In the eyes of many 'American Idol' fans, last season's runner-up Crystal Bowersox was a zaidi interesting contestant than eventual winner Lee DeWyze (she at least has a zaidi captivating name).
During her spell on 'Idol,' the Midwesterner covered Janis Joplin zaidi than once with her passionate takes on such classics as 'Piece of My Heart' and 'Me and Bobby McGee.' She also represented a somewhat refreshing antidote to the zaidi manufactured contestants on the show. Bowersox, with her tojo and blond dreadlocks, is not exactly from the Jessica Simpson and Britney Spears school of pop stars. She suffers from diabetes, was a single mom and grew up in a family that was neither rich nor particularly stable.
Now 25, Bowersox released her debut album, 'Farmer's Daughter,' in December. The album features a dozen songs, with all but two written kwa the singer herself. Tracks like 'Holy Toledo,' 'Speak Now' and the title cut are autobiographical and don't sugarcoat anything. 'Farmer's Daughter' takes on the common, but not very popular, subject of a parent's alcoholism and abuse. Elsewhere on the record, she turns in a fine version of the Buffalo Springfield classic 'For What It's Worth'. PopEater recently had a chance to talk with Bowersox while she was passing through New York City.
Your wedding was not too long ago. How's married life so far?
Yes, 10/10/10. It's good! wewe know, with any relationship, there are ups and downs, but marriage is a commitment to work it out. There's no going back, and [we're] just focusing on loving each other and having a good time. We were Marafiki before, and we're Marafiki now, and he's still my best friend. I can tell him anything, and that's how it should be.
In the press release, there's a quote where wewe say, "In my mind, 'Idol' was a karaoke contest. wewe get up onstage, wewe sing covers and then you're a pop star." Is that still your opinion?
Yes and no. One thing I do know about the new season is that they're incorporating original songs from contestants, which is something that I had pushed for the entire time I was on 'Idol.' It wasn't part of the deal then. Before 'Idol,' I hadn't ever really watched the show, so I had this ... I wouldn't say ignorant, it was just an uneducated concept of what the onyesha was. It seemed too good to be true and too easy, so I stayed away from it. I never went and tried out. [Now] I'm glad that I did. I stepped outside of my own safety zone.
But 'Idol' was tough. wewe have to break down four au five-minute songs into a minute-thirty. That takes skill. Also, in your performance, there's zaidi going on because of the cameras and things. It's not just playing to a live house. It was tough.
You wrote au co-wrote most of the songs on your debut, which is pretty unusual for an 'Idol' alum. And on the title track of 'Farmer's Daughter,' wewe take on some subject matter that's pretty atypical for contestants. It's very honest, but it's not always the easiest stuff for people to talk about.
Growing up, I always assumed that the artist I was listening to was the artist who wrote the song. I didn't grab the concept of songwriter [versus] performer; I thought it was the whole package. That's the way I always listened to muziki and the way that I started creating music. I don't know why that's so unusual! To me, it's not.
'Farmer's Daughter' is a true story about my childhood. I don't want to say that it was all dark and stormy because it wasn't. We had a lot of good times despite our differences and the situation. But it's just truth. I guess it's my perspective, really. My mom might tell wewe a different story -- who knows? I upendo my mom. She's taught me through her own example how to be a strong, independent woman, and she's all about survival, and I upendo her for that. She didn't always make the best decisions, but now that I'm an adult and I look back, wewe realize when you're older that your parents are just people doing their best. I think she did all right. I turned out OK.
One of the few tunes on the album that's not an original is 'For What It's Worth.' Were wewe a Buffalo Springfield shabiki growing up?
Oh yeah! My father's taste in muziki really saved me from a lot of things. Listening to that era of muziki was good for my spirit, I suppose. Stephen Stills, Neil Young, CSNY, my dad turned me onto all of it. There was always Steppenwolf, ZZ Top. Classic rock was huge, and he's a huge blues fan, too. The message in that era of muziki [reflects] the kind of muziki that I want to make.
What are some interests au hobbies of yours, outside of music, that might surprise people?
I used to be a cat lady [laughs]. I upendo cats. I have four who are stranded at my dad's house because my new husband is allergic to cats, so I'm a cat lover. And I knit [she laughs and shows off her socks]. I made these. These are fabulous, right??
They are! We can't thread a needle.
I can ski [but] can't snowboard. I can Rollerblade, but I can't skateboard. I have to be facing forward.
You also do some work to raise awareness about juvenile diabetes, right?
Yes. I've been Type 1 diabetic since I was about 6 years old. It was tough growing up with diabetes -- it affects every aspect of your daily life but thank goodness it's manageable. I wasn't diagnosed with a terminal illness. In the siku and age we live in, the technology is amazing.
Every opportunity that I've been aliyopewa is really a responsibility to use it for good. I don't know why anyone wouldn't. I mean, if wewe have a public forum, wewe need to use it in a way that's good for the world. wewe can't do everything, wewe can't save everyone, but everyone can do something. I'll be going to the Children's Congress. Me and about 200 kids will stand at the congressional hall and speak to our representatives about Type 1 awareness and the differences between Type 1 and Type 2.
What is the difference?
This isn't always the case, but Type 2 is sometimes from lifestyle. The pancreas of a Type 2 diabetic is still working, but it's having trouble keeping up, I suppose. Your pancreas makes insulin, and insulin regulates your blood sugar. Glucose goes to your blood and from your blood it needs to get to your cells. Insulin's [the] key that unlocks that gateway and allows that to happen. Without insulin, it stays in your blood, your blood sugar jumps, your body will start breaking down. It's complicated. I've learned a lot about what you're supposed to eat and how insulin works. Type 2, [with] diet and exercise can be managed, but there are Type 2 people who are on insulin as well. No matter what type of diabetes, it's not easy.
I wear an insulin pampu and without insulin, I won't survive. Usually, it's a slow, painful death. Some countries don't even have statistics on Type 1 diabetes, but that doesn't mean that country doesn't have it. There's no statistic because they die and usually [it's deemed] natural causes. That's another thing I'd like to raise a little awareness about.
To wrap, upangaji pamoja up, what are your goals for this year?
I really want to get knocked up! [laughs] Plainly put -- I want to have another baby. We'll see how I can fit that into my work schedule. Life's a little hectic and crazy right now even with one. But my husband and I would definitely like to expand the family.
