I go willing down the Bread and Circus-like path that is all things American Idol. I watch for the same reasons you do. The high kitsch. The thrill of competion. The drunken shouts at the telelvison.
But I also watch to listen. The singing thing — that’s paramount. I’m addicted to being moved deeply by vibrating sounds. Certain human beings have the capacity, when singing, to transmit an amazing array of emotions — an ability to evoke tears or ignite fires in the soul. A good singing voice is held in awe and esteem — it’s treated like a talisman by the culture. The tribe responds with alms and adulation. We can’t get enough of a good voice’s incantational magic. We gladly pay the price of admission.
After weeks of diminishing returns, American Idol delivered a humdinger of a show last night. A "couldn’t be true" jolt that finally shifted my focus away from the piffling tabloid buzz surrounding Paula Abdul. Recently dubbed, by Entertainment Tonight, as Paula’s Pain, Abdul’s bad horoscopic timing has appeared, throughout the month, like a lurid series of Hollywood stills captured by Weegee: The hit-n-run driving, the pending thumbnail lawsuit , the protracted pill popping for a lingering neuropathic disorder, the youth serum hocking and, as of last week, her alleged boot-knockin’ with former Idol criminal-to-be Corey Clark.
But, praise the lord, last night all the tawdriness finally shrank to footnote size when Ryan Seacrest announced to Constantine Maroulis that he would be packing his bags — and heading home to New York. Finally an Idol moment we could all exclaim upon together.
Maroulis exited like a trouper, flaring his “The Show Must Go On” savvy up and down the stage. Not surprising, when you consider that throughout the contest Consty demonstrated a keen knack for manipulating his aura with subtle style shifts and daring song selections. This worked — up to a point. Regardless his choice of material, Maroulis’s voice remained sheathed in Broadway affectation. Creating utilitarian performances where — “with feeling” — was just one item ticked off a required list of goods. Fun to watch, but I was never emotionally invested in Constantine. Where was the heart and soul?
Did someone mention Savol?
Of this year’s Idolettes, only three managed to ever thrill me.
Mario Vasquez seemed audaciously aware of the sweetness of his singing voice — to the point where his turn against Idol‘s draconian contract wasn’t surprising at all. He worked the media machine, clocked his 15 minutes and risked going it alone.
Nadia Turner was an ephemeral creature — almost evanescent in her beauty, whose strength was more her showmanship than her vocal consistency. Poor song choice continually put her at a disadvantage. Despite thrilling musical moments, she eventually had to leave the arena — like a wisp of incense.
Scott Savol seems distanced from the purity and soulfulness of his voice. His recalcitrant thug vibe haunts him. That voice coming from that tight little down-turned mouth? Perhaps his very size gives Savol the sort of pained intensity that helps him deliver a song authentically. His singing conveys a lovely, slow-arching vibrato — a sort of Quiet Storm intensity that’s lacking in the other contestants.
Savol’s post-performance stage presence is often fascinating to witness. Having sung well, he will stand in place, before the judges, enthusiastically applauding himself, with the rest of the audience. The curious impression is like that of watching an idiot savant whose talent goes forth despite his lack of social graces. And Scott seems to have corralled the graces — and defied the Fates.
Sure the remaining contestants are easier on the eye and can claim a particular pigeonhole in pop music — country crooner, rock belter or R&B diva. But they leave me cold. They’re ultimately robotic and never quite convincing. Scott has passion in his voice, a slow-simmering ache that can’t be concocted. It’s nearly always present. And it’s always golden.
I admit it. I infuriate friends because I call and vote regularly, each Tuesday night, for Savol. None of them can believe it. “It’s a pity vote.” “You want to see the show shamed.” “You’re an asshole.” But like Jesus instructed:
“He who has ears, let him hear. He who has eyes, let him see. He who has a cell phone, let him text message.”
Though, with Scott you might do well to let your eyes gently close — and just bask in the soulfulness of his serenade.
As I tell those naysayers: “Scotty the Body’s” size has never eclipsed my admiration of his gift. Sometimes greatness comes in really big packages.
