X Factor is a Romanian television music competition that aims to find a new music talent to become a star. The second season aired in fall 2012 on Antena 1. The winner received a prize of €200,000.
The hosts are the same as in the first season: Răzvan Simion and Dani Oțil, who are also known for hosting a well known morning show on Antena 1. The X Factor producers decided to change the entire group of judges. The first mentor announced for the season was Dan BittmanPentru Dan Bittman e timp de X Factor! On 16 June, Antena 1 announced the other two members of the jury: singer Delia Matache, and Cheloo, member of the hip-hop band Paraziții.Dan Bittman, Delia si Cheloo: noul juriu X Factor!
The registration started for the second season in May 2012. Antena 1 made changes on the list for the audition cities: Constanța was dropped, Sibiu and Craiova were added.
Judges
Delia Matache – singer, celebrity Dan Bittman – singer Cheloo – rapper
Selection precess
Auditions The first auditions took place at Craiova, on 15 June, and hundreds of people entered the contest for the chance to win the big prize.GALERIE FOTO! Iata primele imagini de la auditiile X Factor de anul acesta! They then took place in Sibiu, on 18 June in Timișoara on 21 June 2012, on 27 June in Iași and concluded on 1 July 2012 in Bucharest.
+Summary of auditions Audition city DateCraiova 15 June 2012Sibiu 18 June 2012Timișoara 21 June 2012Cluj-Napoca 24 June 2012Iași 27 June 2012Bucharest 1 July 2012
Bootcamp Filming for bootcamp was held in Bucharest. 196 people who received 3 yes entered bootcamp. The groups Sens Unic, Nord X, Station 4, Red, 2B, HOT and 4 Mix were formed from eliminated contestants from the 16–24, Overs 25 and Groups categories in bootcamp. After the bootcamp period, there were 26 acts left.
The 26 acts who reached the Judges' Houses: 16–24s: Ráduly Botond, Vasi Bistrae, Tudor Toduț, Nadir Tamuz, Ioana Anuța, Iulia Manolache, Sânziana Nicolae, Alexandra Broinaș and Diana Cazan Groups: Sens Unic, R Family, Nord X, Station 4, 2B, Red, Soul Music Art, HOT and 4 Mix Over 25s: Ioan Mann, Lidia Glavu, Csaba Engi, Corina Chirilă, Natalia Selegean, Tudor Turcu, Dragoș Udilă and Iulia Glăvan
Judges houses
The judges received news of their categories. Cheloo mentored the Over 25's in Valea Doftanei, assisted by Bitză, Matache took the Groups to Delta Dunării with Mitză and Bittman had the 16-24s in Bucharest with Edi Petroșel.
The eleven eliminated acts were: 16–24s: Vasi Bistrae, Sânziana Nicolae, Alexandra Broinaș, Diana Cazan Groups: Soul Music Art, HOT, 4 Mix, Sens Unic Over 25s: Lidia Glavu, Csaba Engi, Corina Chirilă
Finalists
The 15 finalists were confirmed as follows;
Key: – Winner – Runner-up – Third place
Category (mentor)Acts 16-24s (Bittman) Ioana Anuța Ráduly Botond Iulia Manolache Nadir Tamuz Tudor Toduț Over-25s (Cheloo) Iulia Glăvan Ioan Mann Natalia Selegean Tudor Turcu Dragoș Udilă Groups (Matache) 2B Nord X R Family Red Station 4
Results summary Color key –Contestant was in the bottom three and had to sing again in the final showdown –Contestant was in the bottom three but received the fewest votes and was immediately eliminated –Contestant received the fewest public votes and was immediately eliminated (no final showdown) –Contestant received the most public votes
+ Weekly results per contestant Contestant Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Round 1 Round 2 Tudor TurcuSafeSafeSafeSafeSafeSafe SafeWinner Ioana Anuța SafeSafeSafeSafeSafeSafeSafeRunner-up Natalia SelegeanSafeSafeSafeSafeBottom 3Bottom 3 3rd Eliminated (Week 7) RedSafeSafeBottom 3SafeSafeBottom 3 Eliminated (Week 6) Dragoș UdilăSafeSafeSafeBottom 3Safe 5th Eliminated (Week 6) Ioan MannSafeSafeSafeSafeBottom 3 Eliminated (Week 5) Iulia ManolacheSafeSafeSafeSafe 7th Eliminated (Week 5) Nord XSafeSafeSafeBottom 3 Eliminated (Week 4) Tudor ToduțSafeBottom 3Safe 9th Eliminated (Week 4) Nadir TamuzSafeSafeBottom 3 Eliminated (Week 3) Ráduly BotondSafeSafe 