Crystal Bowersox - Saved by Grace - "Busking" on Chicago Subway Platform

[butchd18]

An amazing performer i just love her singing

[butchd18]

ye without doubt Crystal should have won she is a legend

[madeyes4u]

She should have said thank you to some of those people who gave her money...They didn't really have to...

[Joolzkay61]

your boat came in far cry from playing at the sub way and yet you were hummble their with your guitar as well . any one could see you wee ment for the stage huge fan here

[freyarenee]

My Idol theory: it is better NOT TO WIN and get stuck in their contracts. Crystal can do ANYTHING she wants to now and has the talent to be amazing anywhere. It must take such faith.

These early busking videos bring tears to my eyes because i remember being a kid and passing the hat around at truck stops for gas money so my mom and I could make it a little further down the road.

Does anyone else have busking videos of the MamaSox stashed somewhere? They are just fantastic to me! Go girl, go!!

[freyarenee]

My Idol theory: it is better NOT TO WIN and get stuck in their contracts. Crystal can do ANYTHING she wants to now and has the talent to be amazing anywhere. It must take such faith.

These early busking videos bring tears to my eyes because i remember being a kid and passing the hat around at truck stops for gas money so my mom and I could make it a little further down the road.

Does anyone else have busking videos of the MamaSox stashed somewhere? They are just fantastic to me! Go girl, go!!

[CBuckingham14]

Wow and the best thing is my name is crystal! At least ik two in the world lol... Great job crystal and I was upset when u did not get first... No offence to lee but your way better than he is by a long run:) continue your hard work:) god loves you!!

[anniekate76]

Revisiting my Bowersoxorama playlist. Man. The guy who busks at my subway stop pretty much just sings "My Girl" over and over. I guess on the theory that everyone likes "My Girl" and you only have time for one song between trains. But he does not take into account that the same people ride the same train from the same stop all the time! We need more quality buskers in Chicago. :)

[istersay]

Love this song

[jonathan3691]

Lee putting money in at 2:35

[nighthawk584]

this is as PURE as it gets...Great Guitar, Soaring Vocals in a Subway......no effects, no lighting, no flash pods.......Crystal is the real deal....

and sorry, I meant LEE in my last post....He doesn't hold a candle to this Crystal...

[nighthawk584]

Wow, unbelievable this woman didn't win Idol....Chris WHO won? anyway, she is amazing!

[arvaties]

@nighthawk584 rofl, lee won, not chris..

[WOODROLL59]

Crystal just tweeted; crystalbowersox My old life. Song, Saved By Grace. If I had to do it all again I wouldn't change a thing.....

[lauriroset]

Crystal just tweeted a link to this video a few hours ago..

Wrote the following:

My old life. Song, Saved By Grace. If I had to do it all again I wouldn't change a thing.....

...

[pureimagination4747]

man she's fantastic at hitting those notes

[lauriroset]

@pureimagination4747

Crystal will be playing in Chicago next weekend at the Idols Tour show which is wrapping up at the end of August..

Check out AmericanIdol site for Summer Tour schedule remaining dates & get tickets to see this amazing woman.. (the other Idols are really good too!)

Her 4-song set at the end of the show is worth whatever effort it takes to get there!

[LitZena]

Did you catch towards the end someone says "good" then you hear directly afterwards "very good". CRYSTAL YOU ARE SO GREAT! They pimped Lee towards the end as "the poor paint salesman" when the true inspirational back story was yours, not his. MORE IMPORTANTLY STILL THE TRUE TALENT IS YOURS, NOT HIS! I wish I were there that day; I would have given what I could afford a hundred dollar bill and now Girl get ready because YOU WILL MAKE MILLIONS IN THE USA & ALL OVER THE UNIVERSE! U ROCK!!!!!

[kamikazeVX]

I would watch it but it breaks my heart.such a talented singer in the subway.

[darkgestures]

oh Good Lord this one breaks my heart.. im happy that she got her break now.. Good MamaSox doin everything for Little Tony. I wish her all the best in her career and most importantly in life.. she is a very beautiful person and i admire her a lot.. everything about her is very graceful.. go Mamasox.. ill buy your albums, we all will right folks? :)

[sleepyhead185]

@darkgestures absolutelyy

[mtc25137]

she wins no matter what...life is the ultimate judge...

