Factor X (Spain)

Factor X is the Spanish version of the British X Factor. The show, which is aired at Spanish TV channel Cuatro, follows the British format of Series 2-3, with three categories, mentored by one judge each, whom choose the acts to represent the category in the live shows. The judges are singer and DJ Miqui Puig, headhunter Eva Perales and music radio producer Jorge Flo. Nuria Roca hosts the show. The first series was won by María Villalon. The second series is currently being broadcast.

First series

The first series, started its run on Sunday 13 May 2007. The show was then broadcast nightly with 'Los Castings' (the auditions), which lasted until 20 May 2007. From the 21 May until the 27 May 2007 'La Selección Final' (final selection) was shown, again nightly. On 28 May 'Las Galas' (live shows) began.

The categories and acts were as follows

Post - Factor X

A few weeks after the first series ended, eventual winner María Villalon released a debut EP entitled "María Villalon", an album with all the songs she sang whilst in the competition. A few months later, she released her debut album "Te Espero Aquí", which made the Spanish top 40 album chart, just like her debut Lp did. But she wasn't the only one who received a record deal, runner-up Angy released her debut self-titled album (with the artisic name Angy) a couple of weeks after Villalon's debut album release. She also began an acting career starring in the teen drama television series "Física y Química", aired on Antena 3. 3rd placed Walter released a single, but it didn't see much success. Angy's debut single 'Sola En Silencio' was a major hit across Spain, making the top 20 in spanish Los 40 Principales. In turn, Maria Villalon's first two singles 'Aguita De Abril' and 'Te Espero Aqui' failed to gain chart stardom. So far, Angy's debut album has sold more than Maria Villalon's.

Months after the contest finished, 6th placed Leire Martínez's popularity boosted as she was chosen to replace Amaia Montero as the new lead singer of La Oreja de Van Gogh, one of the best-selling pop bands in Spain and Latin America. [http://www.elpais.com/articulo/cultura/Leyre/Martinez/presenta/nueva/cantante/Oreja/Van/Gogh/elpepucul/20080714elpepucul_5/Tes] Her first album with the band, "A las cinco en el Astoria", was released on September 2 2008 reaching the number-one spot in the Spanish charts.

8th placed Ailyn submitted a song to "Salvemos Eurovisión", the Spanish selection for the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest, but failed to get to the final round. She was later chosen to be the new female vocalist of the Norwegian Gothic Metal band Sirenia.

References

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External links

* [http://www.cuatro.com/microsites/factorx/ Official site] es icon
* [http://www.cuatro.com/participacion/casting/casting.html?type=Tes&xref=20070202ctoultpro_5 Cuatro casting call page] es icon