Idol Chatter & Voice Views

I’ll never understand how American Idol producers decide what to include and what to exclude from their audition shows.

I mean, each episode we’re treated to a string of buffoons who have to know they can’t sing, who just want a couple of minutes of airtime on TV.

Meanwhile, we don’t get a glimpse of some of the most talented singers.

It happened again in that Chicago episode last week.

So folks, let me do the honors.

Meet Crystal Bowersox.

She’s one of the female singer-songwriters I’ve been waiting to see in these audition episodes. She might be the best female singer-songwriter in the competition.

First some background. According to her MySpace, Crystal was raised a farmer’s daughter and has been performing since the age of 10.

She moved to Chicago for a while, has performed in places as widespread as Oxaca, Mexico, and Istanbul, Turkey, and has now settled back in rural Ohio with her son. He was 7 months old when Idol held the Chicago auditions, which would make him about 1 year old now.

Her music is classified as acoustic, folk rock and blues, and it’s been scrubbed from her MySpace.

But do yourself a big favor and go here to listen to Crystal Bowersox.
Start with the song “Farmer’s Daughter.” I’ve listened to lots of songs from lots of rumored Idol golden ticket recipients in the past month.

Editor’s Note: The link took readers to Reverbnation. Songs have been scrubbed from that site as well. But to hear Farmer’s Daughter, head to this YouTube clip.

This is the absolute best song I’ve found. I must have listened to it at least 20 times in the past month.

Make sure to check out “Hell Bent,” “Holy Toledo” and some of the others, too. Editor’s Note: New link for “Holy Toledo.”

And this gal wants to sing covers on Idol?Oh, well, I guess when you’re a farm girl from northwest Ohio, name recognition is hard to come by.

But shame on you, Idol.

During the Chicago episode, you featured a gal who had inappropriate dreams about Ryan, crazy accordian lady and a substitute teacher from Pittsburgh who imitated Tiny Tim.

And not a second of Crystal singing.

I’ll never figure it out.