I checked and the sun did come up this morning. Apparently, the premature departure of Constantine Maroulis from American Idol last night did not knock the earth off its axis after all. Nevertheless, for everyone who's ever lost a fav from the competition too soon, the collective headwaves were wailing with peeps' personal version of the Leslie Gore classic:
It's my party and I'll cry if I want to!
Cry if I want to!
Cry if I want to!
You would cry, too, if it happened to you!
Okay, done.
I spent my post-show entry extending my condolences to Constantine fans and commiserating with all those who, while perhaps not Constantine devotees, still felt bummed at the thought of an AI4 home stretch without the gangly, grungey boy from Brooklyn.
Now, as promised, it's time to get down to the business of sorting out what happened.
If you haven't noticed, I'm sometimes given to sassiness and a case in point is when I termed Nikko Smith's elimination a "shocker." Tongue. In. Cheek. We all know how to recognize a little poke in the belly for grins. But here's my definition of a true shocker: a result that has no (or few) indicative events leading up to it and, to the contrary, has many events indicating a trend that is the opposite of the result.
Constantine's elimination was a shocker. In fact, except for Week One results (where, for practical reasons, there are no other possibilities), in all of AI history, I cannot remember a contestant who was bounced from the competition on the first time he hit the B3. That is astounding, particularly this deep into the competition.
I'm going to use the c-word here, but don't run for your tin-foil hats, please. I'm not talking a sinister conspiracy by nefarious individuals, but a conspiracy of events. A constellation of "evil stars" that, by dumb fate and pure bad luck, converged in the AI4 heavens precisely over Mr. Maroulis' head.
First, the obvious factors. These are the things a contestant has to nail every week else make himself especially vulnerable to sudden death.
Performance. One of the raps on Constantine is that he doesn't know what he wants to be when he grows up. The flip side of that is that AI, and the AI public, looks for and values versatility.
Constantine (and you can insert any contestant's name here) sings "Nights On Broadway," it's too "Vegas." Constantine sings "How You Remind Me," it's too edgy.
It's too "this" and too "that" and too "something else" until at some point, the viewing audience collectively shouts "can't we just agree that the judges should just SHUT UP."
(Okay, venting . . . venting. Or, as Clay Aiken once famously said in another context, "Breathe with me, honey.")
The funny thing, however, is that, while we shout away at our televisions, we actually agree with the judges. Versatility is a difficult ideal to bring to life. Here me on this: it is the rare singer, not necessarily the best singer, that can do it.
After ruminating on Constantine's lay-down of "How You Remind Me," a Nickelback tune, I concluded that there wasn't anything wrong with Constantine's performance that hadn't been wrong with all his other performances. In other words, it wasn't especially deficient. But it was a tactical error. Somehow it was the wrong card to play at this stage of the game.
But was it a lethal error? Not in and of itself.
Next, song choice.
Song choice is not about the song. It is about the choice.
People can argue all day about the relative merits of a particular song, but that is not the point. It doesn't matter, in the end, whether the song was a "good" song or a "bad" one.
What matters is whether the song was a good choice for that particular contestant, at that particular point in the competition, given the history, context, image, connections that contestant had already created with his audience.
Constantine really is a creature of his charisma as much as anything else. For one thing, he's a storyteller, and he maximizes his charisma when he sings songs that have an accessible storyline or motiff. The more oblique hard rock songs weren't as charming on him as the pop-rock tunes where he could use his rock burnish to amplify his story, rather than be it.
And, yes, there are technical issues involved in song choice. The song---duh---needs to be one that the singer can sing well. But the transcendant effect of song choice has to do with whether it helps the contestant further consolidate, expand and motivate his fan base.
"How You Remind Me" was not that song for Constantine Maroulis. But was it a lethal error? Not in and of itself.
Now the not-so-obvious factors.
Surprisingly, I think the hubbub surrounding the record deal landed by Constantine's band, Pray for the Soul of Betty, and its soon-to-be-released debut disc, wound up working against him.
American Idol is, in the term eloquently coined by Anthony's father, about dream-making. More than that, America is about pulling for the underdog. Take those two cultural zeitgeists together, tell people a contestant already has a record deal (although supposedly Constantine signed away his rights to the tunes), and there is a segment of the viewing public that will conclude "he doesn't need this show. He's made it."
Is this reaction large enough to be a show-stopper? Not likely, but it's one more evil star in the constellation.
More than that, however, is the potential that the news caused more and more AI fans to learn about where Constantine was coming from, musically, and where, potentially, he was going. Add that to his hard-edged performance of a snarly song and the result may have been a little too in-your-face for the casual AI fan. At the minimum, Constantine's performance on Tuesday night reinforced the impression that he truly is committed to this kind of music and that simply may not play into the AI market vibe.
