Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Around this time of year, the selling power of American Idol never ceases to amaze me.

Latest case in point: Lee DeWyze.

Last week he appeared on American Idol to sing his new single, “Beautiful Like You.”

This week, his debut album, “Live It Up,” is number 96 on the Billboard 200.

Let’s put that in perspective.

Lee’s album debuted at number 19 on the Billboard 200 charts in November.

The next week, it plummeted to number 93.

Within 10 weeks, it had disappeared from the Billboard 200 altogether.

Now it has re-entered the Billboard 200 at 96, a position it exceeded for just two weeks when releaed.

Pretty impressive, even if it does take fewer sales to hit number 96 in March than it would during the Christmas shopping season.

Meanwhile, best of luck to Lee with the new single.

Sorry, but “Sweet Serendipity” and its rapid-fire chorus sounded like a turkey of a lead single from the first listen.

Other chart highlights this week:

* Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson were bumped from the top spot on the country singles chart. “Don’t You Want to Stay” drops to number two behind Billy Currington’s “Let Me Down Easy.” Jason and Kelly held the top spot for three weeks.

* Daughtry’s “September” is locked in at number two on the adult contemporary chart for the eighth straight week behind Bruno Mars’ “Just the Way You Are.”

* Mandisa makes a big move on the Christian singles chart, jumping from 15 to 9 with “Stronger,” the lead single off her upcoming album (due out April 3).

* And “Where You At” moves from 12 to 11 on the R&B singles chart for Jennifer Hudson. She performed it on Idol last night, so who knows where it might land a week from now.