Related entries: John Calendo’s The Strange, Vampire Survival of Scott Savol.
© 2005, David K.. All rights reserved. Nightcharm.com
i so love your words – whether i agree or not we’ll see – thank you
Whether your eyes are opened or closed, if you think THAT FAT PIECE OF HUMAN BILE does in any way what is called singing… then you are deaf AND retarded, and in need of a good bitch slap. I would beat the piss out of you if only I knew where to find you.
Hmmmm, not sure whether your tongue is in your cheek when you wax so floridly about one of the most awful and annoying pop-culture pimples since That’s Incredible.
Scott is great. I agree the rest of them are boring. He is the anti-twink of the show!
Beautifully written. Just one note, Scott was applauding in gratitude to the audience not for himself. Obvious by the outstretched hands and the mouthing of the words “thank you.” Scott would do little things for his fans that the public did not know about so they took it as cocky. For example the taking off of his glasses & throwing them, the winking at the camera, and many more things. We would know that he was going to do this before he did it, a secret sign that he is thinking about the fans and is greatful.
He sings every bit as well as Ruben and is nowhere near as fat.
I like him.
I like Scott too. Here is a cool website about him. check it out.
http://www.scotttsavol.com
Well, now I hadn’t come across this article before; I’m so elated I have! Quite a difference from John’s postings. Lol. Oy.
Just glad to see it David K. Thanks!
And hey! Someone pimped our site! Lol. Rock on! I’ve got a sneaking suspicion I know who could have posted that actually! Woot woot!
That was a well thought out, amusing article. I *actually* laughed out loud!! I don’t agree with everything is says … but I gotta admit, it was a worth while read!!
So glad to see others loving Scott as much as we do!!
And Melissa is right about Scott doing things for his fans! I suggested he do something for his fans on the American Idol message boards, she we’d know that he KNEW we were out here cheering him on, and voting like cRaZy for him!!
Much to my surprise, he DID do something for us fans!! He took off his glasses and winked to the camera!! The next week he blew us a kiss!! That was the start of a beautiful relationship between me and the Dawg Pound. My friends, my family, my heart.
Imagine that!! An artist that ACTUALLY cares about his fans, enough to give us a lil shout out!! And let’s not even mention the Cleveland Dawg Pound BBQ where we got to not only meet Scott, his whole entire family, AND ALL of the Top 10 finalists this year!!
Tell me, what OTHER AI contestant in the history of American Idol has EVER done that for his fans?! And that’s why we love him, not just for his voice, but for his kind and generous heart.
He’s so damn generous, he gave me 4 tickets and Meet N Greet passes to see him on tour. Me!! Just a fan. If that don’t roust up a WOOF WOOF from the Pound, I dunno what will!!
And how bout all the Meet N Greet passes he handed out to other average fans on tour?? And all the phone calls he’s made to his fans, and personal e-mails he’s sent to his fans??
Anyone who can’t see the beauty in Scott Savol, well… quite frankly… can just kiss my ass!!!
U GO SCOTT !!! Dawg Pound’s gotcha back!!
It is so nice to know that there are people who can think for themselves. Your article was well thought out and very well written.
Thank you, Cathy aka Mama Savol
I used to love Constantine just because I thought he was hot and a nice guy and all but lately I have been hearing what an asshole he is acting all stuck up and full of himself that it is turning me off big time not to mention those weird fans of his that are behaving like cult members. You know, if you listen to the MP3′s of his performances without the visuals, he really isn’t very good at all,it’s his looks alone that attracts people and that won’t last very long. Jessica and Scott are by far the most talented.
Wow….just doing a little searching and I find posts by the Dawg Pound Diva Cree and Scott’s mom. What a small world. I was in Cleveland for the BBQ, and I have to tell ya, Scott AND his family are the most generous and gracious folks anyone could ever have the pleasure of knowing. I am honored to call myself a ScHOTt Dawg and I will always have Scott and his family’s back. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it. Cheers!