:en:Jordin Sparks (album)

Sparks won the sixth season of American Idol. On August 17, 2007, it was announced Sparks had signed to 19 Recordings/Jive Records/Zomba Label Group, becoming the first Idol to join the label group, the second being David Archuleta the following year.{{cite web| title=Archuleta signed with Jive| url=http://www.zombalabelgroup.com/news.html##201643| publisher=Jive| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820144041/http://zombalabelgroup.com/news.html| archive-date=2008-08-20}} All past Idol winners and runners-up are or were signed with the RCA Label Group's J (Fantasia, Ruben Studdard), Arista (Justin Guarini, Taylor Hicks, Blake Lewis) or RCA (Kelly Clarkson, Bo Bice, Clay Aiken, Katharine McPhee, Chris Daughtry, Diana DeGarmo and idol successor David Cook) labels, with the exception of Carrie Underwood signed to Arista Nashville. Sparks has stated that she recorded some songs for the album but the bulk of the recording was done in Los Angeles after the tour was over.{{cite web |title=Season Six Idol Stars Prepping Debut Albums|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1049909/season-six-idol-stars-prepping-debut-albums|access-date=2007-09-20 |date=August 13, 2007 |work=Daily News|author=Graff, Gary|author-link=Gary Graff}} She said the album would be "Top 40, radio-friendly, uplifting stuff" hopefully mixing "the pop rock sound of inaugural Idol Kelly Clarkson with the R&B edge of Beyoncé".{{cite web |title=Idol Sparks Juggling Touring, Recording|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1051177/idol-sparks-juggling-touring-recording|access-date=2007-09-20 |date=July 2, 2007 |work=Daily News|author=Graff, Gary}}{{Cite web|url=http://music.aol.com/artists/aim-celebrity-interview/jordin-sparks|title=Jordin Sparks AIM Interview|website=Music.aol.com|access-date=December 26, 2021|archive-date=May 7, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090507234550/http://music.aol.com/artists/aim-celebrity-interview/jordin-sparks|url-status=dead}}

Sparks confirmed on her MySpace that the official track listing as well as the release would carry bonus tracks at Wal-Mart, Sony, and the iTunes Store. An exclusive video of the photoshoot for Jordin Sparks was posted on Sparks' YouTube channel in October, where snippets of "Permanent Monday", "Overcome" and "One Step at a Time" could be heard. There are two available covers of the album, one for the US and Canada, and one for the UK and Australia, although the US and Canada cover was available in the UK and Australia (in stores and on iTunes) until "No Air" came out in those countries, in which the new cover was released. The song "Permanent Monday" was featured in the Salt Lake City audition episode on the 8th season of American Idol. The song "Young and In Love" & "This Is My Now" were featured in spirit episodes of MTV's The Hills.

• The first single released was "Tattoo", which was released to U.S. radio on August 27, 2007.{{cite web|url=https://www.today.com/popculture/jordin-sparks-signs-jive-records-group-wbna20320480 |title=Jordin Sparks signs with Jive Records group - Access Hollywood - MSNBC.com |publisher=Today.com |date=2007-08-17 |access-date=2012-05-20}} The song became the album's first top ten hit, peaking at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100.
• The second single released was "No Air", a duet with Chris Brown,{{cite web|url=http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=16691 |title=Release Date |publisher=Fmqb.com |access-date=2012-05-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053233/http://www.fmqb.com/article.asp?id=16691 |archive-date=2013-09-21 }} which reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100. On February 28, 2008 Billboard stated that "No Air" was the top digital sales gainer after selling 73,000 downloads.{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1046411/flo-rida-starts-tenth-week-atop-hot-100 |title=Flo Rida Starts Tenth Week Atop Hot 100 |publisher=Billboard.com |access-date=2012-05-20}} Both "Tattoo" and "No Air" have been certified platinum by the RIAA. "No Air" has also reached number one in both the Australian and New Zealand singles charts. "No Air" was the number one song of 2008 in New Zealand.
• The album's third single, "One Step at a Time" was released on June 10, 2008 and peaked at seventeen on the Hot 100 giving Sparks her fourth consecutive Top 20 single.[http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=16691 FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Arbitron Ratings, Music News and more!] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053233/http://www.fmqb.com/article.asp?id=16691 |date=2013-09-21 }}>[http://www.accessatlanta.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/accessatlanta/idol/entries/2008/08/31/831_jordin_spar.html Access Atlanta] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080902103520/http://www.accessatlanta.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/accessatlanta/idol/entries/2008/08/31/831_jordin_spar.html |date=2008-09-02 }} She is the only American Idol contestant to have all of their first four singles become Top 20 hits.

