MTV Newsroom › Crystal Bowersox

MTV's Musical March Madness: Coheed And Cambria Vs. Crystal Bowersox, Vampire Weekend Vs. Bright Eyes

Posted 3/14/11 2:30 pm EST by in Music


It's MTV's second annual Musical March Madness! MTV News took the 64 biggest names in rock, split them up into four regions, assigned them seeds and puts them up against one another in a single-elimination series of match-ups in a winner-take-all contest. We're leaving it to you to decide an actual champ in this field of 64, so over the next few weeks, fan voting will determine who will emerge as this year's champion. It's all about the fans, and the artist with the most passionate fan base will score the awesome Musical March Madness trophy!

The 2011 MTV Musical March Madness tournament is only a few hours old, but there are already heated contests going on between some heavy hitters (there are already upsets brewing, as the Damned Things have jumped out to an early lead against top-seeded Foo Fighters). Of course, voting will continue through this Sunday (March 20), with the winners revealed on Monday (March 21). In the meantime, let's move on to the next batch of match-ups, which feature some of the biggest names in the whole contest.

(6) Coheed and Cambria vs. (11) Crystal Bowersox
The 2010 MTV Musical March Madness champions Coheed and Cambria made an improbable run through that tournament, proving that their fans were a force to be reckoned with. They probably would have had a higher seed had they not been so quiet over the past few months. But they remain one of the tournament favorites. Still, they have a challenging draw in Crystal Bowersox, the "American Idol" runner-up who has managed to galvanize an impressive online following since the release of her album Farmer's Daughter. Will she have enough to overthrow the reigning champs? Only your votes can decide!

(3) Vampire Weekend vs. (14) Bright Eyes
Two of the most literate acts in indie rock take it to the mat in the first round, and both are riding high. Vampire Weekend are still basking in the glow of their chart-topping second album Contra, while Bright Eyes just released their best album in years. Will Conor Oberst be able to topple the Vampire Weekend juggernaut? Vote and find out!

Watch Dick Bagwell and Vincent Twice break down this year's bracket!

Check out the Musical March Madness bracket and be take a look at the hoops-centric photos of some of the tournament's biggest bands.

Tags , , , , , ,

Crystal Bowersox Gets Gritty For MTV News' #MusicMonday

Posted 1/3/11 10:30 am EST by in Music


Really, you should be listening to music every day, but thanks to Twitter, Monday has become the best day of the week to discover new songs, show some love to the tune currently dominating your iPod playlist and quietly judge the listening habits of your closest friends. Yes, it's #MusicMonday, one of Twitter's most enduring trending topics. Hence "MTV News' #MusicMonday," a weekly look at the songs we are currently crushing on.

This week, Crystal Bowersox proves she has true grit.

We're already a few days into January, which means that the NFL playoffs are about to begin, there are no fewer than 10,000 awards shows on the horizon and a brand new season of "American Idol" is upon us. In the history of the show, there has perhaps never been a finalist as confounding and complicated as Crystal Bowersox, who closed out 2010 with the release of her excellent album Farmer's Daughter.

The Ohio native rose to prominence during last season on the strength of her simple, soulful voice and her sense of down-home authenticity. Unlike most "American Idol" projects, Bowersox wrote the bulk of the songs from her album, so it was a little bit strange when "Hold On" (which was co-written by Kara DioGuardi and Chad Kroeger) was released as the first single. The album's second release, "Farmer's Daughter," is much more reflective of what Bowersox is actually about, as it pairs her unique voice with a bluesy, ragged groove. Though Bowersox is an unlikely pop star, expect her to carve out a niche and stick around for a while, especially if she keeps rolling out tracks like this.

What's your #MusicMonday jam? Let us know in the comments!

Tags , , ,

Crystal Bowersox's Farmer's Daughter: The Reviews Are In!

Posted 12/14/10 4:30 pm EST by in Music


Following the tepid response to "American Idol" winner Lee DeWyze's debut album Live It Up (which came out a few weeks ago, if you didn't know — and based on the sales numbers, you probably didn't), Crystal Bowersox was bound to have something of an uphill battle on the release of her album Farmer's Daughter (which just hit store shelves today). This past season of "American Idol" was perhaps the most tepid in memory that left the audience with very few memorable performances to hang on to. But then again, Bowersox did have some things working for her, as she always came across as more organic and real on the show, and she always seemed to have legitimate songwriting chops. And those few memorable performances on the show? Most of them belonged to the dreadlocked girl from rural Ohio.

