Local fans are singing Kevin's praises

The Levittown teen may be a criticized crooner, but to folks here, he's an 'Idol'

BY TANIA PADGETT | Newsday Staff Writer

March 22, 2006

All right, already. So he isn't Justin Timberlake.

Still, Kevin Covais, the 16-year-old balladeer from Levittown, is striking a chord with millions of viewers who have been tuning in to Fox's "American Idol" competition, which airs tonight.

And that chord, despite a crescendo of criticism, is a good one.

The bespectacled, almost painfully thin and moon-shape-faced Covais may not have the strongest voice out of the show's current 12-contestant roster, but he makes up for it with his geeky next-door charm, wholesomeness and, let's face it, pluck.

"Kevin Covais is the reason to watch the show," said Robert Thompson, director of the Center for the Study of Popular Television at Syracuse University. "He has the most interesting narrative. He's the nice guy, the underdog that you want to win. The story gets a little complicated because he doesn't sing as well as the others."

Long Islanders would beg to differ. Here, he's the little kid with the great big voice and not the nerd or the myopic Chicken Little character that the show makes him out to be. Kevin-mania has attracted broad and free-flowing support. Tom Suozzi, the Nassau County executive, has had large signs placed at the entrances of Eisenhower Park that say: "Nassau County Congratulates Levittown's Kevin Covais 'Our' American Idol."

Shrines to Kevin

And at Island Trees High School, where Covais is a student, and the Island Trees Library, where he is a regular, both have elaborate displays honoring him. "A lot of people don't think he is going to make it," said Rosa Maria Portaro, 12, a fan admiring the display in the library. "But I think he will. He's a nice guy and I think he can sing."

Covais has the same appeal of former "Idol" contestants Clay Aiken, Anthony Fedorov and John Stevens, underdogs who made strong showings in previous competitions.

The youngest of three kids, Covais began humming tunes and shaking his diapered bottom to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' songs by the time he was 2. As he got older he played Little League, shot hoops or played hockey with the rest of the boys on the block lined with neat two-story homes. His talent for singing and performing began to blossom just as his family learned about his ill health: At age 10, he was diagnosed with diabetes.

The illness brought fatigue, a strict diet and constant teasing from schoolmates.

"Kids are miserable," said a family member. "Kids would hold muffins up in the air and say to him, 'Bet you would like to have this.'"

'He's got a great style'

The disease, however, did not slow him down even though he must take two insulin shots a day. His clear tenor (some say high baritone) voice landed him leads in performances at his high school, including "Guys and Dolls," "Brighton Beach Memoirs" and "Godspell." (The young star had to give up the lead in this year's spring production of "Anything Goes" because of his appearances on "Idol.") He also has won a slew of competitions outside of high school, including winning first-place vocals in Eisenhower Park's Reach for the Stars in 2003.

"He has one of the best and purest voices that I have ever heard," said Peter Gibbons, the Island Trees district director of fine and performing arts. "And he's got a great style, too. He's not scooping into notes and improvising."

Victoria Fairclough, an ex-girlfriend, said Covais also does a good imitation of Cleveland, the dimwitted character on "Family Guy." And he does an excellent rendition of "Golddigger" by Kanye West, said another childhood friend, Jesse Lyons, 17.

Catherine Manganiello, 46, a neighbor and fan, realized that Covais could sing when he was about 11. "All the kids were playing outside listening to Justin Timberlake sing on the radio," said Manganiello. "And I thought, what a good song, and I looked out the window and saw that it wasn't Timberlake, it was Kevin."

Covais' voice is the focus of much drama and debate, since his emergence as one of the finalists of the show that averaged more than 32.5 million viewers in the 18-49 age demographic share during its March 15 broadcast, according to Nielsen Media Research.

Some love his voice, but many absolutely hate it, said Thompson. Indeed. On the "American Idol" Web site, there is often a salvo of blistering commentary on any given day by viewers who think Covais should have been voted off many episodes ago.

"Do people need hearing aids? ... Kevin Covais cannot sing!!!!" said one post. Another: "Please don't tell me that you think Kevin has the best voice because if you do, you must be tone-deaf!" One even posted a song, "Why do fools vote for KEV," to be sung to "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?"

Thompson, the TV center director at Syracuse, admitted that Covais' performance of Stevie Wonder's "Part-Time Lover" was painful to watch, but added: "The show is not about just singing. The show is about drama."

And that drama continues tonight as Covais faces some daunting competition. He is up against the edgy rocker cool of Chris Daughtry; the silky voice of Katharine McPhee, a favorite to win the competition, and the powerful Aretha Franklin-styled vocals of Mandisa.

But Covais brings a gusto few of his competitors can match. He goes for the jumpshot even though he's the smallest guy on the court, and that's what is winning him votes.

Even his biggest detractors give him credit for standing up to the caustic condemnations of Simon Cowell, the show's judge everyone loves to hate. Last week, after Cowell called Covais' performance "appalling," a moment of disbelief seemed to wash over Covais' baby face. Covais cast aside his shy demeanor, and shot back: "I wasn't expecting much from you anyway." He then raised his thin arms slightly in recognition of the audience members who cheered and hooted their approval of his response.

"That comment was out of character," said Robert Reno, a neighbor whose daughter grew up with Covais. "But I guess he was fed up with taking so much criticism. We were proud of him."

So is much of Long Island. Pat Gentile, a construction worker and fan who lives down the street, fired up his blue truck and spent hours Saturday putting up posters throughout Long Island, Brooklyn and Queens, urging people to vote for Covais. Gentile and his wife, Patty, also had a party Sunday for about 60 Covais supporters and friends, and on Monday he was back in his truck putting up more posters.

"Kevin is a decent kid in school," said Gentile. "Kevin does not need 'American Idol' as much as our country needs Kevin as an American idol. He is everything decent and fair."