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"No Boundaries" is the 2009 winner's single of season 8 of the reality television show American Idol. It was co-written by American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi, along with Cathy Dennis and Mitch Allan. 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 Kris Allen, and by the show's runner-up, Adam Lambert. Both Lambert's and Allen's versions of the song 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. Season 3's winner's single, "I Believe," was released by winner Fantasia Barrino and runner-up Diana DeGarmo, though DeGarmo's recording was a B-side to her debut single, "Dreams."

Reception

The song has received mixed reviews.

Former American Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe described hearing the song as the "only downside" of American Idol's Grand Finale. 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".

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 up on your dreams / then take it by the hand and show you that you can".

Billboard reviewed each version separately. On Kris's, 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." On Adam's version, they gave a more 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.'"

Track listing

No Boundaries - Single (Kris Allen version)

1. "No Boundaries": 3:30

No Boundaries - Single (Adam Lambert version)

1. "No Boundaries": 3:48

Release history

Kris Allen

Adam Lambert

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. Also, during the same chart week, the song made it's debut at #27 on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary charts.

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.

References

1. ^ "Kara DioGuardi co-writes 'American Idol' winner's single". Retrieved 2009-05-20. {{cite web}}: Text "Idol Tracker" ignored (help); Text "Los Angeles Times" ignored (help)
2. "Twitter / Nigel Lythgoe". Retrieved 2009-05-21.
3. "A critic's take: It was a deflating final, but a thrilling season". Retrieved on 2009-05-22.
6. Idols inundate Hot 100, but Glee gloats with top debut Retrived on 2009-05-27
8. http://theofficialcharts.com/top40_singles.php
9. Billboard.com (2009-05-27). "Idols inundate Hot 100, but Glee gloats with top debut". Retrieved 2009-05-27.
12. Pulse Music Board - Billboard Hot 100 6/6/09 Retrived on 2009-05-27
14. New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart

• 2009 singles
• 2009 songs
• Adam Lambert songs
• American Idol
• Debut singles
• Kris Allen songs
• Pop ballads
• Rock ballads
• Songs written by Cathy Dennis
• Songs written by Kara DioGuardi