No Air

"No Air"
Single by Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown
from the album Jordin Sparks
B-side "Save Me"
Released February 11, 2008 (2008-02-11)
Format Digital download, CD single, maxi single
Recorded 2007
Genre Pop, R&B
Length 4:23
Label 19, Jive, Zomba
Writer(s) James Fauntleroy II, Eric "Blue Tooth" Griggs, Mike Scala, Harvey Mason, Jr., Damon Thomas, Steve Russell
Producer(s) The Underdogs
Jordin Sparks singles chronology
"Tattoo"
(2007)
"No Air"
(2008)
"One Step at a Time"
(2008)
Jordin Sparks UK singles chronology
"Tattoo"
(2008)
"No Air"
(2008)
"Tattoo"
(2008)
(Re-release)
Jordin Sparks European singles chronology
"No Air"
(2008)
"Tattoo"
(2008)
Chris Brown singles chronology
"Shawty Get Loose"
(2008)
"No Air"
(2008)
"Get Like Me"
(2008)

"No Air" is a song by American recording artist Jordin Sparks and American R&B singer/actor Chris Brown. The song was written by James Fauntleroy II, Eric Griggs, Mike Scala, Harvey Mason, Jr., Damon Thomas and Steve Russell. It was released in the United States on February 11, 2008 and serves as the second single from her self-titled debut album.

"No Air" received mixed to positive reviews from critics. The song topped the singles charts of Australia and New Zealand and reached the top five in countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland and Canada. Also in the U.S, the song has sold 3,596,000 copies, and Sparks became the first American Idol contestant to reach the three million mark.

"No Air" won "Favorite Combined Forces" at the 35th People's Choice Awards, where it was also nominated for "Favorite Pop Song". The song also earned Sparks her first Grammy nomination for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals at the 51st Grammy Awards. Its accompanying music video directed by Chris Robinson won "Best Heartbreak Video" at the 2008 BET Pre-Awards and was also nominated for "Best Female Video" at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards. "No Air" was covered by American band, Boyce Avenue and country singer Rissi Palmer in 2008 and also on the television show Glee in 2009.

Composition and critical reception

"No Air"
A sample of the song, featuring both Sparks's and Brown's vocals during the chorus.

Problems playing this file? See media help.

"No Air" is a pop[1] and R&B song[2] written by James Fauntleroy II, Steven Russell, Eric Griggs, Mike Scala, Harvey Mason, Jr., and Damon Thomas. The song was originally written for a male singer, but after Jordin Sparks heard the song and expressed interest in the song, Mason agreed to give it to Sparks on the condition that they make it an event duet record, and suggested Chris Brown as a singing partner.[3]

Having the chord progression of F-E-Gm-B, the song is written in the key of F# Mixolydian. Its time signature is of common time. Both Sparks' and Brown's vocals range from the note of F3 to the note of F5.[4] Nick Levine of Digital Spy called the song "an R&B power ballad" and said it makes "full use of her impressive set of pipes."[2] Bill Lamb of About.com wrote "from the kickoff of Jordin's echoey vocals it sounds like "No Air" is so light and weepy it needs special effects and production tricks to cover up the fact that there really is not much of a song here.[5] Steve Perkins of BBC Music awarded the song five stars and said "by the time ["No Air"] hits the final stretch, the title actually seems rather prophetic, since Jordin and Chris are yodelling away at the tops of their voices to the extent that you wonder how they're concealing their need to gasp for big lung bucketfuls of precious oxygen every thirty seconds."[6]

The song was nominated at the 2008 Teen Choice Awards, in the categories of "Choice Love Song" and "Choice Hook-Up", winning the second award.[7] More nominations included Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals at the 51st Grammy Awards,[8] a nomination for the "Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration Award" at the 40th NAACP Image Awards[9] and a nomination for "Best Collaboration" at the 2009 MTV Australia Awards.[10] It also garnered two nominations at the 35th People's Choice Awards for "Favorite Pop Song" and "Favorite Combined Forces", winning the second award.[11] In 2008, Billboard ranked the song twenty-seventh on a special The 40 Biggest Duets of All Time listing.[12]

