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Jordin Sparks | 
| Artist: Jordin Sparks
Label: Jive
Category: Music
List Price: $18.98
Buy Used: $3.79
You Save: $15.19 (80%)
New (57) Used (26) from $3.79
Rating:  160 reviews
Sales Rank: 1949
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 4.9 x 0.4
MPN: 718752
UPC: 886971875225
EAN: 0886971875225
ASIN: B000WQ9U9Y
Release Date: November 20, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Tattoo | | • | One Step At A Time | | • | No Air duet with Chris Brown | | • | Freeze | | • | Shy Boy | | • | Now You Tell Me | | • | Next To You | | • | Just For The Record | | • | Permanent Monday | | • | Young And In Love | | • | See My Side | | • | God Loves Ugly | | • | This Is My Now |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Liking Jordin Sparks, American Idol's season six winner, comes instinctively. How many 17-year-olds are as self-possessed, as big-smiling, as committed to having a good time and keeping it real? Probably none. Liking Sparks' music has been a different story for fans anticipating her debut CD, though. Her gut-busting Idol performance of "I (Who Have Nothing)" was possibly her only prime-time goosebump generator, yet she's seen an instant progression to diva-dom, as chronicled in reports that found her heading into the studio alongside pop/R&B heavy-hitters Bloodshy, Avant, the Underdogs, and others. Was it a little soon for the relatively green Sparks to be throwing off such big-league, beat-heavy sparks? Well, not hardly, it turns out. The ballads here--songs like "Next To You" and "Just For the Record"--reach out at times with overeager sincerity (forgivable!), but the funkier numbers--"Young and In Love" and the Prince-flecked "Shy Boy," especially--slam home her positives. Jordin may still be a juvie, but she's a bona fide pop star. She earns her props as convincingly here as she did on TV. --Tammy La Gorce
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| Customer Reviews: Read 155 more reviews...
 Fresh and Clean. November 20, 2007
A* (New York, N.Y. United States)
67 out of 80 found this review helpful
First off, who knew a record company would put a girl on the cover with clothes on? Jordin Sparks on American Idol wasn't the best singer ... "Living on a Prayer" still causes night sweats, but what she had going for her was a killer personality. She was like your little/big sis who was just so eager and happy to learn and be there that you had to root for her on some level. And when she belted out Bassey's classic "I (Who Have Nothing)" with enough theatrical flair and pitch perfect notes that would make Mariah Carey pay attention you knew the girl had potential.
This album gives glimmers of that potential. She doesn't go for any power notes at all on this disc, on every track she gives just enough power to let you know that she's able to sing. What the disc is heavy on is R&B/Hip-hop created by today's top producers. It gives her album a current sound without the need to inspect the disc for trashy lyrics you don't want your kids to hear. The song "Young and in Love" is a great example. It's stuttery hand claps and cute ditty chorus will get stuck in your head the same way Britney's "Toxic" did not too long ago -- it's done by the same production team.
The first single "Tattoo" is done by the same producers who gave Beyonce her smash "Irreplaceable." It carries the same: acoustic guitar and drums. The shocker on the disc is duet with Chris Brown "No Air." To say that Sparks out sings him is an understatement, but there is a sugary sweetness to the song that'll work for parents and kids alike.
This is a teen/tween album -- and it should be. Sparks is only 17 and the youngest American Idol winner. It almost has everything her personality had but the album lacks any sort of power behind it. There aren't any show stopping tunes here. But I must give her credit for knowing her image and wanting to make something universal in a time when being a female singer means you can double as a suitcase girl on "Deal or No Deal."
'Jordin Sparks' mixes positivity with pop November 20, 2007
M. D. (Boston, MA)
11 out of 13 found this review helpful
What kind of album do you get when you give a 17-year-old powerhouse singer an assortment of catchy hooks and well-written lyrics? American Idol-winner Jordin Sparks' self-titled effort, that's what. Since wetting fans' appetites with the Stargate-produced "Tattoo" in August, Sparks is looking to inch her way into the pop music scene with her debut.
