American Idol 4: Scott Savol, This Year’s Model

A well-known news website blared the headline, "How Is Scott Savol Surviving?" It reminded me just how vicious the fame machine can be. The answer to that question is simple to anyone who actually took the time to watch American Idol all season long. He’s surviving because the kid has a wonderful singing voice.

So why is this even a question? Every season of American Idol has had someone (or someones) who overstayed their welcome. Season one featured Nikki McKibbin, who seemed to advance to her own astonishment all the way to the Top 3. When she finally fell to the unconquerable popularity of Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini, audible sighs of relief could be heard from the offices of 19 Entertainment. Nikki later would claim she too was offered a recording contract, but says she refused to bow to the pressure of doing an album that "wasn’t her."

Season two featured Josh Gracin, the affable marine. In this post-9/11 season, just anybody in a uniform would have been embraced, or at least judged on a curve by the viewing audience. By top seven, Josh was clearly outlclassed. Yet he continued to go on, prompting Simon to openly challenge viewers as to why. Josh seems to have had the last laugh, as he is enjoying a flourishing country music career as we speak. He even has a hit single on the pop charts.

Season three seemed to be dominated by green teenagers, doing their best, but falling woefully short of benchmark set by reigning Idols, Kelly Clarkson and Ruben Studdard. Undoubtedly talented, but just not mature enough to shake off the pressure of doing what being an Idol contestant demands. I would never say Leah LaBelle, Camile Velasco, or even that season’s whipping boy, Jon Stevens, can’t sing. They made it as far as they did for good reason. But Idol is also a grueling competition. Having a pleasant singing voice is not all that is required. I’m sure if they had a chance to do some of those performances again, they would do remarkably well. This is not the case – you get one chance per week, and the chips fall where they may. Ironically, season three a winner unique and savvy enough to prompt 19 to start crowing about a long-term career vs. the average shelf life of a pop star that they were perfectly willing to accept.

So with this history, the uninformed have good reason to expect there to be another contestant who just does not belong. The problem is, in season four, that contestant does not exist. No Nikkis, no Joshes, no Jons. But, the media seems to insist on creating one where one isn’t.

Enter Scott Savol.

Scott is likely candidate. He had those troubles with the domestic abuse incident. Of course, he was not convicted of that at all. He was upfront about the whole thing, and American Idol continues to assert that Scott is not a domestic abuser, and feels not a tremor a trepidation of featuring him on Fox’s preeminent family program. Perhaps, he’s a destroyer of phones, so maybe a job as a Verizon spokesperson is out of the question, but call it what it is. For many media outlets, why let something like facts get in the way of a good story?

American Idol continues to carry astonishing ratings. Folks, media outlets know that putting Idol in a headline is a good way to draw readers. That doesn’t mean what they are saying is true. Or fair. Those things aren’t necessary anymore. Balanced journalism? Ha! What are we, the Wall Street Journal?

But why not pick on Scott? He had a dark past, he seems to have chip on his shoulder – I cannot even tell you how many emails I get that say, "I don’t like him, he looks like a serial killer." Scott is not asking to marry you. He’s only asking you to judge his singing. He’s not deluded. He has said to Ryan that he felt like he could have done a better job. Other times, he’s felt like he did the job, and said so in a non-confrontational way. Why is that wrong?

What is most funny is that I find myself pulling for Scott. I honestly do. He is the guy who seems like he has never had a fair shake his whole life, and there seem to be forces conspiring to keep him from getting one here. Scott has a beautiful singing voice. He has nuance, he has depth, he has some vocal tricks under his belt, he has a gorgeous slow-rolling vibrato that when used in the right song is stunning. He is American Idol’s most passionate remaining contestant. When he sang "Against All Odds," regarded as his best performance to date, you could feel he was injecting his whole life into the song, and it was moving. And effective. That is art. That is a performer.

So, as Scott is performing on American Idol, and you feel the bile rising in your throat, ask yourself. What did he do to you? Do you hate Scott or do you hate the Scott you see in yourself?

Sting7 has been a respected published writer for many years, as a music editor, entertainment critic, columnist, and interviewer. He also has a curious love for pro-wrestling! You can email Stinger at stingseven@yahoo.com.

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