Fresh "Air": Rissi Palmer Breathes Life Into A Jordin Sparks Song
"No Air" was the one breath of fresh air on Jordin Sparks's debut album for me. Although I've never doubted that the season 6 AmIdol winner has a good set of pipes, I have for the most part been disappointed with the safe, snoozy post-show material's she's released.
The one exception has been "No Air," which I actually think is one of the best pop singles of 2008. I also think it's probably what saved Jordin from a sad, one-album-then-dropped, Taylor Hicks-like fate. Of course, it didn't hurt matters that her unstoppable and unfloppable labelmate Chris Brown appeared on the song, but even without his input, a good song is a good song is a good song.
Case in point: The new "No Air" cover by rising Nashville star Rissi Palmer. It's a country version, and Chris Brown is nowhere to be found on it, and it's still just as great.
Or is it? Some people might even say Rissi's version is better. Compare and contrast the remake and the original here, and you decide:


If you prefer pop/r&b and what's on the radio you will probably prefer Jordin's (or if you are just a die hard American Idol fan). If you prefer country or just the more traditional nongeneric musical style you will probably prefer Rissi's. Both singers have great voices and just appeal to different audiences.
Go Rissi! Go Jordin! I personally prefer Rissi's version.
In the duet it's like they are trying to out-sing each other the whole time, and it just got annoying. Then they got really loud, making the quiet ending seem anti-climatic, with more trying to out-sing each other.
If she would've done it one her own it might have been better.
love the ocean on that video though. THAT was beautiful. The song... not so much.