If the reviews are to be believed, there is a lot happening on Farmer's Daughter that really works, even if it isn't an instant masterpiece. If nothing else, many seem excited and inspired by Bowersox's ever-evolving songwriting chops. "Farmer's Daughter includes eight songs solely written by [Bowersox] as well as two cowrites — meaning she played a significant role in scripting 10 of the 12 tracks," wrote the Chicago Tribune's Greg Kot. "It may be a coincidence, but that self-direction goes a long way toward making this among the strongest debuts by an 'Idol' singer ever."

Entertainment Weekly was a little less enthused, giving Farmer's Daughter a "C." "Life in the post-'Idol' fast lane hasn’t scrubbed the season nine runner-up of her earthy hippie-chick vibe," wrote critic Mikael Wood. "But if Farmer's Daughter feels like one of the most genuine 'Idol'-contestant debuts yet, it's also one of the dullest."

On the other side of the coin, AllMusic.com's Stephen Thomas Erlewine suggested that Crystal's songwriting might actually have hindered her album. "Bowersox has the core ingredients of a solid little record here; she just could use help in forming it into an actual album," he wrote. "If she had the right co-writers ... Farmer's Daughter would deliver on Bowersox's promise instead of sounding like a local singer/songwriter performing on a stage she's too modest to fill."

Mario Tarradell of the Dallas Morning News called Farmer's Daughter "revelatory" and said it delivers "a passionate, soulful combo of country, blues, rock and R&B." But the most damning statements came from Allison Stewart of the Washington Post. "Bowersox too often brings to mind Taylor Hicks, another 'Idol' contestant with a fundamental un-trendiness and a voice built for bars," she wrote. "Doomed by unremarkable material and an inability to translate his retro-blandness into '00s relevancy, these days Hicks functions as a cautionary tale to which Bowersox should pay close attention."

What do you think of Crystal Bowersox's new album? Let us know in the comments!

Tags , ,

Crystal Bowersox Previews New Music At Intimate Office Show

Posted 11/4/10 2:30 pm EST by in Music


In the eleventh hour of getting her Jive Records debut ready for public consumption, Crystal Bowersox stopped by VH1's offices Thursday morning (November 4) for a brief acoustic set. Apparently the gig was supposed to be a conference room performance just for executives, but the VH1 higher-ups believe so strongly in Crystal's potential that they wanted to share her casual mini-concert with their viewers. Expect to see the full four-song set streaming on VH1.com in the coming weeks.

The "American Idol" runner-up kicked things off by premiering "Hold On," the first official single from her album. Curiously enough, the song wasn't written by Bowersox, who has notoriously insisted she will have her hand in every album track. Instead, Nickelback's Chad Kroeger penned it with former "Idol" headache judge Kara DioGuardi.

But fear not, music fans with good taste. If those two names have you running for the hills, take a breather. Read More...

Tags

Happy Birthday, Crystal Bowersox!

Posted 8/4/10 9:30 am EST by in Music


It may be an especially raucous party at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida tonight, as not only is the "American Idols Live" tour making a stop there, but it is also Crystal Bowersox's birthday. The runner-up from the most recent season of "Idol" turns 25 years old today, and she has managed to pack an incredible narrative into only a quarter-century.

The Ohio native grew up with her twin brother in a small blue collar town and got into music at a very early age. She began playing songs in local bars when she was only 13 years old, and since then she has rarely put down a guitar, whether it was playing small local gigs, busking or performing on "American Idol." She immediately drew the fascination of the "Idol" audience when she first appeared on the show, as she did not match the type of contestant the program normally draws. With the power of her dreadlocks, her honest approach to songs, her laid-back personality and her status as a mother (which earned her the nickname "Mamasox"), she became an early favorite during the show's ninth season. It wasn't always a smooth ride, either, as she nearly left the show after being hospitalized (she has Type 1 diabetes). But she managed to come back, overcome the odds and finish in second place behind winner Lee DeWyze. She has been one of the highlights of the "American Idols Live" tour, rolling out such jams as "What's Up," "Come to My Window" and "My Life Would Suck Without You."