• "This Is My Now" was released after the victory of Sparks on American Idol. The song reached the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100.

{{Music ratings

|MC = 67/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/jordin-sparks/jordin-sparks |title=Jordin Sparks Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic |publisher=Metacritic. CBS Interactive |accessdate=July 21, 2023}}

|rev1 = AllMusic

|rev1score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite web|last=Thomas |first=Stephen |url={{AllMusic|class=album |id=r1240982 |pure_url=yes}} |title=Allmusic review |publisher=Allmusic.com |date=November 20, 2007|access-date=May 20, 2012}}

|rev2 = Entertainment Weekly

|rev2score = B+{{cite magazine|first=Chris|last=Willman|url=https://ew.com/article/2007/11/16/jordin-sparks/|title=Jordin Sparks|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=November 16, 2007|access-date=July 21, 2023|archive-date=May 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120518153607/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20160380,00.html|url-status=live}}

|rev3 = Rolling Stone

|rev3score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite magazine|first=Rob|last=Sheffield|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/17304374/review/17313206/jordin_sparks?rating=11 |title=Jordin Sparks: Jordin Sparks |magazine=Rolling Stone | date=November 29, 2007|access-date=July 21, 2023 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207121157/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/17304374/review/17313206/jordin_sparks?rating=11 |archive-date=December 7, 2008 }}

|rev4 = Slant Magazine

|rev4score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite web|first=Sal|last=Cinquemani|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/jordin-sparks-jordin-sparks/ |title=Review: Jordin Sparks, Jordin Sparks |website=Slant Magazine |date=November 20, 2007|access-date=May 20, 2012}}

|rev5 = USA Today

|rev5score = {{Rating|3|4}}{{Cite web|url=http://blogs.usatoday.com/listenup/2007/11/this-weeks-re-2.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081004170042/http://blogs.usatoday.com/listenup/2007/11/this-weeks-re-2.html|url-status=dead|title=This week's reviews: Jordin, MercyMe, OneRepublic, Freeway, Seal, Saves the Day, Queensryche |website=USA Today|archivedate=October 4, 2008|access-date=December 26, 2021}}

}}

Critical response to Jordin Sparks has been generally positive. At Metacritic, which assigns a rated mean out of 100 from mainstream critics, the album received a score of 67, which indicates "generally favorable reviews". In his review for Billboard, Gary Graff stated that Sparks brought "a first effort that's all over the map—and works" while sounding "like exactly what she should be singing at this age and juncture in her career."{{Cite magazine|first=Gary|last=Graff|url=https://billboard.com/bbcom/content_display/reviews/albums/e3ifdb433cd9235b85672cd3d83e48c12e8|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071118025845/http://billboard.com/bbcom/content_display/reviews/albums/e3ifdb433cd9235b85672cd3d83e48c12e8|url-status=dead|title=Billboard review|magazine=Billboard |archive-date=November 18, 2007|access-date=December 26, 2021}} USA Today found that her debut played to Sparks' "strengths. Her clear, appealing vocals and bubbly enthusiasm are wedded to clean-cut pop songs, more mature than Disneypop but thoroughly wholesome and ultra-catchy. The usual raft of international producers combine to deliver a consistently captivating sequence of songs."

Boston Globe critic Sarah Rodman called the album a "satisfying debut". She found that "on her self-titled debut, Sparks and a cast of au courant pop producers combine that sense of sparkle, striving, and her powerful pipes for an age-appropriate, uniformly pleasant release that shouldn't disappoint those voters."{{cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/ae/music/cd_reviews/articles/2007/11/20/american_idol_winner_makes_satisfying_debut/ |title='American Idol' winner makes satisfying debut |website=The Boston Globe|date=November 20, 2007 |access-date=July 21, 2023 |first=Sarah |last=Rodman|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007040421/http://www.boston.com/ae/music/cd_reviews/articles/2007/11/20/american_idol_winner_makes_satisfying_debut/|archive-date=October 7, 2008}} Entertainment Weekly gave the album a B+ rating, saying her debut "is as much effervescent fun as any post-Idol bow" and added "Idol has crowned winners with even bigger voices, but it hasn't given us one who's any easier on the ears." Sal Cinquemani, writing for Slant Magazine, described the album as "a savvy mix of the latest pop and R&B trend [that] truly soars."