11th Eliminated (Week 3) Station 4Bottom 3Bottom 3 Eliminated (Week 2) 2BSafe 13th Eliminated (Week 2) Iulia GlăvanBottom 3 Eliminated (Week 1) R Family 15th Eliminated (Week 1) Final showdown Iulia Glăvan,Station 4 Station 4,Tudor Toduț Nadir Tamuz,Red Dragoș Udilă,Nord X Natalia Selegean,Ioan Mann Natalia Selegean,Red No judges' vote or final showdown: public votes alone decide who is eliminated and who ultimately wins Bittman's vote to eliminateIulia Glăvan Station 4 Red Nord X Natalia Selegean Red Matache's vote to eliminateIulia Glăvan Tudor Toduț Nadir Tamuz Dragoș Udilă Ioan MannNatalia Selegean Cheloo's vote to eliminateStation 4 Station 4 Nadir Tamuz Nord XIoan Mann Red Eliminated R Family Public vote 2B Public vote Ráduly Botond Public vote Tudor Toduț Public vote Iulia ManolachePublic vote Dragoș UdilăPublic vote Natalia SelegeanPublic vote to win Ioana AnuțaPublic voteto win Iulia Glăvan 2 of 3 Votes Majority Station 4 2 of 3 Votes Majority Nadir Tamuz 2 of 3 Votes Majority Nord X 2 of 3 Votes Majority Ioan Mann 2 of 3 Votes Majority Red 2 of 3 Votes Majority
Live shows Owing to the addition of four wildcard contestants, two acts were eliminated from the series' first results show. The three acts with the fewest votes were announced as the bottom three and the act with the fewest public votes was then automatically eliminated. The remaining two acts then performed in the final showdown for the judges' votes.
Week 1 (11 November) Theme: Live Band Group performance(s): "Party Rock Anthem", "We Found Love", "Give Me Everything", "The Edge of Glory" Musical Guest: Alesha Dixon ("The Boy Does Nothing", "Scandalous")
+ Contestants' performances on the first live show Act Order Song Result Red 1 "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" Safe Tudor Toduț 2 "Viva la Vida" Safe Iulia Glăvan 3 "Give It to Me Right" Bottom three Station 4 4 "Use Somebody" Bottom three Ioana Anuța 5 "Do It Like a Dude" Safe Dragoș Udilă 6 "Haven't Met You Yet" Safe R Family 7 "Tubthumping" Eliminated Ráduly Botond 8 "Whataya Want from Me" Safe Ioan Mann 9 "Only Girl (In the World)" Safe 2B 10 "Playing with Fire" Safe Nadir Tamuz 11 "Breakeven" Safe Tudor Turcu 12 "How You Remind Me" Safe Nord X 13 "Somebody That I Used to Know" Safe Iulia Manolache 14 "Set Fire to the Rain" Safe Natalia Selegean 15 "Born This Way" Safe Final showdown details Station 4 1 "What Makes You Beautiful" Safe Iulia Glăvan 2 "I'm Outta Love" Eliminated
Judges' votes to eliminate Cheloo: Station 4 – backed his own act, Iulia Glăvan Matache: Iulia Glăvan – backed her own act, Station 4 Bittman: Iulia Glăvan – thought they have many flaws and Iulia has a great voice, Station 4 should be given a chance because they are young and inexperienced
Week 2 (18 November) Theme: Love and Hate Group performance(s): "Sweet Child o' Mine", "Crazy Crazy Nights", "Highway to Hell", "We Will Rock You", "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" Musical Guest: Loreen ("Euphoria", "My Heart Is Refusing Me")
+ Contestants' performances on the second live show Act Order Song Result Natalia Selegean 1 "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" Safe Nadir Tamuz 2 "Valerie" Safe Red 3 "Free Your Mind" Safe Tudor Turcu 4 "Here Without You" Safe Iulia Manolache 5 "Euphoria" Safe 2B 6 "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely" Eliminated Dragoș Udilă 7 "Roxanne" Safe Ioana Anuța 8 "Crazy" Safe Station 4 9 "I'll Be There for You" Bottom three Tudor Toduț 10 "You Give Love a Bad Name" Bottom three Ioan Mann 11 "She's the One" Safe Ráduly Botond 12 "Pink" Safe Nord X 13 "Smells Like Teen Spirit" Safe Final showdown details Station 4 1 "Call Me Maybe" Eliminated Tudor Toduț 2 "Jar of Hearts" Safe
Judges' votes to eliminate Cheloo: Station 4 – He complained that two of the band members have a lack of talent Matache: Tudor Toduț – backed her own act, Station 4 Bittman: Station 4 – backed his own act, Tudor Toduț
