Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Hey, don’t count last year’s Idol finalists out yet when it comes to the music charts.

Yeah, Lee DeWyze and Crystal Bowersox are a long way from going platinum.

And, yeah, January is a slow time of the year for album sales.

But Lee and Crystal haven’t done a disappearing act on the Billboard 200.

And their longevity hardly seen guaranteed just three weeks ago, after Lee’s album dropped like  a rock (from 125 to 170).

Now Lee’s “Live It Up” has rebounded to number 122 eight weeks after it’s debut. And it might get another boost from his appearance at halftime of Sunday’s NFC championship game in Chicago.

Crystal, meanwhile, has the top Idol album on the Billboard 200 right now. “Farmer’s Daughter” stands at 54, down seven spots from a week ago.

It’s remained in the top 60 for five weeks now, even though the title track has yet to appear on the singles charts.

What’s up with that, I have no idea. The song is flat-out fantastic. And I still say Crystal’s CD is one of the best debuts from an Idol finalist yet.

Other chart highlights and lowlights:

* Looks like Carrie Underwood will be denied a fourth straight number one country single from “Play On.” After a slow climb, “Mama’s Song” reached number two last week. This week, it slips to number four behind “Somewhere with You” (Kenny Chesney), “Felt Good on My Lips” (Tim McGraw) and “Put You in a Song” (Keith Urban).

* Mandisa, with a new album due in April, reappears on the Christian singles chart. “Stronger” roars up 24 spots, from 48 to 24, just two weeks after its release.

* Kelly Clarkson’s “Don’t You Want To Stay” duet with Jason Aldean continues to climb, up six spots on the Hot 100 (to 43) and up five among country singles (to 13).

Here’s the complete rundown: