American Idol star Lee DeWyze has low chart impact
American Idol star Lee DeWyze has made his US chart debut at the lowly position of number 24.
The 24-year-old scored the highest new entry in the Billboard Hot 100 with his cover of U2's Beautiful Day, as performed on last week's final.
If it fails to climb up the rankings next week, it will become the lowest-charting debut by any Idol winner since the show began in 2002.
Usher was at the top of the singles chart for a second week with OMG.
'Play by the rules'
Katy Perry's new single California Gurls rose back to number two, after dropping from that position a week ago, while R&B singer BOB took third place with Airplanes.
DeWyze scored another three new entries in the top 100, one of which was a duet with Idol runner-up Crystal Bowersox, who scored her own solo hit at 57 with a cover of Patti Griffin's Up To The Mountain.
Out of the eight previous American Idol winners, only two have failed to crack the top 10 with their debut single - Jordin Sparks in 2007, and Kris Allen in 2009.
DeWyze has been equivocal about the choice of Beautiful Day as his first record, telling USA Today, "it's not really my genre".
"There were songs on the table, and I went with the one I thought represented me the best," he added.
"I don't know the reasoning behind which songs you get to pick. I don't know all the ups and downs of the behind-the-scenes stuff.
"A big part of the game is to play by the rules."
DeWyze's disappointing chart position follows the TV talent show's lowest-rated finale since 2002.
Viewing figures showed that 24.2 million viewers tuned in to watch the former paint salesman take the crown - down nine per cent on 2009.
However, the programme remained the most-watched TV show in the US.
The finale also marked the last appearance of Simon Cowell on the judging panel.
The acerbic star has left American Idol to launch a US version of his hit UK show The X Factor.
His replacement has yet to be announced.