Fresh "Air": Rissi Palmer Breathes Life Into A Jordin Sparks Song

Posted Tue Jul 29, 2008 1:31pm PDT by Lyndsey Parker in Reality Rocks

"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:

191 Comments

161. Yahoo! Music User - Wed Jul 30, 2008 6:21pm PDT

They are both nice. They have similar voices. I like the first version better. I don't like instrumentation for this version, too much guitar. It is easier to do a song after someone else has already made it popular. May she secretly wants to be a r&b/neo-soul singer and she's testing the waters? Hmm . . .

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162. Lenae - Wed Jul 30, 2008 6:47pm PDT

i think she did great especially knowing that she was on a guitar instead of drums or piano and that it was the cover and that it was one person but i still think the original is better
gr8 job though rissi sounds amazing

163. Melissa - Wed Jul 30, 2008 7:43pm PDT

I like the original better, although they are both good.

164. Yahoo! Music User - Wed Jul 30, 2008 7:51pm PDT

i dont want to here Rissi's version ever again

165. Yahoo! Music User - Wed Jul 30, 2008 7:52pm PDT

I think both are really good.

166. ana m - Wed Jul 30, 2008 7:58pm PDT

I have never heard of Rissi and I have to admit, that she does have a nice voice, but It is Jordin and Chris that have made this song so popular! The duet is perfect! Rissi's version does not compare.

167. taniscia - Wed Jul 30, 2008 8:03pm PDT

i love the rissi version. she is fresh, beautiful and has a great voice.

168. R - Wed Jul 30, 2008 8:03pm PDT

i LIKED BOTH

169. Yahoo! Music User - Wed Jul 30, 2008 8:16pm PDT

I saw Rissi this weekend... WOW! Her version is so much better... get real.. the only reason why Jordan's was so popular what because Chris Brown was in it... and I voted for Jordan on AI... Rissi doesn't need anybody;s help to deliver this song!

170. iman - Wed Jul 30, 2008 8:18pm PDT

i love both but the original is still my favorite!

171. MARLONW - Wed Jul 30, 2008 8:33pm PDT

you are all idioots who think Rissi `s version better the JORDIN SPARKS ORINGINAL CAN ONLY BE THE BEST BECAUSE THE SONG FULFILLED ITS POTENTIAL OF WHAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE, STRUGGLE TO SUREVIVE WITHOUT YOUR 'AIR' THE PERESON AND THAT`S WHAT SHE WAS DOING UNLIKE MIIS RIISI`S QUITE UNCOUTHES AND BORING NOT LIVING UP TO THE SONG
THE FRAUD VERSION SOUDED GOOD AND ONLY THAT THAT WAS SHUCH A RUSE.AND THE SHAM VERSION DOES NOT HAVE AS MUCH DYNAMICS, CRESCENDO AND ASCENDO
YOU PEOPLE KNOW NOTHING ABOUT MUSIC
GOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JORDIN ONLY U CAN MAKE YYOUR WORK THE BEST

172. Yahoo! Music User - Wed Jul 30, 2008 8:58pm PDT

jordin sparks' version is way better!

173. K1dub - Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:14pm PDT

So, the only real difference is it's a countryfried solo and not a pop n B duet? Vocally, I can't hear a difference between Jordin and Rissi: Tie.

174. La-Vetta - Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:19pm PDT

Rissi version is good, but i prefer the original

175. meeeooo - Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:35pm PDT

the new one is not as good

176. Yahoo! Music User - Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:12pm PDT

GO Rissi!! She's so natural in the video, Love it!!

177. Yahoo! Music User - Thu Jul 31, 2008 10:45am PDT

Without a doubt - Rissi's version is much better! It's not that I don't like Jordan Sparks (I even voted for her), but Rissi just has the "something special" that makes the song so much more!

178. Yahoo! Music User - Thu Jul 31, 2008 6:19pm PDT

I like both versions and it opened me up to ms rissi. I know she's country and all and she plays the guitar but the guitar/banjo track irked me in the mix, a little too prominent for me, I felt like I had listen that more closely to hear her over it. Like they thought too hard about making it sound country.

179. Carmelita - Thu Jul 31, 2008 7:24pm PDT

I loved the original until I saw Rissi Palmer smooth it out. Although I do like both, I am for Rissi! But then I am partial to country music.

180. Michele D - Thu Jul 31, 2008 10:41pm PDT

Rissi's version! Much more depth.....

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