Week 3 (25 November) Theme: Dance Music Group performance(s): "Rain Over Me", "Starships", "Only Girl (In the World)", "Moves like Jagger" Musical Guest: Alexis Jordan ("Happiness", "Good Girl")
+ Contestants' performances on the third live show Act Order Song Result Ráduly Botond 1 "Let Me Entertain You" Eliminated Ioana Anuța 2 "Where Have You Been" Safe Nord X 3 "Perfect" Safe Dragoș Udilă 4 "Rolling in the Deep" Safe Nadir Tamuz 5 "Yeah!" Bottom three Tudor Turcu 6 "Are You Gonna Go My Way" Safe Red 7 "Don't Stop the Music" Bottom three Iulia Manolache 8 "Titanium" Safe Ioan Mann 9 "Everything" Safe Tudor Toduț 10 "Paparazzi" Safe Natalia Selegean 11 "Dance Again" Safe Final showdown details Nadir Tamuz 1 "The Girl Is Mine" Eliminated Red 2 "Cannonball" Safe
Judges' votes to eliminate Cheloo: Nadir Tamuz – gave no reason Matache: Nadir Tamuz – backed her own act, Red Bittman: Red – backed his own act, Nadir Tamuz
Week 4 (2 December) Theme: Romanian music Group performance(s): "Miorița", Medley songs Holograf Musical Guests: Margareta Pâslaru ("Libertate"), Paraziții ("Arde", "Toate-s la fel"), Stela Enache ("Ani de liceu"), Class ("Adu-i doina", "Toată lumea")
+ Contestants' performances on the fourth live show Act Order Song ResultTudor Turcu 1 "Nunta" Safe Ioan Mann 2 "Ochii tăi" Safe Red 3 "De-ar fi să vii" Safe Ioana Anuța 4 "Pleacă" Safe Tudor Toduț 5 "Dac-ai ști" Eliminated Natalia Selegean 6 "Focul" Safe Dragoș Udilă 7 "Am bani de dat" Bottom three Nord X 8 "Fata din vis" Bottom three Iulia Manolache 9 "Dragostea rămâne" Safe Final showdown details Dragoș Udilă 1 "Get Up, Stand Up" Safe Nord X 2 "We Are Young" Eliminated
Judges' votes to eliminate Cheloo: Nord X – backed his own act, Dragoș Udilă Matache: Dragș Udilă – backed her own act, Nord X Bittman: Nord X – stated that Dragoș Udilă had delivered better performance throughout the night
Week 5 (8 December) Theme: Michael Jackson vs. Elvis Presley Musical Guests: Bonnie Tyler ("It's a Heartache", "Total Eclipse of the Heart"), Craig Harrison ("Bad", "Smooth Criminal")
+ Contestants' performances on the fifth live show Act Order First song Order Second song Result Tudor Turcu 1 "Jailhouse Rock" 8 "Black or White" Safe Dragoș Udilă 2 "The Way You Make Me Feel" 9 "Heartbreak Hotel" Safe Ioana Anuța 3 "Blue Suede Shoes" 10 "Billie Jean" Safe Red 4 "You're Not Alone" 11 "It's Now or Never" Safe Natalia Selegean 5 "Suspicious Minds" 12 "Give in to Me" Bottom three Iulia Manolache 6 "Thriller" 13 "Can't Help Falling in Love" Eliminated Ioan Mann 7 "Always on My Mind" 14 "Human Nature" Bottom three Final showdown details Ioan Mann 1 "Mandy" Eliminated Natalia Selegean 2"Soulmate" Safe
Judges' votes to eliminate Matache: Ioan Mann – backed Natalia Selegean "as a woman" Bittman: Natalia Selegean – stated that Ioan Mann was the only contestant who made him cry Cheloo: Ioan Mann – stated that Ioan Mann's path had to end here
Week 6 (16 December) Theme: Free Choice / Mentor's Choice Group performance(s): "Celebration", "We Are Family", "Boogie Wonderland", "I Will Survive" Musical Guest: Johnny Logan ("Hold Me Now", "What's Another Year"), Delia Matache ("Someone like You")
+ Contestants' performances on the sixth live show Act Order First song Order Second song Result Dragoș Udilă 1 "Gone till November" 6 "Zaraza" Eliminated Red 2 "Le Le" 7 "Empire State of Mind" Bottom three Ioana Anuța 3 "Epilog" 8 "Lady Marmalade" Safe Natalia Selegean 4"So What" 9"Tu n-ai avut curaj" Bottom three Tudor Turcu 5 "Dincolo de nori" 10 "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" Safe Final showdown detailsRed 1 "Stand Up for Love" EliminatedNatalia Selegean 2 "You and I" Safe
Judges' votes to eliminate Cheloo: Red – backed his own act, Natalia Selegean Matache: Natalia Selegean – backed her own act, Red Bittman: Red – stated that Natalia Selegean was more impressive
Week 7 (23 December) Theme: Audition Songs, Christmas songs, Duet songs Group performance(s): "Merry Christmas Everyone"