Baltimore wins X Factor 2021. The young man from Ancona, 20 years old, born Edoardo Spinsante, conquered the public from home and won the season by beating the last gIANMARIA, given as the favorite from the beginning. With him it was a head to head that went on until the last note, in front of 5,700 people gathered at the Assago Forum. Tears, emotions, flames and twists set the pace for this finale of the Fremantle Sky show, the first with the public in attendance in the post Covid era.
The evening gets off to a flying start with Maneskin, who, four years after their debut at the X Factor, return to inflame the public to the tune of ‘Beggin’, ‘I wanna be your slave,’ Mamma mia ‘and’ Zitti e buona ‘. And then Coldplay, super international guests with their ‘My Universe’ and ‘Higher Power’. After a choreography to the notes of Underworld’s ‘Born Slippy’ the show comes alive with the presenter Ludovico Tersigni who takes stock: “This is the final of X Factor and they are the finalists” shouts the calling on stage gIANMARIA, Baltimore, Bengala Fire and Fellow, and their four judges Emma, Hell Raton, Manuel Agnelli and Mika who say they are “happy” with this final. “Paraphrasing Lucio Dalla – says Manuel Agnelli – I hope that tonight is the evening of miracles, it is already a miracle that we are all here together”.
The first heat, that of duets, sees the four finalists each flanked by their own judge. The first to go on stage is Fellow who sings ‘Underwater’ by his favorite artist Mika, duet with his judge. It is then the turn of Baltimore with its judge Hell Raton, who proposes ‘Otherside’ by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Emma and gIANMARIA perform on the notes of ‘On our relationship’, a 1978 piece by the very first Vasco Rossi. Manuel Agnelli and his Bengala Fire close with ‘In Between Days’ by The Cure. At the end the first eliminated: to leave the stage is Fellow, from Turin, 20 years old. “It was all incredible,” he says excitedly.
The second heat sees the three remaining in the race compete with the ‘best of’. Bengala Fire starts, lighting up the stage by proposing the mash-up between ‘Sunny Afternoon’ by The Kinks and ‘Chelsea Dagger’ by The Fratellis, ‘Making Plans for Nigel’ by Xtc and ‘Girls & Boys’ by Blur, ripping more of a consent. “Great energy, you did a good job and the audience was in a frenzy,” says Emma. Manuel Agnelli is “very proud” of his champions: “These guys started from a small town in the Veneto – he remembers – getting involved and blew up the whole Forum, this in a month and a half, just think what else they can do “.
It is then the turn of gIANMARIA, who summarizes her path with an exceptional triptych: ‘Rimmel’ by Francesco De Gregori, ‘Jenny is crazy’ by Vasco Rossi and ‘I’m fine’ by Cccp. For his performance the judges have no doubts: “He showed up at the auditions and didn’t even know where the boundaries of the stage were – says Mika – now it’s incredible, this path is just the beginning of something longer. If you do a concert in six months I’ll be there ”. Manuel Agnelli does not skimp on compliments: “You enjoyed it, you have charisma and sympathy, you are a real talent and you have an expressive maturity for your 19 years which is really rare” his opinion.
Finally, Baltimora performs with its trio of songs: ‘A man who loves you’ by Lucio Battisti, ‘Words of butter’ by Carmen Consoli and ‘Turning Table’ by Adele. “You brought a beautiful show tonight,” admits Emma. “Happy and proud” his judge Hell Raton: “Bravo, bravo bravo” he says. And that is enough to convince the home crowd that decrees the winners of the second heat: Bengala Fire comes out, the challenge is now two between gIANMARIA and Baltrimora. The last heat, the final, is dedicated to the original songs of the two still competing, which the artists presented during these weeks: ‘Altro’ and ‘Baltimora’ for Baltimora, the first to perform, ” I Suicidi ‘ and ‘Without Saliva’ for gIANMARIA. The opinion for him is unanimous: “You are special, it is not a question of song or beauty – says Manuel Agnelli -. You do special things out of here and I can’t wait to hear from you”. The final verdict, however, is up to the public, who crowns Baltimore. (by Federica Mochi)