Stonight at 9.15pm on Sky Uno and streaming on NOW the first episode of X Factor 2023. Francesca Michielin is hosting it for the second consecutive year. On the jury, Ambra Angiolini, Dargen D’Amico, Fedez and Morganreturning nine years after his last participation.
X Factor 2023from Auditions to Live
The new edition of the talent show starts from the Auditions with three dedicated episodes. Then it will be the turn of the Bootcamps, with a new mechanism – that is, each judge personally composes his own team – and Home Visits. Also in this case there is something new: the judge and aspiring competitors spend two days together to understand what type of path they can take if they get to the Live shows.
The Auditions concerned the casting phase and were held at the Allianz Cloud in Milan. They will also air on September 21st and 28th. At the Bootcamps – October 5 and 12 – judges review the performances of the 48 contestants previously selected, divided into 4 groups of 12. Each of them can choose three competitors from each group.
The selection process concludes with the Home Visits, broadcast on October 19th. Another meeting that will lead to the final selection in view of the Live shows – live from October 26th -, to which only 12 competitors will be admitted. In terms of expectations, the genres arriving at the Auditions range from pop to rock, from electronic to author music.
X Factor 2023Morgan’s return and Sky’s response to the controversy
What increases the anticipation is not only the curiosity towards the competitors, but above all the composition of the jury. Morgan’s return was preceded by homophobic insults during the concert in Selinunte. In the press conference, Sky doesn’t beat around the bush. «Morgan is here with us. It was a choice shared by Fremantle – the program production company, ed – and Sky”stated Antonella D’Errico, Executive Vice President Content Sky Italia.
«Morgan has decided to donate half of his salary to an association and has made his apologies very concrete. He himself distanced himself from any form of homophobia.” This is echoed by Sarah Varetto, Executive Vice President Communications, Inclusion & Bigger Picture Sky Italia: «We made a donation to Casa Arcobaleno», for a project thanks to which «young people involved in a coming out or gender transition process find refuge ».
The singer then closes the topic by stating that: «It was a difficult moment. Words are important and I believe in words a lot. They can offend and wound, they can be heavy weapons. I wanted to give concreteness and transform it into a real gesture. A word is not to be taken lightly.”
The judges of “X Factor 2023”: Ambra Angiolini, Fedez, Morgan and Dargen D’Amico. (Jule Hering)
The judges’ statements
So, having archived the crime and awaiting clashes between colleagues to decide who to give the three yeses to and who no to, Sky announces that Francesca Michielin – forced to rest for health reasons – will be present at the Live shows. Regarding the judges’ expectations, a X Factor 2023 Ambra would like to find people «who care about what works and what views it gets». He would like the competitors to bring «something that is life, genres are also invented like this. I put humility into it and it also applies to us judges: leaving the ego at home is sometimes useful».
For Dargen, the hardest part is combining the search for talent with entertainment. «The role we play is to be both producers of the kids and entertainers. This is an entertainment program”, without forgetting that the judges must accompany “the kids who decide to do this in life”.
Morgan is also of the same opinion. «It’s difficult to make music on television. He lives in a different place, but it can also coincide. Song is the most widespread form of music in the world. Simona Ventura and I introduced the idea of the unpublished. From there the discography took notice of the talents. It depends on how it’s done. If you are looking for a passing phenomenon or someone who has something to say. I’m looking for an artist who has heart, brain, culture. Spontaneity and genuineness are important values.”
Fedez, on the other hand, felt the change of line «very much. The kids come to us after an initial screening.” The reference is to new route taken by Sky. The judge underlines that these are projects that «need a specific direction to be taken. It involves additional work that has never been done before. It will be a different approach.”
The judges with Francesca Michielin. (Virginia Bettoja)
X Factor 2023in search of «rough diamonds»
X Factor 2023 It looks different from the more recent editions. Indeed, it seems to return to its origins. Very young singers looking for an opportunity, ready to go on stage dressed only in their music. More contestants and fewer characters this is what emerges from the preview screened at the opening of the conference.
«We wanted to return to the creation of talent. Taking diamonds in the rough, not necessarily ready to go on stage”, specifies Antonella D’Errico. Paola Costa, Project Manager of the program after Eliana Guerra’s farewell, adds: «We tried to insert liveliness into the story. Having reinstated open castings has allowed us to open the doors to kids who have the same type of enthusiasm, to understand if there is the possibility of becoming pop stars in the future.”
On the story, he declares: «It’s fundamental for us, because it’s a talent show, a competition, but it’s the story of four professionals who make their experience available». Furthermore, the two-year contract between Sky and Fremantle – the company that owns the format – has been renewed.
Finally, as regards aspiring competitors, already in the first part of Audition it is possible to see that there are more than one diamonds in the rough. Among all, a singer with a retro air stands out, who feels “out of place almost always”, but conquers everyone with his voice. She is a real performer, able to dominate the stage and amaze the audience and judges.
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