Idol Chatter & Voice Views

As I reported in Thursday’s blog, Carrie Underwood’s “Undo It” has reached number one on the country music singles chart.

But another, less likely, former American Idol contestant finds herself closing in on a top chart position.

Kimberley Locke, from way back in season two, has the number five song on Billboard’s dance / club play chart this week.

That’s two spots up from a week ago for her new single, “Strobelight.” The song sat a number 25 five short weeks ago.

It’s hardly the first chart success for the gal who finished third, behind Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard.

She had top 10 hits on the adult contemporary chart with “8th World Wonder” in 2004 and with “Change” and “Band of Gold” in 2007.

Elsewhere on the music charts this week:

Kris Allen: “Live Like We’re Dying” is number nine on the Idol-friendly adult contemporary chart, up one spot from a week ago.

Kelly Clarkson: “Already Gone” disappeared from the Hot 100 months ago, but is still number five on the adult contemporary chart. Last week, it was number six.

Bucky Covington: “A Father’s Love” had an eight week run as a top-30 country single, but drops out of the top 30 this week. Last week, the song was number 26.

Daughtry: Four Idol albums are in the Billboard 200 this week. Two are from Chris and the guys, the third straight week that has happened.

“Leave This Town” is 95, up three spots from a week ago. “Life After You,” one of the singles from that album, is number seven on the adult contempoary chart for the second straight week. And the band’s debut album, released 172 weeks ago, is number 196.

Fantasia: With the season three winner’s third studio album due later this month, Fantasia has already accomplished one goal: a hit single.
“Bittersweet” made it to number 10 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart, but drops back to number 12 this week. It’s 95 on the Hot 100, down three spots.

Adam Lambert: Single number three from “For Your Entertainment” stalls this week; “If I Had You” sticks at number 69 on the Hot 100. “Whataya Want From Me” is still number 11 on the adult contemporary chart. The album drops 11 spots, from 95 to 106 on the Billboard 200.

Carrie Underwood: In addition to having another number one country hit, Carrie has the top album on the Billboard 200 among Idols (“Play On” at number 39) and the top single on the Hot 100 (“Undo It” at number 24 for the second straight week). “Play On” also holds steady on the country album chart at number five.