Chart performance

In the United States, "No Air" entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number thirty-two on the week dated February 23, 2008.[13] After weeks of climbing the chart, the song reached a peak of number three, becoming Sparks' highest charting single to date.[14] It also became her first single to enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, where it peaked at number four.[15] "No Air" peaked the highest on the Pop Songs airplay chart, where it reached number two.[16] The song was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA),[17] making Sparks the first American Idol contestant to reach the three million mark.[18] It also became Brown's first single to reach three million. It has sold 3,596,000 copies in the US as of April 2014.[19]

In the United Kingdom, the song debuted at number fifty-eight on April 26, 2008, before dropping twenty-seven places to number eighty-five the next week. In its sixth week on the chart, "No Air" reached its peak position of number three.[20] It also reached number three on the Canadian Hot 100.[21] In Australia, the song reached number one in its fifth week on the chart. It held the position for a total of four weeks before losing the position to Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl".[22] The song has since been certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for shipments of 70,000 units.[23] In New Zealand, "No Air" entered the Top 40 chart at number six on the week dated March 10, 2008.[24] The following week the song peaked at number one on the week dated March 17, 2008 becoming Sparks' first number one single in that country and stayed atop the chart for seven consecutive weeks.[25] the single was certified platinum on the week dated April 14, 2008 after only 6 weeks on the chart. The single spent 19 weeks on the chart and has since been certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ), for shipments of 30,000 units.[26][27][28]

Music video

The song's music video was directed by Chris Robinson[29] and shot in New York City[30] on January 23, 2008. Photos from the shoot leaked to the internet the next day. The video was originally planned to premiere on Yahoo! Music on February 25, 2008; however it leaked online on February 20, 2008.[31]

It begins with Sparks playing the piano in her home. Suddenly, she stops playing and makes a phone call on her cell phone, which directs her to an answering machine. The camera cuts to the phone she is presumably calling, which has been left on a counter in a steamy room. Sparks leaves a message, asking Brown to call her when he can. Her silhouetted profile is then seen on the left side against a gray background, as the song begins to play. Sparks then appears at her window drawing a heart shape on the foggy glass window, as she begins to sing the song. Brown then appears in the video wiping a foggy mirror in his bathroom, as he begins to sing his first verse. Brown's silhouetted profile is then seen entering on the right side of the gray background scene, and both their silhouetted profiles face each other. The video then cuts to Brown, who is shown putting on his jacket leaving his home, as he walks through New York City. Sparks then appears standing near the Brooklyn Bridge. She gets into her car and begins driving through the city. Meanwhile, Brown still in the daytime, arrives at Sparks' home. In a climactic sequence Brown confronts Sparks by her piano and the two passionately sing the final chorus to each other. Brown then leaves, and the video ends with their two silhouettes against the gray background, pulling away from each other. The video is also intercut with scenes of Brown singing alone in a recording studio with drums, guitars, and a piano, of which he plays and at the very end when the song's over Sparks is seen sitting on the floor in her house and kneeling her head down in sadness.

At the 2008 BET Pre-Awards, "No Air" won the award for "Best Heartbreak Video".[32] It was also nominated for "Best Female Video" at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards.

Promotion and covers

Sparks performed "No Air" with Chris Brown during the American Idol top 8 live results show on April 10, 2008.[33] In September 2008, Sparks traveled to Australia and performed the song on Australian Idol on September 15, 2008.[34] After her performance, Sparks was handed her certification of platinum sales for "No Air". The song was also added to her set list of opening Alicia Keys' As I Am Tour in North America,[35] Australia[36] and New Zealand.[37] Sparks also performed the song during the Jesse & Jordin LIVE Tour in the United States.[38]

"No Air" was covered by American country singer Rissi Palmer, for her self-titled album released on October 7, 2008.[39] Released as the first single from the re-release of the album on May 27, 2008,[40] Palmer's rendition of the song spent 15 weeks on the Hot Country Songs charts, peaking at number 47.[41]