Although not every track on `Jordin Sparks' is worthy of the teen sensation's vocals, the vast majority are. Obviously, lead single "Tattoo" is a standout thanks to its masterful production, but where Sparks truly shines is the ballad "Permanent Monday." She uses her signature emotional vibrato and power notes on this Christina Aguilera-esque lovesick track. "Monday" could easily dominate the Adult Contemporary circuit if given the chance.
Where Sparks has the hottest potential hit on her hands is her duet with Chris Brown, "No Air." The production on "Air" is comparable to anything Timbaland could whip up, and the bridge is one of the busiest, most beautiful "disasters" ever heard because the two teens' vocals harmonize perfectly despite the complexity.
Another gem on `Sparks' is "Freeze," as its instrumentation bears a striking resemblance to Nelly Furtado's "Say It Right." Sparks offers an interesting scenario on "God Loves Ugly," as she takes a stand against discrimination against people not seen as "ideal-looking." The lyrics on "Ugly" are the best on the entire album, and really strikes a chord no matter what the listener thinks of their body type.
The album also provides a variety of Top 40-ready, catchy mid- to up-tempo tracks like "Now You Tell Me," "One Step At a Time," and "Just For the Record," which are all harmless and age-appropriate for Sparks. "Next to You" is comparable to something an early Mariah Carey would record, and showcases Sparks' lower register better than any other track on the album.
Sparks' `Idol' coronation song "This Is My Now" makes an appearance as a bonus track, which together with the sleep-inducing, tedious "See My Side" create a few speed bumps on the album.
But the two tracks that have no business being included on `Sparks' are juvenile "Shy Boy" and juvenile-er "Young and In Love." Sparks' voice is rendered unrecognizable thanks to the overused synthesizers and the loud, obnoxious 80s' beats drag the tracks to the lowest of lows. To say these songs deserved to be on label-mate Britney Spears' latest album `Blackout' would be considered a low blow.
Thankfully these disappointments are countered by Sparks' superb performances on the majority of the album, which set the foundation for her still very young career.
 Jordin has a gift February 7, 2008
Roberta Hotard (Somewhere here, Florida)
8 out of 9 found this review helpful
Jordin Sparks cd is simply great, i love it! She is young and talented and I hope she will be a success for many years to come. An Idol. Songs that I can relate to: Permanent Monday and This is my now . She is a rising star *
Sparks smolders March 20, 2008
Amanda Richards (Georgetown, Guyana)
10 out of 12 found this review helpful
... and by "smolders" I mean that she glows and is smokin' hot, but thanks to some damp material she falls just short of igniting the fiery album I was expecting.
Pretty, bubbly, young, a great performer and with an amazing voice, Jordin Sparks nails some winners in this album, which already has three hits under its belt:
1. This is My Now - the song she sang to take the American Idol title from Blake Lewis (Granted, he was at a disadvantage due to not being able to change up the song to better suit his style)
2. Tattoo - Definitely mainstream pop, a catchy song geared towards radio and television saturation. (I still like it) Co-written by Sparks.
3. No Air - Hot, hot song with hottie Chris Brown (need I say more?)
Other songs to look out for:
One Step at a Time - An upbeat, funky song, well suited to her voice
Now You Tell Me - An ideal pop song for an Idol graduate
Next to You - Mid tempo song carried by the chorus
Just For the Record - Another mainstream pop song
Not that hot:
"Freeze" - Self-explanatory. She sings well, but it's not a really good song. Co-written by Sparks
"Shy Boy", "See My Side", "God Loves Ugly" - Monotonous
"Permanent Monday", "Young and In Love" -Unmemorable
This debut album proves that Sparks has the voice to soar to greater heights, but she needs some edgier material to push her above the rest of the mainstream crowd.
Amanda Richards, March 20, 2008
Jordin Sparkles on her debut November 24, 2007
A Person (I dont know)
10 out of 12 found this review helpful
For many "Idol" alumni, the debut album is a hit-or-miss situation; Carrie Underwood and Chris Daughtry have scored platinum, multi-million selling debuts, while Taylor Hicks and Katharine McPhee disappointed in sales. Jordin Sparks falls in the middle of the spectrum, with catchy, poppy modern R&B flavored songs and boasting beautiful ballads. The style on her album does not stray far from Beyonce or Mariah Carey, and yet Jordin manages to make each song her own. The catchy songs combined with her AMAZING voice turn this into an album that's sure to please.
