Crystal Bowersox sings "Me and Bobby McGee" Live

Crystal Bowersox at Vinyl Radio Nashville covering the Kris Kristofferson tune made famous by Janis Joplin "Me and Bobby McGee"

Crystal Bowersox sings "Piece Of My Heart" Live in Nashville

Crystal Bowersox at Vinyl Radio Nashville covering Janis Joplin's "Piece Of My Heart"

American Idol's Crystal Bowersox sings "Piece of My Heart"

American Idol Season 9 contestant Crystal Bowersox sings Janis Joplin's "Piece of My Heart"

Crystal's Homecoming Videos/2 Original Songs & Bobby McGee!

American Idol Top 3 front-runner Crystal Bowersox sings her heart-felt, original songs, "Holy Toledo" and "Gray Haired RockStar" at the Fox Toledo studios upon arriving in Toledo, Ohio on 13 May, 2010. After singing "Holy Toledo", Crystal was moved and said that she had never had a crowd cheer so loudly for a song she wrote.

Crystal finished the set with Janis Joplin's "Me and Bobby McGee" - the song that showed American Idol viewers and judges she was "in it to win it!"

Holy Toledo:



Gray Haired Rockstar:


Me and Bobby McGee:

Crystal Bowersox sings "Piece of my Heart" in Milwaukee

American Idol Season 9 runner-up Crystal Bowersox sings Janis Joplin's "Piece of my Heart" on the Idols Live Tour! The first video is from the second night of the Top 10's concert at Milwaukee's Summerfest and the second is from the July 5th show in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (the ONLY Canadian stop of the Idols LIVE Tour, now that Winnipeg and Toronto have been canceled...)

"Piece of My Heart"~ Crystal Bowersox & her musical influences, Janis Joplin & Melissa Etheridge

"Piece of My Heart"~ Crystal Bowersox and her musical influences, Janis Joplin and Melissa Etheridge
by MS Chloe

American Idol Season 9 favorite Crystal Bowersox joins the pantheon of female rock legends singing "Piece of My Heart."

Here are two very different, but equally incredible versions of "Piece of My Heart" sung by Crystal Bowersox and one of her musical influences, Melissa Etheridge. You can hear Janis' legacy in Crystal's and Melissa's performance - a complete abandonment to the music, the moment and the audience. Janis let the women singers who followed her know that it is okay to loose yourself in the song and give your audience everything you've got - no holds barred!

Crystal Bowersox, who's been called "A New Artist With an Old Soul", and Frank May singing "Piece of My Heart" at The Village Idiot in Maumee, Ohio.

Melissa Etheridge, "The Quintessential Lady of Rock and Roll" at The Grammy's Janis Joplin Tribute, with Joss Stone.


Why would Melissa Etheridge be such a huge influence to a young female singer growing up with Type 1 Diabetes? It may just be that wild dash of courage added to her musical brilliance. "In October 2004, Melissa Etheridge was diagnosed with breast cancer. At the 2005 Grammy Awards, she made a return to the stage and, although bald from chemotherapy, performed a tribute to Janis Joplin with the song "Piece of My Heart". Etheridge was praised for her performance, which was considered one of the highlights of the show. Etheridge's bravery was lauded in song in India.Arie's "I Am Not My Hair."

And why would both Crystal and Melissa count Janis Joplin as an influence? It could be that Janis, known to her friends as "Pearl", was rock and roll's first female superstar, literally the first woman to create a band she would front. "Long before she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995, Joplin had become a legend for her musical legacy, influence on popular culture and a persona that captured the spirit of the 1960s. Music journalist Ellen Willis believes “Joplin belonged to that select group of pop figures who mattered as much for themselves as for their music. Among American rock performers, she was second only to Bob Dylan in importance as a creator-recorder-embodiment of her generation’s mythology. She was also the only woman to achieve that kind of stature in what was basically a male club, the only ‘60s culture hero to make visible and public, women’s experience of the quest for liberation, which was very different from mens.”"

SOURCES: Wikipedia, case.edu - "Legacy of Janis Joplin"

Crystal Bowersox makes triumphant return

Written by Kristen Rapin, toledofreepress.com

As the Season Nine top 10 “American Idol” contestants took the stage at Huntington Center on Aug. 29, there was no question who Toledo’s Idol is — Crystal Bowersox.

The Elliston native came on stage wearing a huge smile, a T-shirt that read “Peace” and a sunflower patch pinned to her guitar strap. Bowersox was greeted by a crowd of more than 7,000 fans that gave its first and only standing ovation of the evening during her four-song performance.

Bowersox started her set with “What’s Up” by 4 Non Blondes and played along with the crowd as an oversized beach ball bounced onto stage.

Interacting with the audience, Bowersox took a panoramic picture of the arena before playing “Come to my Window,” a song by her “good friend” Melissa Etheridge.

Bowersox dedicated “Holy Toledo” to a friend, Mark Brink, who died earlier in the week. Bowersox got into the song and by its end was holding back tears. For her last song, Bowersox picked up the pace and played Janis Joplin’s “Piece of my Heart.”