Bowersox had a number of memorable moments on the show, but she managed to outdo Alanis Morissette with her cover of "Hand in My Pocket." Here's hoping she's enjoying a happy birthday and that we get to hear original tracks from Mamasox sooner rather than later.

Tags , , ,

Crystal Bowersox Goes To Bat For Her Ex-Boyfriend: The MTV News Quote Of The Day

Posted 7/15/10 4:30 pm EST by in Music


"I really want to clear up some misunderstood stuff about Tony's and my breakup the night of the 'Idol' finale, and let people know how amazing he was through the whole process. I feel like he's getting portrayed as this person who up and left me on the biggest day of my life, and that's not the case at all."

-"American Idol" runner-up Crystal Bowersox, speaking to Redbook magazine about ex-boyfriend Tony Kusian, with whom she ended a relationship on the night of the "American Idol" finale. Many fans jumped to the conclusion that Kusian had dumped Bowersox on her big night, which turned him into a bit of a villain on the Internet. "He's getting hate mail and horrible messages online," Bowersox said.

She also added that the decision to end the relationship was mutual and that Kusian didn't deserve to be vilified. "I want to make clear how amazing, kind, and generous a person he is, and that he truly considers my son his son and little Tony loves him," she explained. "He's been there since my son was about three months old. And in a lot of ways, he's the perfect man; he really is. But ultimately, we both knew it wasn't going to work out, considering the different lives we were leading. And it's better to come to that realization than to have an unhappy relationship. Mommy and Daddy need to be happy in order for baby to be happy."

Bowersox is currently in the middle of the "American Idols Live!" tour, which will wrap up at the end of August. Following that, it's likely Bowersox will be settling into the studio to work on her debut album, which if tradition continues, should be out by the holidays.

Tags , ,

Lady Gaga's 'Alejandro,' Eminem And Paramore: This Week's Deep Cuts

Posted 6/11/10 5:30 pm EST by in Deep Cuts


With the World Cup underway, the weather behaving and both "The A-Team" and "The Karate Kid" waiting for us at the cinemas, it's going to be a delightfully laid back weekend. That's good, because we're still recovering from the awesomeness that was Sunday night's (June 16) 2010 MTV Movie Awards. (If you happened to miss any of Sunday's headline-grabbing, eye-popping, eyebrow-raising show, you can watch the whole thing on demand at your leisure.) But before you commit yourself to any of that, be sure to check out anything you might have missed this week on the MTV Newsroom Blog, including headlines about Lady Gaga, Green Day and Paramore.

» Lady Gaga pulled the curtain away from her "Alejandro" video, which launched a lot of debate about the various Madonna references in it.

» In dropping the new video, Gaga made her "Alejandro" into the most famous Alejandro in pop culture.

» "Green Day: Rock Band" made its way into stores this week, and we took a look at various key moments in the band's career — including their legendary mud fight at Woodstock '94.

» Eminem also premiered a video this week: The clip for his chart-topping single "Not Afraid," which is one of the best moments in the history of rooftops in music videos.

» At the MTV Movie Awards, Scarlett Johansson and Sandra Bullock shared a lip-lock that was declared the best kiss in MTV awards show history. Take that, Britney and Madonna!
Read More...

Tags , , , , , ,

MTV News' #MusicMonday: Crystal Bowersox Grooves To Michael Franti And Spearhead

Posted 6/7/10 3:30 pm EST by in Music


Really, you should be listening to music every day, but thanks to Twitter, Monday has become the best day of the week to discover new songs, show some love to the tune currently dominating your iPod playlist and quietly judge the listening habits of your closest friends. Yes, it's #MusicMonday, one of Twitter's most enduring trending topics. Hence "MTV News' #MusicMonday," a weekly look at the songs your favorite stars are currently crushing on.

This week, "American Idol" runner-up Crystal Bowersox endorses another dreadlocked star.

Though Crystal Bowersox doesn't have the most traditional voice in the universe, it certainly is unique, and her approach to "American Idol" (where she finished just shy of winner Lee DeWyze) was unlike any other contestant in the history of the show. When Bowersox stopped by MTV News headquarters in New York City last week, it was easy to see why the nation fell in love with her and continued to vote for her. She has a natural charisma and a friendly, wise vibe about her. Perhaps more than any other "Idol" also-ran since Chris Daughtry, Bowersox has that unnameable quality that makes her a natural star.