Washington Post journalist Kevin O'Donnell called Jordin Sparks "a fairly consistent disc of polished pop" that includes "more misses than hits."{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/19/AR2007111901921.html |title=With a Little Push, A Rookie Idol Shows Her Range |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=November 20, 2007 |access-date=May 20, 2012|first=Kevin |last=O'Donnell}} Kelefa Sanneh from The New York Times felt that Jordin Sparks "sounds like a mirror-image version" Britney Spears's Blackout (2007), with both projects reyling on "adventurous electronic pop".{{cite news|first=Kelefa |last=Sanneh|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/26/arts/music/26choi.html?_r=2&ref=music&oref=slogin&oref=slogin |title=New CDs |work=The New York Times|date=November 11, 2007|access-date=May 20, 2012}} Rolling Stone critic Rob Sheffield was critical with Sparks' vocal performance on the album, writing that her "ballad voice is nowhere near as strong as it was on the show." He also noted that the "album shrewdly positions her in hip-hop-flavored R&B; which is interesting because it's one style she never touched on [Idol] (unless No Doubt counts)." Jason King from Vibe found that Jordin Sparks honors her "Wal-Martsafe image – and it reeks of generic blandness. Norway's Stargate crew produces a quarter of the album, and their synths bury the natural charisma that made Sparks a weekly Idol favorite."{{cite web|first=Jason |last=King|url=http://www.vibe.com/music/revolutions/2008/03/jordin_sparks/ |title=Jordin Sparks, "Jordin Sparks" (Music) |website=Vibe | date=March 3, 2008|access-date=July 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080308202734/http://www.vibe.com/music/revolutions/2008/03/jordin_sparks/ |archive-date=March 8, 2008 }}

The album debuted and peaked at number ten on the US Billboard 200 chart, with first weeks sales of more than 119,000 copies.{{cite web|first=Gil|last=Kaufman|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/qo1msz/demi-lovato-achieves-first-1-debut-with-here-we-go-again|title=Demi Lovato Achieves First #1 Debut With 'Here We Go Again' |website=MTV.com | date=July 29, 2009|access-date=July 21, 2023 }}{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on December 12, 2008. By May 2011, the album had sold more than 1.0 million units domestically.{{cite news | url=http://blogs.usatoday.com/idolchatter/ | title=Idol Chatter: American Idol News, Rumors, & Information | work=USA Today | date=May 7, 2010 | access-date=May 7, 2010 | archive-date=June 26, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080626015047/http://blogs.usatoday.com/idolchatter/ | url-status=dead }} In the United Kingdom, Jordin Sparks was released on April 14, 2008, but did not enter the UK Albums Chart until July 2008, where it peaked at number 17.

{{track listing

| headline = Jordin Sparks track listing

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = Tattoo

| writer1 = {{hlist|Mikkel S. Eriksen|Tor Erik Hermansen|Amanda Ghost|Ian Dench}}

| extra1 = Stargate

| length1 = 3:53

| title2 = One Step at a Time

| writer2 = {{hlist|Robbie Nevil|Lauren Evans|Jonas Jeberg|Mich Hansen}}

| extra2 = {{hlist|Jeberg|Cutfather|Nevil}}

| length2 = 3:26

| title3 = No Air

| note3 = with Chris Brown

| writer3 = {{hlist|Harvey Mason, Jr.|Damon Thomas| James Fauntleroy II|Erik "Bluetooth" Griggs|Steve Russell}}

| extra3 = {{hlist|The Underdogs|Griggs{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length3 = 4:23

| title4 = Freeze

| writer4 = {{hlist|Jordin Sparks|Eriksen|Hermansen|Ghost|Dench}}

| extra4 = Stargate

| length4 = 4:13

| title5 = Shy Boy

| writer5 = {{hlist|Christian Karlsson|Pontus Winnberg|Henrik Jonback|Klas Åhlund}}