Acoustic rock band Boyce Avenue also covered the song, for their Acoustic Sessions Vol. 2 EP, released on September 16, 2008.[42] Additionally, the song was covered on the FOX television show Glee, in the episode "Throwdown".[43] The single peaked at number fifty-two on both the ARIA Singles Chart[44] and the UK Singles Chart,[45] number sixty-five on the Canadian Hot 100[46] and the Billboard Hot 100[47] and also at number twenty-nine on the Irish Singles Chart.[48] "No Air" was also covered by Serena Ryder & The Beauties as a bonus track on the "Is It OK?" Album (Deluxe version)

The song also featured on the twenty-second series of Never Mind The Buzzcocks, when host Simon Amstell and Phil Jupitus lip-synched the track, with a montage of Bill Bailey in the background. Bailey was on tour during recording.

Track listing

US digital download[49]
  1. "No Air" (with Chris Brown) - 4:23
  2. "Tattoo" (Acoustic) - 3:47
Germany digital download[50]
  1. "No Air" (with Chris Brown) - 4:23
  2. "Save Me" - 3:38

Australia digital EP[51]
  1. "No Air" (with Chris Brown) - 4:23
  2. "Save Me" - 3:38
  3. "No Air" with Chris Brown (Tiesto Remix) - 7:40

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2008) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[52] 1
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[53] 8
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[54] 19
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[55] 2
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[56] 3
Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[57] 5
Denmark (Tracklisten)[58] 6
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[59] 3
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[60] 6
Germany (Official German Charts)[61] 10
Ireland (IRMA)[62] 2
Israel (Media Forest)[63] 2
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[64] 51
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[65] 9
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[66] 1
Norway (VG-lista)[67] 7
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[68] 74
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[69] 10
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[70] 8
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[71] 3
US Billboard Hot 100[72] 3
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[73] 2
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[74] 4
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[75] 12

Year-end charts

Chart (2008) Position
Australian Singles Chart[76] 8
Australian Urban Singles Chart[77] 2
Austrian Singles Chart[78] 36
Canadian Hot 100[79] 16
Dutch Top 40[80] 88
Hungarian Singles Chart[81] 176
New Zealand Singles Chart[82] 1
Swedish Singles Chart[83] 18
Swiss Singles Chart[84] 38
UK Singles Chart[85] 21
US Billboard Hot 100[86] 6

Decade-end charts

Chart (2000–09) Position
Australian Singles Chart[87] 37

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
Australia (ARIA)[88] Platinum 70,000^
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[89] Gold 7,500^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[90] Platinum 7,500*
Sweden (GLF)[91] Gold 10,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[92] Gold 400,000^
United States (RIAA) (Mastertone) 2× Platinum 2,596,000^
United States (RIAA)[93] Platinum 1,000,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

Release history

Country Date Format Label
United States February 11, 2008 Airplay[94] Jive Records
March 4, 2008 Digital download[49]
New Zealand [95] May 17, 2008 Digital EP Jive Records, Zomba Recording
Australia[51] May 20, 2008 Digital EP Sony Music Entertainment
Germany[50][96] May 30, 2008 Digital download, maxi single
United Kingdom[97] July 7, 2008 CD single

