Jordin Sparks: 'Tattoo'

The names Ruben Studdard, Clay Aiken and Carrie Underwood may be familiar from the gossip rags and lazy Friday nights spent in front of ITV2, but none of them made much of an impression on British record-buyers. In fact, six years into the American Idol phenomenon, only one of its alumni has managed to penetrate the UK top 40: Kelly Clarkson.

Jordin Sparks, the 18-year-old warbler from Phoenix, Arizona who nabbed last year's Idol crown, looks likely to double that figure. Her debut single 'Tattoo' is a synth-heavy R&B ballad produced by Norwegian duo Stargate (Beyoncé's 'Irreplaceable', Chris Brown's 'With You'): low on originality, but, thanks to some affecting lyrics about a hard-to-forget ex, surprisingly likable. Best of all, Sparks' caterwauling over the final stretch should have a certain Miss Lewis practicing her scales in fear - well, almost.


> Click here for our recent interview with Jordin Sparks