| extra5 = {{hlist|Bloodshy & Avant|Andrew Wyatt{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length5 = 3:22

| title6 = Now You Tell Me

| writer6 = {{hlist|Frankie Storm|Espen Lind|Amund Bjørklund}}

| extra6 = Espionage

| length6 = 3:07

| title7 = Next to You

| writer7 = {{hlist|Lindy Robbins|Emanuel Kiriakou|Jess Cates}}

| extra7 = Kiriakou

| length7 = 3:17

| title8 = Just for the Record

| writer8 = {{hlist|Johnta Austin|Eriksen|Hermansen|Lind|Bjørklund}}

| extra8 = Stargate

| length8 = 3:56

| title9 = Permanent Monday

| writer9 = {{hlist|Kiriakou|Robbins|Walter Afanasieff}}

| extra9 = Kiriakou

| length9 = 4:12

| title10 = Young and in Love

| writer10 = {{hlist|Karlsson|Winnberg|Jonback|Cathy Dennis}}

| extra10 = {{hlist|Bloodshy & Avant|Wyatt{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length10 = 3:24

| title11 = See My Side

| writer11 = {{hlist|Karlsson|Winnberg|Åhlund|Robin Carlsson}}

| extra11 = {{hlist|Bloodshy & Avant|Åhlund|Wyatt{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length11 = 3:44

| title12 = God Loves Ugly

| writer12 = Christa Black

| extra12 = Stephen Lipson

| length12 = 4:15

| title13 = This Is My Now

| note13 = bonus track

| writer13 = {{hlist|Scott Krippayne|Jeff Peabody}}

| extra13 = Lipson

| length13 = 3:51

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Walmart edition{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/2157195-Jordin-Sparks-Jordin-Sparks|title=Jordin Sparks – Jordin Sparks (2007, Walmart Exclusive Edition, CD)|access-date=26 December 2021|website=Discogs.com|date=20 November 2007 }}

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title13 = Worth the Wait

| writer13 = {{hlist|Cates|Kiriakou|Robbins|Sparks}}

| extra13 = Kiriakou

| length13 = 3:37

| title14 = This Is My Now

| writer14 = {{hlist|Krippayne|Peabody}}

| extra14 = Lipson

| length14 = 3:51

}}

{{track listing

| headline = UK digital deluxe edition bonus tracks{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/jordin-sparks-bonus-track-version/284797556|title=Jordin Sparks (Bonus Track Version) by Jordin Sparks on iTunes|date=July 4, 2008|access-date=December 26, 2021|via=Apple Music}}https://music.amazon.co.uk/albums/B09PJN6XNK {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title13 = Virginia Is for Lovers

| writer13 = {{hlist|Sparks|Eriksen|Hermansen|Ghost|Dench}}

| extra13 = Stargate

| length13 = 3:25

| title14 = Save Me

| writer14 = {{hlist|Fernando Garibay|Kasia Livingston}}

| extra14 = Garibay

| length14 = 3:40

| title15 = No Air

| note15 = acoustic version) (with Chris Brown

| writer15 = {{hlist|Mason, Jr.|Thomas|Fauntleroy II|Griggs|Scala|Russell}}

| extra15 = {{hlist|The Underdogs|Griggs{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length15 = 4:13

| title16 = This Is My Now

| writer16 = {{hlist|Krippayne|Peabody}}

| extra16 = Lipson

| length16 = 3:51

}}

{{track listing

| headline = US digital deluxe edition and 2020 worldwide digital deluxe reissue bonus tracks{{Cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/jordin-sparks-deluxe-version/268314568 |title=Jordin Sparks (Deluxe Version) by Jordin Sparks on Apple Music |website=iTunes |access-date=2014-07-26 |archive-date=2014-07-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726104200/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/jordin-sparks-deluxe-version/id268314568 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/6JCNOvp9UeMrFuXwNW0JW6 |title=Jordin Sparks |website=Spotify |access-date=2015-09-29 |archive-date=2015-09-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929003132/https://open.spotify.com/album/6JCNOvp9UeMrFuXwNW0JW6 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/jordin-sparks-deluxe-version/268314568|title=Jordin Sparks (Deluxe Version) by Jordin Sparks|date=November 20, 2007|access-date=December 26, 2021|via=Apple Music}}