See also

References

  1. "Jordin Sparks - No Air duet with Chris Brown Video". Contactmusic.com. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
  2. 1 2 Levine, Nick (2008-07-07). "Music - Singles Review - Jordin Sparks ft. Chris Brown: 'No Air'". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines. Retrieved 2011-01-16.
  3. Fred Bronson (March 5, 2013). "Top 100 'American Idol' Hits of All Time". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 6, 2013.
  4. "Jordin Sparks - No Air Sheet Music (Digital Download)". musicnotes.com. Universal Music Publishing Group. Retrieved 2011-01-16.
  5. Lamb, Bill. "Jordin Sparks with Chris Brown - No Air". About.com. Retrieved 2011-01-16.
  6. Perkins, Steve (2008-06-23). "Jordin Sparks ft. Chris Brown - 'No Air'". BBC Music. Retrieved 2011-01-16.
  7. "2008 Teen Choice Awards winners and nominees". The Envelope. Los Angeles Times. 2007-06-17. Retrieved 2011-01-14.
  8. "The 2009 Grammy Nominees". Idolator. BUZZMEDIA. 2008-12-03. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  9. "The 40th NAACP Image Awards". NAACP Image Awards. Archived from the original on March 21, 2009. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  10. "List of nominees for the 2009 MTV Awards". The Age. Melbourne: Fairfax Digital. 2009-02-20. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  11. "People's Choice Awards 2009". People's Choice. Sycamore Productions Inc. Retrieved 2011-01-14.
  12. "The 40 Biggest Duets of All Time". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2012-02-24.
  13. "Hot 100 - Week of February 23, 2008". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
  14. "Jordin Sparks Hot 100 Chart History". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
  15. "Jordin Sparks R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart History". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
  16. "Jordin Sparks Pop Songs Chart History". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
  17. "RIAA - Gold & Platinum - December 19, 2008". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
  18. Grein, Paul (2009-10-07). "Week Ending Oct. 11, 2009: Oprah Saves The Music Industry". Yahoo! Music. Yahoo! Inc. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  19. Paul Grein (April 9, 2014). "Chart Watch: 'Happy' Peaked But It's Still Potent". Yahoo Music.
  20. "Chart Stats - Jordin Sparks - No Air". Chart Stats. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
  21. "Jordin Sparks Canadian Hot 100 Chart History". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
  22. "Jordin Sparks with Chris Brown - 'No Air'". australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
  23. "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2008 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on September 27, 2008. Retrieved 2009-07-16.
  24. http://nztop40.co.nz/chart/singles?chart=1473
  25. http://nztop40.co.nz/chart/singles?chart=1474
  26. http://nztop40.co.nz/chart/singles?chart=1491
  27. "Jordin Sparks with Chris Brown - No Air". charts.org.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
  28. "Latest Gold / Platinum Singles". RadioScope New Zealand. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
  29. "No Air | Jordin Sparks". MTV. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2011-01-06.
  30. "Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown on the set of 'No Air'". The Insider. CBS Interactive Inc. 2008-02-21. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
  31. "Video: Jordin Sparks f/ Chris Brown - 'No Air'". Rap-Up. 2008-02-20. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
  32. "Heartbreak Hotel | Pre-Awards Awards | BET Awards 2008". BET.com. 2009-09-17. Archived from the original on April 16, 2010. Retrieved 2011-01-10.
  33. "American Idol - Jordin Sparks - No Air feat Chris Brown". The Insider. 2009-12-14. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
  34. Knox, David (2008-09-15). "Australian Idol: Verdict Show". TV Tonight. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
  35. "Alicia Keys, Jordin Sparks Team For Tour". Billboard. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  36. "Alicia Keys Announces Australian Tour, Supported by Jordan Sparks!". The Hot Hits. 2008-08-11. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  37. "Alicia Keys announces NZ tour". Stuff.co.nz. Fairfax New Zealand. 2008-08-09. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  38. Lamb, Bill. "Jesse McCartney and Jordin Sparks 2008 Concert Tour". About.com. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  39. "Rissi Palmer - Album - United States". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
  40. "No Air - Single - United States". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
  41. Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 314. ISBN 0-89820-177-2.
  42. "Acoustic Sessions, Vol. 2 - Boyce Avenue". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
  43. "GLEE: 'No Air' on Yahoo!7 Video". Yahoo! Video. Yahoo! Inc. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
  44. "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 9 November 2009" (pdf) (1028). Pandora Archive. Retrieved 2009-11-21.
  45. "Chart Stats - Glee Cast - No Air". Chart Stats. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
  46. "Glee Cast Album & Song Chart History". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
  47. "Glee Cast Album & Song Chart History". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