[MrDon524]

crystal is real her voice as good any and i hope her natural style puts an end to the diva bullshit thats out there today and people return the art of music the heart of music

[exhausted2212]

Wow hearing her say she sang on the subway is one thing, seeing it is another.

Her voice is undoubtedly amazing, but now I understand more how gracious a looser she was, more than Lee D. could have been, and that is the clear true winner for me.

Beautiful singer, even more a beautiful person. This tube will keep her safe from becomming a 'hollywood" brat.

Thanks for the post.

[teamsterbutch]

The final vote only proves that the American public is tone deaf.............what a shame. The look on Simon's face said it all. He knew she got hosed.

[harro215]

I still can't believe that 25 people pass by her like she's nothing. wow

[leon723]

@harro215 Believe it or not, most people quickly pass by subway performers even if they think they are good. What's amazing is how many people stopped to listen or put a dollar in her guitar case.

[harro215]

@leon723 I never though about it that way. but make you think of those people that stop and put money in her guitar case took part helping a very well talented young lady. If I was one of those that pass right by her, I would probably kick myself.

it shows not just to walk by a street musician like this.

I never meet a street musician.

[StrawBerryJamster]

When was this?

Ha, all those people walking past her would've never have guessed that the insanely talented woman they're trying ignore would be the TRUE AI winner someday.

(Sorry Lee, I love you, but Crystal's better....)

[chonkae]

i can't tell if she already has dreads or what...does she?

[leon723]

I've been puzzling for a while over how the AI marketing machine could have missed how her back story as a busker singing for her supper is so much more compelling than Lee's paint clerk background. This video seemed to drive it home. It's so poignant, I've watched repeatedly. Then I noticed that in less than 3 minutes six different people -- from all walks of life -- tossed a buck in her guitar case. That's a rate of $120 per hour, so maybe she was doing better than the paint clerk after all.

[rloke]

@leon723

AI wants a seat warmer for 1 year who cuts 1-2 albums and move aside for the next seat warmer in line. Thats who AI producers think. Crystal was too good for them.

[mustaccept]

@leon723 A singer didn't win AI. A paint salesman did. I should count how many times AI labeled Lee as 'paint salesman'. It must be more than his name.

[adventurechick1]

Wow. She sounded great. So good that even a 'wigger' with is pants half off, swaggered up to give her money. haha.

[vol245]

I watch this and other clips of her a lot. I know there are a lot of AI contestants that have not fared well after the show, including many winners, but I think she is going to have a tremendous career. If she goes on tour and has a local stop, this 53 year old male will be there. I refuse to go to the AI tour though and they will be local. Most of the others are dreadful.

[kamikazeVX]

I couldnt watch this because it's sad to see such a special person doing this when she could've achieved world wide fame.It's totally unfair that garbage like bieber gets contract while someone as special as she is gets squat.Atleast she is in the upper echeleon of the real music world now.

[acousticcarnival]

Why is this just now getting posted (May 23rd)? I guess, to be honest, I've never googled Crystal Bowersox, but since she lost, I was curious. These images of her bring to life an element of her that I'm sure people imagined existed, but could never fully appreciate without priceless clips like these. Busking. True Americana.

[charles43110]

Soon her album will come out and her long hard road will pay off. I really am her fan. Mamasox is the real deal. I wish her every success

[syncopater999]

The result was the inevitable domination of the voting audience by young girl fans who were always going to prefer Lee. He is good but maybe a bit too samey. She is really interesting and outstanding -a great prospect for the future.

[terribruno1]

Simon should view this video...talk about working hard and looking for that "break" in life. Crystal was absolutley the best performer this season - I know she's going to be bigger than this years idol winner. I can't wait to watch her kick butt out there! We love her natual/raw talent!

[vol245]

That was beautiful. A remarkable talent that we never would have heard of without AI. I'm pissed she didn't win, but grateful she was discovered.

[Detomidine]

She sounds wonderful even in those surroundings! She is the true thing.

First I thought to write shows like AI are a disgrace, always letting the worse guy win, but at least AI made it possible for me to hear about Crystal and I'm therefore actually grateful. She's the best.

[bobdog11]

Crystal sings better in a subway than Lee D. did on the stage with all the back-up and the big band. I hope that idiot Simon sees this. I can't imagine people would vote for Lee rather than Crystal.

[mustaccept]

So the paint salesman wins over the busker. Crystal you are still the best American Idol ever.