Throughout the evening, Bowersox gave shout-outs to area venues The Village Idiot and Papa’s Tavern and told her bass guitarist Frankie May “I love you.”

During a press conference earlier in the day, Bowersox shared her feelings about the tour coming to an end.

“It is bittersweet,” she said. “The whole week has been rough. We have seven shows in a row … it’s been physically grueling and emotionally grueling. We’ve been together since January. It’s so crazy it’s all a blur. It went by so fast, and here it is wrapping up.”

Although she’ll be busy with recording, the single mother said she is looking forward to more time with her son, Tony.

“I’m still going to be very busy, but it’ll be mommy wakes up, goes to work and I get to come home to him,” she said. “He hasn’t been on tour … I went a whole month without him and it killed me.”

Bowersox will perform at the 12th annual Power to the Peaceful Festival in San Francisco, in September before heading to the studio to record, she said. Following that performance, she will spend most of the fall on the East Coast recording.

Bowersox plans to have her bassist, May, perform with her at everything.

“Hopefully every gig from here on out, Frankie will be with me,” she said. “I love Frankie. There’s no one else like him. He’s like ‘Are you sure? Sure you want me to play?’ He’s always waiting for something to fall through. ‘I can’t even believe you think I’m good enough.’ I keep telling him he’s crazy and there’s no one else I’d rather play with.”

The biggest “American Idol” surprise for Bowersox has been the fans.

“The amount of support and love coming from fans, the level of devotion … I don’t even like myself that much,” Bowersox said laughing. “There’s somebody else that likes me that much, is just incredible. It’s a lot of love.”

Two groups of Bowersox’s fans, MamaSox Nation and MamaSox Village Idiots, hosted a pre-show party Aug. 28, the night before the concert. The gathering, sponsored by Toledo Free Press, served as the final night of the Sunflower Project, an online fundraiser to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund (JDRF) in Bowersox’s name. More than $1,700 was raised for JDRF, with more than $500 raised during the pre-show event.

“It could not have gone any better. If I had to say just one word it would be ‘epic,’” said Michelle Reed, one individual in charge of the project.

Many members of the Village Idiots traveled from across the country, including Arizona, Florida and North Carolina to attend the concert and help with the event.

“I had made a joke, they asked if they could use that name for their fan club and I said only if you make a pilgrimage to the actual Village Idiot where I played every Monday night in Maumee, Ohio, and they took it to heart,” Bowersox said. “They showed up and were doing it for a good cause.”

Crystal Bowersox whirlwind tour of Northwest Ohio

America Idol finalist Crystal Bowersox spent her day in Northwest Ohio “just trying to take it in,” she said.
The Elliston, Ohio, resident was continually greeted with adoring fans as she went from parades to concerts to singing the national anthem at the Mud Hens game.

Ottawa County officials declared May 14 as “Crystal Bowersox Day,” which was fitting as the Elliston, Ohio, native performed her hometown tour as a Top 3 contestant on “American Idol.”

Prior to her performance in Levis Square, in Downtown Toledo, she appeared in a parade led by Mayor Mike Bell, as well as Toledo School for the Arts (TSA) students and members of Diabetes Youth Services of the Greater Toledo Area. Bowersox attended TSA.

“It was really hectic, but really cool,” said Miriam Taylor, eighth grader at TSA, of being in the parade with Bowersox.

Appearing on stage, Bowersox told the audience of several thousand, “I’m just trying to take it in.” She waved to those who had gathered on rooftops and in parking garages to hear her sing.

A diabetic, Bowersox shouted, “Diabetics in the house!” and asked everyone to support the local juvenile diabetes organization.

At Levis, Bowersox performed “Holy Toledo,” a composition of her own, and “Hand in My Pocket” by Alanis Morissette. During her performance, Muddy and Mudonna danced behind her.

Afterward, Bowersox made two media-free appearances; one at Papa’s Tavern and one at her family’s home in Elliston. She visited with old friends and families in private.

At the Ottawa County Fairgrounds, some “Bowerstock” attendees waited outside in the blazing sun for Bowersox for more than five hours.

Peg Wilbur, of Genoa, received a speeding ticket on the way to the fairgrounds.

“We came to see Crystal. We vote for her lots, just the other night, I voted 73 times,” she said.

Ron Hanny and Nancy Nigh, of Findlay, arrived at the fairgrounds at 12:30 p.m. to see Bowersox perform.

“We wanted to support her. We like ‘American Idol’ and she’s from Ohio so we support her,” Hanny said.

Bowerstock attendees were excited to hear four songs by Bowersox and her former bass guitarist Frankie May.

Bowersox showcased Janis Joplin's “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Holy Toledo” and “Hand in my Pocket” and then asked the crowd to choose a cover or original song for her final performance. The crowd screamed “original,” which led to Bowersox shouting, “yay, yay,” throwing her fist into the air.

The singer chose her personal favorite, “Speak Now,” a song she wrote as she was leaving Chicago to return to Toledo, she said.