  48. "Discography Glee Cast". irish-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2010-12-15.
  49. 1 2 "No Air Duet (With Chris Brown) - United States". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
  50. 1 2 "No Air: Jordin Sparks: MP3-Downloads". Amazon.de. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
  51. 1 2 "No Air (Duet with Chris Brown) - EP - Australia". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
  52. "Australian-charts.com – Jordin Sparks with Chris Brown – No Air". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  53. "Austriancharts.at – Jordin Sparks with Chris Brown – No Air" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  54. "Ultratop.be – Jordin Sparks with Chris Brown – No Air" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  55. "Ultratop.be – Jordin Sparks with Chris Brown – No Air" (in French). Ultratip.
  56. "Jordin Sparks – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Jordin Sparks.
  57. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200846 into search.
  58. "Danishcharts.com – Jordin Sparks with Chris Brown – No Air". Tracklisten.
  59. "Jordin Sparks – Chart history" European Hot 100 for Jordin Sparks.
  60. "Jordin Sparks with Chris Brown: No Air" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  61. "Musicline.de – Sparks, Jordin Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
  62. "Discography Jordin Sparks". irishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
  63. "Media Forest: Airplay chart". mako.com/mediaforest.biz.
  64. "Jordin Sparks – Chart history" Japan Hot 100 for Jordin Sparks.
  65. http://acharts.us/song/31420
  66. "Charts.org.nz – Jordin Sparks with Chris Brown – No Air". Top 40 Singles.
  67. "Norwegiancharts.com – Jordin Sparks with Chris Brown – No Air". VG-lista.
  68. "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200841 into search.
  69. "Swedishcharts.com – Jordin Sparks with Chris Brown – No Air". Singles Top 100.
  70. "Swisscharts.com – Jordin Sparks with Chris Brown – No Air". Swiss Singles Chart.
  71. "Jordin Sparks: Artist Chart History" Official Charts Company.
  72. "Jordin Sparks – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Jordin Sparks.
  73. "Jordin Sparks – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for Jordin Sparks.
  74. "Jordin Sparks – Chart history" Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for Jordin Sparks.
  75. "Jordin Sparks – Chart history" Billboard Adult Pop Songs for Jordin Sparks.
  76. "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 2008". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on December 5, 2010. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
  77. "Pandora Archive Year End Charts 2008" (PDF). Australian Charts. Pandora Archive. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
  78. "2008 Year End Austrian Singles Chart". Ö3 Austria Top 40. 2008. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
  79. "Canadian Hot 100 Year-End 2008". 2008. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  80. Steffen Hung. "Dutch Year end Charts 2008". MegaCharts. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
  81. "Éves összesített listák - MAHASZ Rádiós TOP 100 (súlyozott)". Mahasz. Mahasz.
  82. "Annual Top 50 Singles Chart 2008". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Archived from the original on August 27, 2013. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
  83. "Årslista Singlar – År 2008" (in Swedish). Swedish Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
  84. "Swiss Year-End Charts 2008". swisscharts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on October 13, 2013. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
  85. "2008 UK Singles Chart" (PDF). UK Chart Plus. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
  86. "Best of 2008 – Hot 100 Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2012-09-20.
  87. "ARIA Chart Sales - ARIA End of Decade Singles/Top 100" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 17, 2010. Retrieved 2012-09-21.
  88. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2008 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association.
  89. "Danish single certifications – Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown – No Air". IFPI Denmark. Click on næste to go to page if certification from official website
  90. THE FIELD id (chart number) MUST BE PROVIDED for NEW ZEALAND CERTIFICATION.
  91. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2008" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden.
  92. "British single certifications – Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown – No Air". British Phonographic Industry. Enter No Air in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search
  93. "American single certifications – Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown – No Air". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  94. "FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Arbitron Ratings, Music News & More!". FMQB. Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Inc. Retrieved 2011-01-15.
  95. https://itunes.apple.com/nz/album/no-air-duet-with-chris-brown-ep/id280272560
  96. "No Air/Save Me: Jordin Sparks". Amazon.de. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
  97. "No Air: Jordin Sparks (featuring Chris Brown)". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/20/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.