- No Boundaries (song)
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For the Michael Angelo Batio song, see No Boundaries (Michael Angelo Batio album).
"No Boundaries" 
Single by Kris Allen Released May 20, 2009
(See release history)Format Digital download Recorded 2009 Genre Pop rock Length 3:30 Label Sony Music Writer(s) Kara DioGuardi, Cathy Dennis, Mitch Allan Producer Emanuel Kiriakou Kris Allen singles chronology "No Boundaries"
(2009)"Live Like We're Dying"
(2009)"No Boundaries" 
Single by Adam Lambert Released May 20, 2009
(See release history)Format Digital download Recorded 2009 Genre Rock Length 3:48 Label Sony Music Writer(s) Kara DioGuardi, Cathy Dennis, Mitch Allan Producer Emanuel Kiriakou Adam Lambert singles chronology "No Boundaries"
(2009)"Time for Miracles"
(2009)"No Boundaries" is the 2009 winner's single of season 8 of the reality television show American Idol.[1] It was co-written by American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi, along with Cathy Dennis, and Mitch Allan.[1] It is the first single for winner Kris Allen and runner-up Adam Lambert.
It was first performed on the May 19th American Idol final performance show by the season's winner Kris Allen, as well as the show's runner-up, Adam Lambert. A demo performed by Kara DioGuardi herself has leaked onto the Internet as well, but remains officially unreleased.[2] Both Lambert's and Allen's versions of the song however, were released to digital music retailers on May 20, 2009.
It is the second American Idol winner single that was released by both winner and runner-up. The first single was "Inside Your Heaven" of season 4, released by winner Carrie Underwood and runner-up Bo Bice.
It is also the second American Idol winner single that is not on the debut album of the winner, after Taylor Hicks' "Do I Make You Proud" in 2006.
It was performed on Britain's Got Talent by young boy band Connected.
Contents
Reception
The song overall has received mixed reviews. Between Kris Allen's version and Adam Lambert's version, Allen's has sold more digital downloads to date.
Former American Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe described hearing the song as the "only downside" of American Idol's Grand Finale.[3] Misha Berson of The Seattle Times called the song "perhaps the most tuneless, hackneyed earful of 'inspirational' junk that any American Idol has been saddled with in their last chance at victory".[4]
The lyrics of the song have attracted particular criticism, with Gil Kaufman of MTV describing them as "a titanic mound of turgid clichés", citing the chorus "every step you climb another mountain / every breath is harder to believe / you’ll make it through the pain / weather the hurricane / to get to that one thing / when you think the road is going nowhere / just when you’ve almost gave [sic] up on your dreams / then take it by the hand and show you that you can".[5]
Billboard reviewed each version separately. On Allen's version, they gave a mixed review, by saying "Even though Allen sings lines like 'there are no boundaries,' his modest presentation implicitly recognizes there actually are. And though he sings he will 'climb another mountain,' this is a vocalist who will reach that peak with a trained, experienced guide."[6] On Lambert's version, they gave a positive review, by saying "There's a slight hitch in his voice, but Lambert gets more comfortable as the rock-of-the-'80s orchestration builds to mind-boggling crescendos. Throwing caution to the wind, and maybe even leaving his cake out in the rain, Lambert shows on this towering if inelegant power ballad he can 'weather the hurricane.'[7]
Allen's single has sold 312,000 copies.[8]
Track listing
No Boundaries – Single (Kris Allen version)
- "No Boundaries": 3:30
No Boundaries – Single (Adam Lambert version)
- "No Boundaries": 3:48
No Boundaries - Demo (Kara DioGuardi version/demo)
- "No Boundaries": 3:36
Release history
Both versions
Region Date Austria May 20, 2009 Canada United States Australia May 22, 2009 Finland United Kingdom Philippines May 26, 2009 Sweden Chart performance
- Kris Allen
Allen's version of "No Boundaries" entered the Billboard Hot 100 for the week of May 29, 2009, at #11, selling 134,000 paid digital downloads.[9] Also, during the same chart week, the song made its debut at #27 on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary charts.
Chart (2009) Peak
positionCanadian Hot 100 13[10] UK Singles Chart 92[11] U.S. Billboard Hot 100 11[12] U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks 23[13] U.S. Billboard Pop 100 26[14] - Adam Lambert
Lambert's version of "No Boundaries" entered the Billboard Hot 100 for the week of May 29, 2009, at #72, with sales of approximately 36,000 downloads.
Chart (2009) Peak
positionCanadian Hot 100 52[15] New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart 38[16] U.S. Billboard Hot 100 72[17] References
- ^ a b "Kara DioGuardi co-writes 'American Idol' winner's single". The Los Angeles Times. May 19, 2009. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/americanidoltracker/2009/05/kara-dioguardi-cowrites-american-idol-winners-single.html. Retrieved 2009-05-20.
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDng1zxoLd4]
- ^ "Twitter / Nigel Lythgoe". http://twitter.com/dizzyfeet/status/1859943724. Retrieved 2009-05-21.
- ^ "A critic's take: It was a deflating final, but a thrilling season". Retrieved on 2009-05-22.
- ^ "What Are The Lyrics To 'No Boundaries' About". http://newsroom.mtv.com/2009/05/20/what-are-the-lyrics-to-no-boundaries-about/. Retrieved 2009-05-21.
- ^ [1]
- ^ "http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/reviews-singles/no-boundaries-1003977784.story]
- ^ http://www.billboard.com/features/kris-allen-the-billboard-cover-q-a-1004044831.story#/features/kris-allen-the-billboard-cover-q-a-1004044831.story
- ^ Idols inundate Hot 100, but Glee gloats with top debut Retrieved on 2009-05-27
- ^ [2]
- ^ http://theofficialcharts.com/top40_singles.php
- ^ Billboard.com (2009-05-27). "Idols inundate Hot 100, but Glee gloats with top debut". http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/idols-inundate-hot-100-but-glee-gloats-with-1003977092.story. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
- ^ [3]
- ^ [4]
- ^ [5]
- ^ New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart
- ^ [6]
Preceded by
The Time of My LifeAmerican Idol winner's singles
2009Succeeded by
Beautiful DayAmerican Idol season 8 Finalists Kris Allen · Adam Lambert · Danny Gokey · Allison Iraheta · Matt Giraud · Anoop Desai · Lil Rounds · Scott MacIntyre · Megan Joy · Michael Sarver · Alexis Grace · Jorge Núñez · Jasmine MurrayOther sources Studio albums Brand New Shoes • Kris AllenSingles "No Boundaries" • "Live Like We're Dying" • "The Truth" • "Alright with Me"Tours American Idols LIVE! Tour 2009Other songs Related articles Discography • American Idol (season 8)Adam Lambert Studio albums Live albums Glam Nation LiveEPs Acoustic Live!Other albums Season 8 Favorite Performances · Take OneSingles "No Boundaries" · "Time for Miracles" · "For Your Entertainment" · "Whataya Want from Me" · "If I Had You" · "Fever" · "Aftermath" · "Sleepwalker"Tours Glam Nation TourRelated articles Categories:- 2009 singles
- Adam Lambert songs
- American Idol
- Debut singles
- Kris Allen songs
- Pop ballads
- Rock ballads
- Songs written by Cathy Dennis
- Songs written by Kara DioGuardi
- Songs written by Mitch Allan
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