American Idol attracts viewers who want to create pop stars that are different from those squeezed through the industry cookie press. When they hear a sound like Pray for the Soul of Betty's, they wonder. When they hear songs, like Betty's, that choose explicit lyrics, they wonder.
It's not that they're prudes. Quite the opposite. It's that they've heard this all before. This is what the music industry constantly feeds them. They want something different. They want someone different. They want to be the ones in Mr. Big's face by elevating someone who won't be sucked into "Hollywierd" and come out a jerk, or in rehab, or whatever ---yawn---on the other end. Been there. Done that.
What's the point of going up against the titans of the music industry if you end up creating the same kind of "star" they feed you anyway?
It reminds me of an episode of "The Osbournes" where Ozzie tells Kelly, "look, if you want to be different, don't get a tatoo."
The emergence of Pray for the Soul of Betty on the music scene, at this precise moment, may have been received as "hey, kid, want a tatoo?" To which, many AI fans might have replied wearily, no, thanks, already got one.
This is not to say that Betty may not go on to be the next best thing since Led Zepplin. But that doesn't mean it accomplishes what American Idol fans came to do.
Finally, the last not-so-obvious factor in the Premature Departure of Mr. Constantine Maroulis was the themeless theme show on Tuesday night, a debacle for which the AI prods must take major responsibility.
Without a strong theme, regardless that the theme itself may be weak, AI is certain to come off as a bad night on the Donny & Marie Variety Show. Each show needs a strong organizing principle, else it quickly bogs down in a messy muddle.
That, coupled with the lack of Paula sunshine and bubbles Tuesday night (due, no doubt, to her tabloid troubles), made for a very unhappy and dark show. Take an unhappy show, put on an unhappy performance, you get an unhappy result.
Put it all together, shaken not stirred, and you've got enough negative synergy to bounce a singer whom many considered the frontrunner.
I can't close without at least acknowledging that one other considerable factor in Constantine's AI demise was tactical, even rogue, voting. That's reality and this is a reality show. Just like in politics, which are (as Mikalah Gordon would say) waaaaay more important than AI, some people enjoy trying to wrench up the works or casting protest votes. Yeah, it's annoying. But so what? As John Madden once famously said, "The point is to get more points than the other guy." Play ball.
Now, we go forward. As I said last night, Constantine's premature departure has left a final five that "is like a song without a strong hook. A casserole with no recognizable ingredients."
It's like the show is starting over again and we need to get to know the finalists all over again. All bets are off. Play ball, indeed.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - TylerNewton
I find it amusing that whenever a favorite gets knocked off (Tamayra Gray, Latoya London, Constantine), people seem to forget that with AI, you vote people to stay ON, and you never cast a vote OFF.
As someone said in another comment for another blog entry here, it's a positive vote for a negative result.
Why do people have a tough time understand this?
FOX/AI/Fremantle Media PURPOSELY do this (voting for people you like vs. voting the one you want off) because it makes the show less predictable.
Yes many people here have said they will not watch this season of AI anymore, but for the majority, they will be glued to their TV sets because of this "shocker."
I ask again, why does everyone have a trouble understand how AI voting works? Why can't people understand that results they don't want to see happen CAN AND DO happen because you vote people on instead of voting them off?
If you vote people off, than surely Scott and Vonzell would be the bottom 2, because fans of the other 4 would pool their votes towards one person (like Vonzell for instance). Thus she's gone. No surprise.
If you vote people to stay, that's a whole different story. There is no pooling of votes. You simply vote for your favorite, or perhaps not at all (this happens many times. People assume someone is safe, so they cast a vote for someone else who needs it).
That is what happened this week. Too many Constantine fans cast their vote for Scott in an attempt to get rid of Vonzell, because Vonzell is a huge threat to everyone else. Because too many Constantine fans voted for Scott, Constantine ended up with the lowest number of votes.
2 - Eric Olsen
do people really spend time calculating such as Tyler suggests? I find tht hard to believe
3 - Eric Olsen
btw, Sticker you totally rock the rectum!!
4 - jayne
After last night I will no longer view this show. At first I really enjoyed the talent, the tactical judges reviews, but now I realize it is just a ploy for audiences to keep coming back and has nothing to do with the theme of talent. What a Disappointment and a gimic that hooked me in like a weak link! Good Luck.
5 - Eric Olsen
Jayne, it was always just a TV show, sad to say. Yet somehow to this point, anyway, it has retained its credibility as a talent contest
6 - JustJak
Constantine's returning to his rock beginning alienated his new pop fan base. The fact that he absolutely butchered the song alienated any rock fans he had left. I'm not the least bit surprised he got the boot.