1. Tattoo - The first single is slowly but surely climbing the charts. Cheesy yet catchy, about moving on from a past love who is "on my heart just like a tattoo." Great choice for a first single, but bland compared to other songs. 3/5
2. One Step At A Time - Destined to be a hit, from the catchy beat to the inspirational lyrics. This song is about acheiving your dreams, one step at a time; "There's no need to rush/It's like learning to fly/or falling in love." Should be a single. Mid-tempo. 4/5
3. No Air - If THIS isn't a single, I don't know what's wrong with the world. Anything Chris Brown touches turns to gold including this song, about two people unsure of how they can live without each other. "How do you expect me/to live alone with just me/'cause my world revolves around you/it's so hard for me to breathe." Jordin and Chris both showcase their vocals, resulting in a beautiful song destined for radio. I could do without some of the wailing though. 5/5
4. Freeze - Ew. Although Jordin did co-write this song, and the lyrics are great (about freezing a moment in time), I can't bring myself to like this song at all. The "Freeze" part in the backround sounds like a dying chicken, and the beats are recycled Nelly Furtado confections. 2/5
5. Shy Boy - VERY different from what I'm used to hearing from Jordin. Almost Britney-esque, from its juvenile lyrics to the beats. But...it's so addicting! Could be a club hit. "I've got my eye on this other guy/Back in a booth with his boys, he's all mellowed out/and tonight I don't mind me a shy boy/So I gotta know..." The synthesized vocals kind of work. 3/5
6. Now You Tell Me - My absolute favorite song. Very mature compared to "Shy Boy". The verses build up to a dramatic chorus, and Jordin really makes this tune her own. "You're in love/but that's not what it was/All those times that passed by/with no sign/And now you're telling me..." You'll be singing along in no time. 5/5!
7. Next To You - Feels like a recycled track from Christina Aguilera's first album. Also feels like filler, but good filler. Everyone will be able to relate to this pretty ballad. "Maybe we're friends, maybe we're more.maybe it's just my imagination/But I see you stare just a little too long/And it makes me start to wonder." Pretty good, but forgettable. 3.5/5
8. Just For The Record - Talk about filler! This track is incredibly bland and forgetable. Her voice sounds pleasant, but it's really quite boring. I can't even remember the lyrics. 2/5
9. Permanent Monday - WOW. Amazing, amazing, amazing. The lyrics are top-notch, but the music and Jordin's voice really help to sell this song! Yo can really feel her emotion. "Everytime you go away/The sunshine starts to fade/Frozen by the hands of time into a permanent Monday." My favorite ballad. Brilliant. 5/5
10. Young And In Love - WTF? Coming after Permanent Monday, this song sounds like a cheap Britney knock-off--and not even half as addicting as "Shy Boy". Jordin doesn't even sound like Jordin, her voice sounding much too high-pitched. However, the chorus will be stuck in your head for days. 2.5/5
11. See My Side - This song is slowly but surely growing on me. At first, it was extremely boring and I was tempted to skip it, but it sounds more and more beautiful as it goes on. The echoing effects in the chorus sound great. "See (see) my (my) side (side)/And I'll see (see) your's (your's) better." 3.5/5
12. God Loves Ugly - Beautiful song with a beautiful mssage. About how despite the fact that we all have imprefections, God looks past them. I don't believe in God in the slightest, but I love this song. It's gorgeous. "But God loves ugly/he doesn't see the way I see/God takes ugly and turns it into something that is/beautiful/Apparently I'm beautiful/because you love me." 5/5
13. This Is My Now - The corny song that HAD to be tacked on at the end. I hate this song, it's cheesy to the max and ruins the flow of the CD. Jordin sings it great, but the production and lyrics suck. 1/5
Definitely buy this album! Or, if you can only get a few, buy No Air, Now You Tell Me, Permanent Monday and God Loves Ugly. I can only imagine Jordin's sophomore effort will be even better.
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