[ABundy09]

@mustaccept

You're right, she is the BEST ever. Yesterday...the ultimate and closing evidence, the blameful middlingness of the paint salesman (Lee...anything), in the presence of Crystal's stunning victory!! Everything else is irrelevant! The guy (name forget) makes a petty pop career, but MamaSox changed the music world! Trust me!

Crystal, you shine so beautiful and you are deep in my heart for the rest of my life!

I love you sweetheart...god bless you!!

[ajile12345]

@ABundy09 WELL SAID u and Must ACCEPT.. AGREE WITH EVERY WORD !!

[grazibadke]

that is truly touching.

and is fkg amazing that we have all this technology and can share this kind of material.

what a ride this girl has being. and i love the poetic ending

[mustaccept]

Crystal was amazing in the Finale!

[ABundy09]

@mustaccept

Absolutely yes, she was so phenomenal !!! Specially her last song...oh my god...she was so touching and wonderfull!! Crystal has demonstrated clear, she is definitely THE BEST!!

[TheKimLoree]

Lovely. Thanks for sharing.

[cottagechskitty]

I'm not a fan of Crystal but I wouldn't say she's arrogant.

[mshake5918]

What an amazing jouney, to be Busking in the subway to center stage in the finals of American Idol. Yes....she has paid her dues and it's time for her rewards. Beautiful person with a gift from GOD! Go to love AMERICA!!!

[jessfk77]

simon would stop 4 u in the subway girl amazing true artist right here . Ive struggled my whole 27yrs with no real support from my family and ur music truely soothes the soul Dont ever stop

[callitags]

Beautiful song, and an even more beautiful voice. I hope to follow her career for a long, long time.

[iwebnut]

How can we not make Crystal the next American Idol. She has paid her dues, honed her skills and serves as an inspiration for all. America...get this right!!

[Billabong0110]

This is really a moving example of who she was and who she is right now. a very humble beginning. please vote for her!!! she's such talent..

[mustaccept]

I feel privileged that I can enjoy and appreciate her music that was previously heard only by a few.

[samp4991]

shes dreadless! LOL

[mardale2k9]

I heard Crystal sang "Saved by Grace" many times but when I saw this, I cried... .what a life. . .what a talent...what a journey. Those who think she's arrogant should see this video and let us see if they will not be crystallized.

[mustaccept]

@mardale2k9 Yeah, it was a totally different experience to hear 'Saved by Grace' with this video.

[harro215]

Thanks for the people that gave, Forgiven to the people that didn't, but next time, don't forget the people that is in need.

[springtimeandroses]

This brought me to tears. Her voice is beautiful, just her and her guitar. I think if would be a mistake to have her record music she did not write or feel a conection. WOW!

[ThePurpleBus]

wonderful

[istersay]

She's amazing, I love this song. Thank goodness she tried out for Idol or we many never have heard her, I wish her tons of success.

[yoyoi85]

There was people passing by didn't care for her. But now people are crazy to meet her, asking for photographs.She will do well but I'm on Lee's side. Although I love Crystal as well.

[grammygrino]

Great find. She's the real deal. I'll be voting and voting and voting.....GO CRYSTAL!!!

[calzzzzzzz]

How cant you not be moved by this amazing girl. A rare find, an inspiration.

Thanks for posting.

VOTE VOTE VOTE for Crystal!!!

[mozart4898]

The guy recording, or someone there with him, just after or around 2:00 says "she's good!" and someone with him or beside him says "very good." I wonder what they're thinking now...I agree with the person who said that her life would make an amazing movie. I mean...you can't write a plot more incredible than her life.

[gardenter]

I kept thinking about that as well - look at everyone walking by our American Idol.

Crystal's life story would make a GREAT MOVIE!! Think how much those few dollars she received busking meant to her then - eating and not eating!!

GO CRYSTAL - you make me proud!!!!

[radguy18]

i lover her more now!

[Kara899]

We have to make her dreams come true. VOTE FOR HER!

[fansofcrystalbowersx]

Thanks for making this available ABundy09!

[ABundy09]

@fansofcrystalbowersx

My pleasure an thank you for your fantastic website! Are you interested on the original files?

[CHERRYB317]

look at everyone walking by our american idol....

[CasaLucita]

What a voice! What a find!

[ABundy09]

@CasaLucita

Yeah, you're right! A big piece from the amazing voice of MamaSox was born right there!!