As her song selections on "Idol" proved, she also has wonderfully eclectic taste in music. Lately, there is a particular artist who has really been turning her on. "I've been listening to some Michael Franti and Spearhead," she told MTV News. "It doesn't matter what track. [You should] listen to any of his stuff."

It's no wonder Bowersox digs Franti, who combines hip-hop, reggae, R&B, jazz and African music into a fusion of worldly pop that supports his politically minded and socially-aware lyrics. His latest album with his backing band Spearhead, All Rebel Rockers, was his most successful yet, peaking at #37 on the Billboard album chart. Bowersox says you should listen to everything, but the hit "Say Hey (I Love You)" is an excellent place to start.

What's your #MusicMonday jam? Let us know in the comments!

Tags , , ,

Lady Gaga, M.I.A. And Eminem: This Week's Deep Cuts

Posted 6/4/10 6:10 pm EST by in Deep Cuts


With Memorial Day having opened the week, the work on the Newsroom Blog this week was slightly more abbreviated than usual. But that doesn't mean that the coverage wasn't fast, furious, hot and heavy day-in and day-out. So before you head to Atlantic City to check out the opening date of Kings of Leon's latest tour, stand in line for your third screening of "Marmaduke" or experiment with making ceviche, scroll down and catch up with all the action you might have missed. It's a nice cross-section of greatness, featuring the music world's lamest feud, hip-hop's craziest collaborations and the what is probably the first time you've seen T.A.T.U. referenced in half a decade.

» The MTV News 2010 Summer Songs Poll closed earlier this week, with Lady Gaga's "Alejandro" standing tall at the end. She was so excited about the win — which was driven by her passionate flock of fans — that she tweeted about the victory.

» The strange exchange of words between international pop genius M.I.A. and New York Times writer Lynn Hirschberg came to its apparent conclusion, but not before a formal correction and a dis track. It shot straight to the top of the charts as one of the lamest music-related feuds in history.

» Justin Bieber premiered another new video this week, this time for "Never Say Never," his tag-team with Jaden Smith that appears on the soundtrack to the upcoming film "The Karate Kid." It's a fun clip, but it doesn't hold a candle to that "You're the Best Around" montage.

» Also in Justin Bieber news: He performed a free show live in Rockefeller Center in New York and attracted some extremely devoted fans.

» "American Idol" runner-up Crystal Bowersox stopped by the MTV Newsroom to talk about her experience on the show, what her album might sound like and her former life as a person who sold ice cream out of a cart.
Read More...

Tags , , , , , ,

Crystal Bowersox: Former Stable Hand And Ice Cream Scooper

Posted 6/2/10 5:30 pm EST by in Music


Last month, during the height of the "Will Crystal Bowersox quit 'American Idol'?!?" hysteria, I wrote a piece about how it didn't surprise me one bit that she was thinking of bailing on the show, because she reminded me of something like a dozen girls I had worked with at a hippie-dippy smoothie bar in Altamonte Springs, Florida, and inevitably, when the burden of responsibility got to be too great for them, they would quit the place.

Needless to say, it was one the best things I've ever done here. Of course, not all of Bowersox's fans felt that way, calling me "an over-generalizing hippie hater" for writing the thing. Ultimately, the ruckus the piece caused was largely inconsequential, as Bowsox decided to stay on "Idol," finishing second to Lee DeWyze (something I did manage to call, BTW).

But that didn't mean that I wasn't still curious about Crystal's pre-"Idol" life. After all, we knew all about DeWyze's time spent working in a paint store, and we learned that Casey James was in a motorcycle accident, but show producers never told us anything about how the dreadlocked dynamo spent her time before appearing on the show. We knew she had a kid, but that was about it.

So when I finally got the chance to interview her, I made it a priority to ask Bowersox what she did before becoming famous? Did she actually work in a smoothie bar? (Sadly, no.) Did she spent a summer following Phish? (Surprisingly, no.) Did she peddle ice cream to unsuspecting kids and shovel horse crap to make ends meet? (Yes and yes!) It turns out she did a whole lot before gracing the "Idol" stage … and here, in her own words, is a brief tour through her (rather extensive) employment history. Because, really, there's no way to fit half of this stuff on a printed resume.

Tags , ,

Page 1 of 512345
SPONSORS
AD:
©2012 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. MTV and all related titles and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.