Corey Clark: Exodus

If you were to look up “hit or miss” in the dictionary, you might find a picture of Corey Clark. This seemed to sum up Corey’s performances on American Idol. He hits or misses... usually during the same song! Based on the email I was receiving, viewers were utterly mystified that he was still in this competition. How did he survive week after week? Who was voting for him?

Of course, I am speaking in past tense. As you may have heard, Corey is the third American Idol contestant who has been expelled from the competition. This the farthest a contestant has gone before being expelled. His absence has to be explained. At this writing, Fox has not provided any clues to what they are going to do. I am betting there will be another Wildcard show to fill his spot (another way to extend the season... don't think Fox is above it!).

We all had an inkling that Corey could be trouble. When he went off partying with Stephan Franklin and Aiden Wynn, he was no neophyte. He was a partier on the professional level. He was a bad boy. We just had no idea how bad.

Let’s discuss the degree of luck that Corey had on his side before all of this surfaced – the advantages he had that had nothing to do with his performances. He was male. He was good-looking. He had sex appeal.

From the start of the auditions, it was apparent that American Idol wanted more quality male contestants. During the third day of the Hollywood auditions, when the contestants were singing in groups of three or four, the men’s side was admonished by Simon for not stepping up. Now, under ordinary circumstances, this would not have happened... the men would just have been grossly outnumbered by the woman. Like last year. So why should it matter?

Ratings. The demographic for American Idol, the audience that Fox is banking on, is women, far more than men. Teenage girls and women aged 18-34. Justin Guarini was definitely nailing that demographic in his appeal, as was RJ Helton, which could explain his surprising Top Five finish, all things considered. Simon Cowell has not been quiet about the fact that he Justin was the only male contestant that he could actually see being a success after the show. The British counterpart to AI, Pop Idol, actually had two men in the final two... exactly as Simon suspected. And assumed for American Idol.

This is not to suggest that anyone at 19 Entertainment is disappointed with Kelly Clarkson, in fact the complete contrary. But it is believed that Kelly’s ebullience is more the exception than the rule. Besides her dazzling voice is a personality that charmed the socks out of America. It would be foolish to expect another Kelly is out there undiscovered. So, we’re back to the boys. Someone who can generate squeals. A Justin Timberlake, if you will.

So, let’s look at this crop. Ruben Studdard is full of talent, but is not Tiger Beat material. Clay Aiken also has the big talent, but not the looks. Rickey Smith certainly has an appealing personality, but his looks won’t cause any fainting. Josh Gracin could have worked but he’s married with a child. (Think that doesn’t matter? Ask Jon Bon Jovi why he was forbidden to mention he was married for over ten years?)

That left Corey. Once he reigned in the Sideshow Bob hair (also known as Evil Justin), and we could actually see his face, we realized he really is a good-looking guy. He had shown that bad boy side that (then) seemed appealing (Simon pointed out that bad boy side, and I am quickly learning that Simon rarely says anything by accident). Women love that. And, his singing could, could break hearts.

When he sang “Foolish Heart,” it came together and he was justly rewarded with a spot in the Top Twelve. Since the Top Twelve, he’s had to avoid one bullet already. He loves to sing in the falsetto, and he has a wonderful range in that falsetto. In the lower registers... hide the glasses! Had he stuck around, song selection would have been crucial for him. He would have needed to comb the libraries for singers who sing in upper registers. But even before he was given the boot, time was running out. Ruben and Clay are separating themselves from the pack. Trenyce is close behind them. I would put Kimberley Locke as a solid fourth. Corey would have had to find a way to put away a string of dead-on performances for his survival.

Girls like bad boys, but not necessarily the ones who assault women! Corey was filling a slot that guaranteed him a longer ride than he may have earned. Who knows how far he would have gone? I honestly don't think he had more than another couple weeks left if his level of performance stayed where it was. Now, we will never know.

Sting7 can be reached at stingseven@yahoo.com.

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