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American Idols are smoking the Billboard charts, Adam and Kris make history

By April MacIntyre May 29, 2009, 3:42 GMT

05/20/2009 - Adam Lambert and Kris Allen - They were the top two contestants on season eight of “American Idol,” but now winner Kris Allen and runner-up Adam Lambert are dominating Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart, with a combined nine debuts on the survey, topped by Kris’ recording of “No Boundaries” at No. 11. © Albert L. Ortega / PR Photos

Adam Lambert and Kris Allen are smoking the Billboard charts.

They were the top two contestants on season eight of “American Idol,” but now winner Kris Allen and runner-up Adam Lambert are dominating Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart, with a combined nine debuts on the survey, topped by Kris’ recording of “No Boundaries” at No. 11.

The nine debuting singles by Kris and Adam are:
 
No. 11: “No Boundaries,” Kris Allen
No. 16: “Heartless,” Kris Allen
No. 19: “Mad World,” Adam Lambert
No. 37: “Ain’t No Sunshine,” Kris Allen
No. 56: “A Change Is Gonna Come,” Adam Lambert
No. 66: “Apologize,” Kris Allen
No. 72: “No Boundaries,” Adam Lambert
No. 82: “One,” Adam Lambert
No. 94: “Falling Slowly,” Kris Allen         

All nine tracks are released by 19 Recordings. Kris’ “No Boundaries” is released by 19 Recordings/Sony Music and Adam’s “No Boundaries” by 19 Recordings/Sony Music.

According to the Idol publicists:

Kris’ version of “Heartless” is the highest-charting recording of that song on this week’s chart. Kanye West’s original, which peaked at No. 2 earlier this year, falls to No. 48 and a cover version of the Fray that debuted last week at No. 79 falls off the list.

Adam’s interpretation of “Mad World” puts that classic song on the Hot 100 for the first time. Neither the original by Tears for Fears nor the remake by Gary Jules ever appeared on this chart.

“Ain’t No Sunshine” is back on the Hot 100 for the first time in 17 years. Kris has the most successful cover version of Bill Withers’ original, which peaked at No. 3 in 1971. Rapper Kid Frost recorded a version titled “No Sunshine,” which went to No. 95 in 1992.

Adam’s remake of Sam Cooke’s classic civil rights song, “A Change Is Going to Come,” is the highest-charting cover of that tune.

The 5th Dimension included it in a medley that peaked at No 60 in 1970; Adam’s version marks the song’s first time back on the Hot 100 in 39 years. Cooke’s original peaked at No. 31 in 1964.

Adam’s take on U2’s “One” is also the highest-charting cover version of that song, besting the No. 86 peak of Mary J. Blige and Bono’s remake in 2006. The original peaked at No. 10 in 1992.

Kris’ version of the Oscar-winning “Falling Slowly” from the film “Once” is the first remake of that song to appear on the Hot 100. The original, by Glen Hansard and Marketa Inglova, debuted and peaked at No. 61 in March 2008.

Last year's Idol David Cook debuted at No. 24 with “Permanent,” the song he performed on the series’ season finale.

All proceeds from Cook’s live performance of the song are being donated to Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure, a Washington, D.C.-based organization dedicated to finding a cure for brain cancer.

Cook also re-enters the tally with “Come Back to Me” at No. 84.

Carrie Underwood also re-enters the chart, with her remake of Mötley Crüe’s “Home Sweet Home,” at No. 79. Carrie performed the song on the Tuesday night season finale show, and her recording was heard all through the season as a goodbye song for finalists who were voted off the show. Carrie is also at No. 68 this week with “I Told You So,” featuring Randy Travis.

Kelly Clarkson, charting with her new single “I Do Not Hook Up” as well as its predecessor, “My Life Would Suck Without You.”

Kellie Pickler is having a great run with “Best Days Of Your Life;” Daughtry, on the survey with “No Surprise” and Jordin Sparks, charting with her new single, “Battlefield,” and there are 18 “American Idol” songs on this week’s Hot 100.

Meanwhile, Kris and Adam are making their presence felt on other charts as well. Their respective Season 8 Performances collections, offered exclusively at iTunes, both debut on The Billboard 200 album chart. On Hot Digital Songs, the pair has 10 debuts, including three in the top 10. On the Adult Contemporary chart, Kris’ “No Boundaries” is a new entry at No. 27.