Did they want to put on a bigger show? They put on a bigger show. And when you have such mastery of the stage, after less than two decades on this planet, you don't lose your bearings even when a technical glitch turns your voice into Donald Duck's.
Sassari's Mad-Dog open the X Factor Live show for the second consecutive year, performing Simon & Garfunkel's punk-rock, slightly grunge-tinged version of "Mrs. Robinson" by The Lemonheads. Jacket, shirt, and tie, a retro 1960s elegance tinged with the haunted looks of 17-year-old Renato Marchisio, vocals and guitar. With Davide Dore, bass, 18, Jacopo Sale, drums, 21, and Luca Pintus, guitar, 20 , they set Milan's Allianz Cloud on fire , surrounded by a choreography reminiscent of "The Graduate," the 1967 cult film starring Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft that made this song even more iconic. Perfect, because from now on, while remaining four serious and dutiful high school and university students, they proclaim themselves to be unconventional.
The desire to raise the bar had already emerged during the Daily, when, watching their first performance, Kasabian's "Club Foot," they said they were satisfied but with a hint of desire to amaze. "It seems like a music video, but we want to move more." Because tomorrow at X Factor is unpredictable, they want to take it all in, this opportunity: "We might never realize we were here, not even when we get out."
A special hostess introduces them. Paola Iezzi, dressed as an X Factor Airlines flight attendant, announces the departure of the plane from Sassari to Milan Linate . The Mum-Dogs are also in the audience, a regular fixture with the banner: "Our four dark-haired rockers, vote for them." The performance flows smoothly, until the evening's little mystery arrives. Renato's voice suddenly changes pitch, becoming high-pitched and caricature-like for a few seconds, before returning to normal . It seems like a carefully planned effect, but instead it's judge Paola who solves the mystery: "A technical problem. My compliments to the sound engineers; setbacks can happen, but I hope it doesn't happen again."
A glitch that doesn't affect anything, as the other judges confirm. Irama: "Filled, cohesive, it's a pleasure to hear you play. Top assignment." Francesco Gabbani gives them another thumbs-up, appreciating their look, halfway between the Beatles and the Swedish band The Hives. They're mistaken for Bee Hive, the fictional Japanese band that drove fans wild on the series "Kiss Me Licia." And even Jake La Furia, particularly critical of other contestants tonight, has nothing to say about them: "I reiterate the wonderful things I've been telling you since the first time I saw you. A perfect wall of sound."
Paola Iezzi is once again "very proud." And once again, the runoff doesn't worry the four Sardinians: it will be a problem for Lenanie, the 26-year-old from Prato on Irama's team. The plane that took off from Sassari is ready to land at the third live event.