“Konstantine” by Something Corporate
The content of this song is based on real-life romantic relationships the narrator was in, with special focus on one in particular. This union was marked by high ambitions and ample affection but also a considerable degree of strife. In fact at some junctures it seems as if the romance is about to end, while at others it would appear that he and “Konstantine” are in the bliss of each other’s embrace.
Ultimately the aforementioned strife is the result of the actions of the singer himself. For instance he has been caught red-handed cheating on Konstantine. Moreover he seems to be ‘confused’ in terms of what direction in general to take their relationship in. However, despite his shortcomings, she still stays committed – that is apparently up until a certain point.
Indeed all things considered this track reads like a heartbreak song. The singer realizes his “mistakes” has caused the dissolution of this relationship. However, it is abundantly clear that he is still in love with his “Konstantine”. The true issue does not appear to be a lack of affection for or admiration of her on his part as much as it is his inability to express such in a consistent and constructive manner. Thus in the end he is reduced to an individual who is not even sure if the person he loves the most even knows that he feels this way.
Inspiration for “Konstantine”
It is stated that this song refers to an ex-girlfriend of Andrew McMahon’s named Krystal, which is the primary reason that “Konstantine” is spelled with a K. However, McMahon himself has stated that the woman he is addressing is “a composite of a few people” but also “with one very much leading the charge”, most likely alluding to Krystal.
“Konstantine” was written exclusively by Andrew McMahon when he was still in his teens. And due to its youthful vibe, it has become a song fans associate with their teenage years also.
McMahon rarely plays “Konstantin” live
Although this is arguably McMahon’s most popular song, he is reluctant to play “Konstantine” live, citing its length (which stands at almost 10 minutes long). In fact in 2015 he stated that now he only performs it once a year, on November 11, which is a shoutout to his mentioning the time “11:11” in the song. This is actually a reference to the relationship being in its symbolic eleventh hour.
Release Date
Drive-Thru Records and the Music Corporation of America (MCA) teamed up to release “Konstantine” on 20 November 2001.
Production and Album
The song was produced by Jim Wirt.
“Konstantine” was featured on a Drive-Thru Records’ compilation album entitled Welcome to the Family in 2001. It was later featured on Something Corporate’s 2003 album Songs for Silent Movies, which was only released in Japan. The band chose not to feature it on a standard album since they felt it didn’t fit well within the overall project.
NOTE: For those who may have noticed that some middle sections of this song are presented somewhat nonlinearly, that is because Andrew McMahon was actually freestyling during that part of the track.