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title13 = Virginia Is for Lovers

| writer13 = {{hlist|Sparks|Eriksen|Hermansen|Ghost|Dench}}

| extra13 = Stargate

| length13 = 3:25

| title14 = Save Me

| writer14 = {{hlist|Garibay|Livingston}}

| extra14 = Garibay

| length14 = 3:40

| title15 = Worth the Wait

| writer15 = {{hlist|Cates|Kiriakou|Robbins|Sparks}}

| extra15 = Kiriakou

| length15 = 3:37

| title16 = This Is My Now

| writer16 = {{hlist|Krippayne|Peabody}}

| extra16 = Lipson

| length16 = 3:51

}}

Notes

• ^{{{note|a|[a]}}} signifies co-producer(s)
• ^{{{note|b|[b]}}} signifies additional vocal producer(s)

• Vocals – Jordin Sparks (tracks 1–2, 4, 6–9), (Lead: 3, 5, 10–12)
• Featuring vocals by: Chris Brown (track 3) (Jive)
• Background vocals – Tracy Ackerman (track 12), Sheree Ford Brown, Cathy Dennis (10), James Fauntleroy (3), Steve Russell (3), Chau Phan (5, 11)
• Guitar – Dave Rainger, Henrik Jonback, Corky James, Andrew Hey, and Ian Dench
• Bass {{ambiguous|date=February 2021}}– Henrik Jonback, Alex Al, Emanuel Kiriakou, and Walter Afanasieff

• Producers: Stargate, Jonas Jeberg, Cutfather, Robbie Nevil, The Underdogs, Erik "Bluetooth" Griggs, Bloodshy & Avant, Espionage, Emanuel Kiriakou, Klas Åhlund, Stephen Lipson
• Vocal producer: Andrew Wyatt
• Mastering: Tom Coyne
• Engineers: Mikkel S. Eriksen, Matty Green, Dabling Harward, Andrew Hey, Adam Kagen, Emanuel Kiriakou, Robert Smith, Brian Sumner, Pat Thrall, Tim Weidner and Eric Rennaker
• Assistant engineers: Jeremy Garrett, Clint Lawrence, Mike Laza, and Eric Rennaker
• Mixing: Henrik Edenhed and Serban Ghenea
• Mixing assistant: Josh Houghkirk and Nik Karpen
• A&R: Nancy Roof and Jeff Fenster
• Photography: Mary Ellen Matthews

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for Jordin Sparks}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Australia|title=Jordin Sparks|artist=Jordin Sparks|award=Gold|certyear=2008|relyear=2007|access-date=June 26, 2020}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Canada|title=Jordin Sparks|artist=Jordin Sparks|award=Gold|certyear=2008|relyear=2007|access-date=June 26, 2020}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United Kingdom|title=Jordin Sparks|artist=Jordin Sparks|award=Gold|certyear=2009|relyear=2008|id=3522-1459-2|access-date=June 26, 2020}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United States|title=Jordin Sparks|artist=Jordin Sparks|award=Platinum|certyear=2008|relyear=2007|access-date=June 26, 2020 |salesamount=1,045,000|salesref={{cite news|last=De Moraes|first=Lisa|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/american-idol-finale-after-10-years-the-beat-goes-on/2011/05/23/AFjF909G_story.html|title=American Idol finale: After 10 years, the beat goes on|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=May 23, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012121858/http://www.washingtonpost.com/american-idol-finale-after-10-years-the-beat-goes-on/2011/05/23/AFjF909G_story.html|url-status=live|archive-date=October 12, 2011}}|refname="RIAA"}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

{{Reflist|2}}

• [http://www.jordinsparks.com Official Jordin Sparks website]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20071212103137/http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/jordin_sparks/artist.jhtml Jordin Sparks MTV page]

{{Jordin Sparks}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2007 debut albums

Category:Jordin Sparks albums

Category:19 Recordings albums

Category:Jive Records albums

Category:Albums produced by Klas Åhlund

Category:Albums produced by Fernando Garibay

Category:Albums produced by Stargate

Category:Albums produced by Cutfather

Category:Albums produced by Bloodshy & Avant

Category:Albums produced by the Underdogs (production team)

Category:Albums produced by Emanuel Kiriakou

Category:Albums produced by Stephen Lipson