Constantine: Well, I was born in Brooklyn. Born in Brooklyn, New York. I come from a very traditional Greek Orthodox family.
Constance (Constantine's Mom): (Going through old family photos) Now, this is beautiful. Here's another nice shot of Constantine. (In a piece to camera) He's my youngest, and even as a little boy he used to rock in the car with the music, you know.
Athan (Constantine's Brother): He lucked into having the most easily pronounced Greek name there is.
Constantine: I used to catch hell as a kid with the name 'Constantine'. The first day in school used to just be rough. Popular Greek name, but not so popular in the suburbs.
Constance: He was a very good baby... He was a pain in the neck as a teenager, but he was a very good baby. (Laughter) Constantine: I think there was a point where I just went from like this good sort of like, you know, 'church boy'... I was like the president of my youth group... And then I started getting into rock and roll a bit more.
Athan: And I think I remember it being a sweet 16 party where he got up there, went all out, grabbed a microphone and put on a full show and blew people away. He has no fear and a natural gift for pop music. Throw in the charisma and...'magic!' Constantine: I don't know what is going to happen. Ahm, I'm hoping that I win the competition. You know, I think my family would be so proud of me... (laughs) ...and, you know, I definitely... I would love that.
Panel-Bites:
Constantine sings...
Randy Jackson: Yo, yo! Constantine! So, hey man... you know... you know I'm always going to keep it real with you, right?
Girl in Audience: (Shouts) I love you Constantine! Constantine: I love you too. Thank you.
Randy Jackson: So, listen... I'm happy for you that, like, all the female fans love you. I'm glad... you're a good looking kid. I felt like I was sitting in the bar at any town in America not really caring who the singer was and it was mostly high on performing... (Boos)
Constantine: Yep.
Randy Jackson: ...and low on vocals. This is a singing competition to find the best in America!
Constantine: Cool.
Randy Jackson: The performance was great, but the singing still for me is like... out of 10, it's like a 5. It was all pitchy. It was rough for me. I didn't... I didn't love it...
Constantine: That's cool.
Randy Jackson: ...didn't love it.
Paula Abdul: Right, for me, this was not my favorite song at all because it was... just didn't really showcase your vocals. But having said that, you know, American Idol is also about the overall amazing performance. You are the one Idol that I feel is easy... gets to every genre effortlessly without making it look like there's any difficulty. (A couple of girls scream out.) And having said that... So what if it's not the greatest song and maybe not the right notes here and there? You still are...
Randy Jackson: Not the greatest vocal?
Paula Abdul: ...you're still an amazing performer on that stage. (Cheers - Paula claps.)
Randy Jackson: (laughs)
Simon Cowell: It's a... It's a difficult week this week. Ahm, I think that, when you left your band, Constantine, you... and joined this competition, you crossed to the other side. It's like 'Star Wars', you know...
Paula Abdul: (laughs)
Simon Cowell: ...Welcome to the dark side... or the light side. And what it came across to me, was a very bad imitation of the original.
Randy Jackson: Yeah.
Simon Cowell: And you're much better when you were doing your more crooning thing and then to attempt to go back into rock and roll, it didn't feel real!
Randy Jackson: Yeah!
Simon Cowell: ...and that was the problem.
Paula Abdul: I think it was... I think it was the song selection.
Ryan Seacrest: All right, Constantine, friends! 'How You Remind Me', little Nickelback. You know, watching you do that, that performance reminded me of when Clay Aiken was on the show, Constantine.
Constantine: Really?
Ryan Seacrest: Yes, it did.
Constantine: Interesting.
Ryan Seacrest: If you want to vote for Constantine... (Ryan gives out the number) ...You move like Aiken a little bit... (Repeats the number and text details) ...The ladies love Constantine. They're screaming for him in the house. Make sure you vote if he's your next American Idol.
Constantine: My mom's here finally.
Ryan Seacrest: (Shouts some Greek?) Hi, mom!