Thaindian News

Mar 24 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Although Siobhan Magnus received rave reviews, for the awesome performance she gave on American Idol last night, once again Crystal Bowersox has stolen the hearts of all the judges, and the smiling approval of Simon, with her rendition of “Me And Bobby McGee.” The video can be seen embedded below.

The judges all were in agreement that the Janis Joplin song was an excellent choice for Crystal. Ellen and Kara both said that she did a great job, but that she should work without her guitar for a while, yet Simon disagreed. Simon has favored Crystal since almost the beginning of the show. He felt she did a wonderful job, but that the guitar was a terrific asset and she should keep it. There have been a lot of mixed messages being passed around this season. Whether it has anything to do with Paula being gone and Simon planning to leave is unclear, but this season of American Idol has seemed strained. With the judges unable to agree, and tensions seemingly firing between Simon Cowell and Ryan Seacrest, it it an unusual time.

Crystal’s song choice was written by the country legends Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster. It was recorded by “King of The Road” singer Roger Miller, and folk star Gordon Lightfoot in the years 1969, and 1970. Although both versions were hits, neither ever reached the heights that Joplin’s did. Janis Joplin was an on again off again lover of Kris’s and recorded the song without his permission for her solo album “Pearl.” She never knew how popular her version was to become, however, as the album came out in February of 1971, only 4 months after the artist died of a heroine overdose in October of 1970. Her recording of the song remains the most recognized and sought after version, despite the fact that it has been remade by such country singers as Kenny Rogers and Johnny Cash, rock icons the Grateful Dead and Melissa Etheridge, and pop idols Olivia Newton-John and Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Pink. This was the first time the song has ever been sung for American Idol.