7 - Eric Olsen
you may be right JustJak, SOMETHING happened
8 - TylerNewton
"do people really spend time calculating such as Tyler suggests? I find tht hard to believe"
Yes, even more so than me. You must understand how crazy people get over their favorites.
There IS a reason that AI continues to be so popular, and fandom is a huge part of it.
I am still curious though as to why people never consider that you vote people on instead of voting people off when trying to understand a "shocker." It's so obvious.
9 - TylerNewton
"Constantine's returning to his rock beginning alienated his new pop fan base. The fact that he absolutely butchered the song alienated any rock fans he had left."
I think it was all about picking that Nickelback song. That Nickelback song is almost universally HATED. Everyone cringes if they hear it on the radio. I don't know ANYONE that likes it.
Constantine, in choosing that song, made the WORST SONG CHOICE IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN IDOL. It's sad because in the last 5 years there are many songs from many genres that could suit his style. Choosing a song that everyone **hates** is going to be your downfall.
To put it in your terms, his new pop fan base used to like the Nickelback song but now hate it with a passion.
His old rock fanbase has ALWAYS hated that piece of crap song.
10 - dar
I'm not watching anymore either. Whether there really were phone problems, or it was a bad night for everyone, it doesn't much matter to me anymore. Bo and Carrie will both go on to strong careers in country and rock, Vonzell and Anthony will put out passable albums, and then in 3 or so years they will be awesome. Constantine was the only one in the group that I couldn't wait to see perform: what he would wear, what his song choice would be, how he would speak to me thru the television screen... The rest are just oh so predictable. If it was a radio contest, you could argue voice all day long, but its not, so the whole package DOES matter.
There is not a REAL Constantine fan out there that would have dreamt of voting for another contestant, and especially not Scott. No offense. I really hope Scott goes on to win it all. Then those who say that this is "America's choice" can choke on the sad year that follows.
11 - Mir/Miranda
Another great article! THanks Sticker! I TOTALLY agree about the theme-less night having something to do with the demise of such a great showman, such as, Constantine!
Keep up the good work!
12 - Eric Olsen
I agree: "the last five years" is terribly open-ended and too recent for the songs to have sunk into th egeneral populace. I'll bet they don't do that one again.
13 - JustJak
Hey Tyler
You're certainly entitled to your opinion, but I happen to LOVE that Nickleback song. At least I love it by Nickleback. If all I'd ever heard was Constantine's abysmal version of it I might agree with you about it.
14 - Eric Olsen
must be Canadian
15 - mfj
It is being said today that there is a quiet movement to make Savol the next American Idol by "mean people" (you know, the ones referred to in the proverbial "I hate mean people" bumper stickers you see all over the place). Tis true. There is purportedly a web site (getting upwards of several million hits a day) urging people to vote for the worst performer - Savol - in an effort to knock the show on its a$$ and apparently people are going along with it.
Personally I think it would be hilarious to see Savol become the first TrailerPark Idol. He could go on to butcher every Luther Vandross song ever produced. He could be the William Hung of Smooth R&B.
16 - Justene
I checked and the sun did come up this morning.
Thunderstorms in LA. Far later in the year than there dhould be.
17 - TylerNewton
"Personally I think it would be hilarious to see Savol become the first TrailerPark Idol."
Funny you say that, because that made me think of South Park, and how every time I see Scott Savol, I think of Eric Cartman.
In fact I think Scott Savol is a cross between Eric Cartman and Eminem.
18 - JustJak
Nope, not Canadian. Texan through and through pardner.
19 - Sticker
thanks, mir
we shall see this week, won't we?
20 - zaraln
I am totally shocked , my jaw dropped and tummy churned in sadness. Constantine was the better performer and singer than von and scot. I had looked forward to watching A.I every week. Now it is just an ordinary show. I will go back to curling on tues and weds night.
ta ta AI
zars
21 - votefortheworst.com
www.votefortheworst.com
22 - Dawn
That was really some excellent analysis - great post Sticker.
23 - Shannon
Constantine is better of without AI. They own those kids for years when they win and they mold them into what they want them to be. Now Constantine can be Constantine. Personally he was the only one I looked forward to watching every day for the simple fact that he did change it up and took chances. Too big of a chance with Nickleback though.
The only reason I won't watch is now there is no one worth watching. Bo bores me, Scott makes me ill, Carrie is getting on my nerves, I hate Witney Houston so that tells you how I feel about Von, and poor Anthony is too wimpy for my taste. Sweet kid, but just a kid. His expressions and movements make me cringe. Kind of like Clay in the beginning of Season 2.
Constantine will do well on his own. He's made quite an impression and will be hard to forget.
24 - patty
Scott is Cartman from South Park.
25 - Eric Olsen
but less charming