In addition to her performances, Bowersox received many accolades throughout the day, including keys to Elliston and the City of Toledo. Bowersox also made an appearance at an AT&T store where she received a text from “American Idol” judge Ellen DeGeneres telling her she will sing “Maybe I’m Amazed,” by Paul McCartney, on the May 18 show.

At the Mud Hens game, Bowersox sang the national anthem with her son Tony in one arm. The singer also threw the first pitch to Mud Hen Jeff Frazier, who is a huge Idol fan.

At each appearance Bowersox reminded Northwest Ohioans that if it was up to her she’d be the winner of “American Idol,” but it’s up to them and they have to vote.

Source:  Kristen Rapin/Toledo Free Press

MTV Review: Crystal Bowersox, Lee DeWyze & the Top 10 ~ Good Morning America Concert

'American Idol' Top 10 Begin 'Beautiful Day' With 'Good Morning America'
Lee DeWyze, Crystal Bowersox and company strummed and belted through the rain in Central Park on Friday.

With their signs and banners eagerly clutched in their hands, fans marched into Central Park to see "American Idol" season-nine winner Lee DeWyze and runner-up Crystal Bowersox chat with Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos about "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" before two 12-year-old girls competed and a guy who looked like Santa's older brother competed in an "Idol" trivia quiz. And also to see all of the top 10 Idols perform for the "Good Morning America" Summer Concert Series on Friday (July 9).

Crystal was the first one to perform, singing Janis Joplin's "Piece of My Heart" while strumming her guitar, of course. She did the song justice despite the slight spray of rain.

Next up was Lee, again with a guitar, awaiting his time to shine amid the continuing showers. The crowd shouted their love for him, as he responded to their makeshift banners, wishing happy birthdays and anniversaries.

Asked about the life-changing experience of winning "Idol," he said it was "important to remember where you came from" and managed to plug the October release of his upcoming album. He then performed "Treat Her Like a Lady" by the Cornelius Brothers, to which the audience reacted with more enthusiasm and excitement.

Then all of the top 10 took the stage and the band began the riff for Bon Jovi's "It's My Life." The guys gave their best for the rousing anthem, before the girls took over with "My Life Would Suck Without You" by Kelly Clarkson. The rain seemed to bring down the energy of some, Lee in particular, who almost seemed bored at times. But as all 10 sang the song as an ensemble, they gave it a powerful finish.

Before the last song, Lee, Andrew Garcia and Michael Lynche began to beat box and rap for the slightly drenched crowd. But instead of capping off the set with another group performance, Lee went solo for his single, U2's "Beautiful Day" — and fans didn't seem to mind the irony of the bad weather.

Actually, as one fan told MTV News, there's more than one reason to consider it a beautiful day. "It was great to see the American Idols on stage together, and the rain was nice, as it has been so hot!"

Source: Christopher MacAllister, MTV

Crystal Bowersox Concert at Ottawa County Fairgrounds, including "Speak Now", "Holy Toledo" and others

Crystal Bowersox, the American Idol Top 3 favorite, visits Toledo, Ohio during her Homecoming visit Friday, May 14, 2010. Crystal gives a very emotional concert at the Ottawa County Fairgrounds with her bassist and friend Frankie May. In recognition of Crystal Bowersox Day, the event was called 'Bowerstock'.

Crystal first performed Janis Joplin's "Me and Bobby McGee", the song that showed her fans and the judges on American Idol she 'was in it to win it.' Then, she sang her heartfelt original song "Holy Toledo" with the great line "my dread's are locked, my watch has stopped, my glass half full, my gun half cocked." The song asks "How do I get to Heaven from here?" Crystal told the crowd "And the answer is you guys...Because really the only way to make it to the top on this thing is if you guys are doin it. Because it ain't up to me. It's completely up to you, completely up to you man God Bless you all for carrying me this far, I don't know what else to say. I'm very thankful."

She then opened Alanis Morissette's "Hand in My Pocket" with a great harmonica solo.

Crystal then tells the crowd "We have time for one more...do you want an original or a cover?" The overwhelming response, "ORIGINAL!" Crystal lets outs a mighty "YEA! YEA!" and plays one of her personal favorites, "Speak Now," which she wrote right before moving back to Ohio, when she didn't know where her life was heading.

It's obviously headed in the right direction!

Melissa Etheridge talks about meeting Crystal Bowersox

Onstage during a performance at iheartradio, Melissa Etheridge remembers an encounter with American Idol's Crystal Bowersox.

Crystal, the Season 9 Top 5 front-runner, has named Melissa Etheridge as one of her musical influences along with other 'huge' name artists such as Janis Joplin and Bonnie Raitt. "Lesser known artists, with whom Crystal has regularly jammed with in Toledo and Chicago, and/or whom she got to know and played with during her worldwide travels" include Sista Otis, Ray LaMontagne, Bobby May, Brian Walker and Ron "Razz" Rasberry. "These artists have all played a role in contributing to Crystal's life experience and her unique artistic style."

Thanks to fansofcrystalbowersox.