The Signing (2023–…): Season 1, Episode 1 - The Competition Begins - full transcript
In front of you are 12
record label contracts.
But only one of you will be signed
and become an official Neon16 artist.
The moment you sign the contract,
the competition begins.
There are a lot of people with talent,
but we're looking for the best artists
in the world here.
When they ask me, "Hey, are you tired?"
I say, "No."
"How could I be tired of being here, bro?
I'm living my ."
I'm tired of being poor, man.
Of seeing my mom wake up every morning
to keep working and struggling.
Honestly, I'm here to give my family
the best and achieve my dream.
Really.
As judges, we'll be analyzing
everything you do.
You'll have to go into the studio
every day to create new songs.
The best producers
will be working with you.
There are very few people
with something to say.
It should be real.
When you write, write what
you're really feeling in your heart.
Stay for me
Yeah
-It's gonna be tough.
-Let's kill it today!
Make some noise!
This is the first time
I've sung my own song.
That song had no chemistry.
After listening to the others,
I felt like this one...
-Yes. Even worse.
-It went down.
Your mistakes can cost you
the chance of a lifetime.
You won't be signed.
Your contract has been terminated.
That's how it is, brother.
And we got excited, just to realize...
it was for nothing.
-Is it personal?
-Yes.
Because if I'm the devil,
you're the angel.
Obviously. Listen to me.
Let's show them what you've got.
The boy comes from the patio
He grew up in the heat
From his grandma's house
To school in a motor
In his heart he wears a multicolored flag
D.R. in the house
Until the sun goes down
Even though delinquency abounds
Due to lack of education
And the governments steal from us
Instead of caring for the nation
Our hearts are always happy
Even without soup
We never lose the seasoning
So we're in the D.R.
D.R.
Yo
I've never seen a show
with so much talent.
It's not just what the song conveyed,
but what you conveyed.
It must've been very difficult
to write this.
I know you didn't write it just for
the performance, but that came naturally.
And that's exactly what we're looking for.
Let's get signed.
-We're gonna make it. Yes.
-We're gonna make it. Yes.
Wait.
Wait.
Listen.
THE SIGNING
MIAMI, USA
The force is a shaman
And I ring the bell
And if we're talking about food
No one beats us here
What makes The Signing unique
is we're not just looking for talent,
but for artists who have something to say.
Fam, The Signing auditions just came in.
I just sent them over to you,
there's lots of talent.
I'll see you at The Signing.
"PRODUCER OF THE YEAR"
THREE TIME WINNER
Bro, I'm looking at the auditions
and I'm really surprised.
This is what we're looking for.
WINNER OF TWO SPOTIFY AWARDS
Lex, I sent you the ones I liked most.
Okay, send me some as well
and we'll take it from there. Bye.
MORE THAN 20 MILLION ALBUMS SOLD
LATIN GRAMMY AWARD WINNER
They have lots of talent,
lots of potential.
This is going to be dope.
This is going to be next-level, so...
Hey!
I was born in a neighborhood called
Villa Soldati. I still live there today.
Every time my mom sees me
achieving one of my goals,
she almost always starts to cry.
She sees the reflection
of what she couldn't do.
And she's happy I can achieve it.
It's all right, honey. Don't worry.
I just have to go to work, that's all.
I'd like to be my own boss someday, but...
My mom was a ballerina.
When she got pregnant
with my older brother,
she had to leave those dreams behind
because it wasn't easy for her.
Seeing my mom working every day
in a job she didn't like...
She always knew
I'd go on to do what I like doing.
When things aren't going well,
you don't understand.
You don't understand, and you say,
"Why? Why this, why that?"
But when nice things come along in life,
you say, "It was all worth it."
I'm going to give my mom another life.
I think I'm going to step on that stage
conscious of everything I'm saying.
What's up, my people?
It's Captain Yandel here with Lex.
We're here to tell you
you were chosen to be part of The Signing.
See you in Miami.
No.
I love you.
Bye, sweetheart, take care.
I don't know what's wrong with me.
I feel very sensitive.
I'm ready, I'm hopping on the plane.
I hope this is the only time
you see me cry on the show.
How can I be going from the countryside
to Miami?
MIAMI, USA
NEON16 OFFICE
Arriving at the Neon offices
feels amazing. It's like living a dream.
RECORD LABEL FOUNDED BY
LEX BORRERO AND TAINY
I imagined a photo of me,
and under it a sign saying, "Neon16."
Welcome.
Man, who has been here?
Who has sat here? Who was signed here?
To win The Signing, they need
their own essence. To be original.
Discipline, creativity, focus.
That person must transmit what
they're imagining, what they're doing.
So I see it and say,
What makes The Signing unique
is we're not just looking for talent,
but for artists who have something to say.
And to stand out, you have to be original.
Neon16 are visionary people.
They're the best producers.
Welcome to Neon16.
In front of you are 12
record label contracts.
But only one of you will be signed
and become an official Neon16 artist.
Feel the weight of that pen.
Because the moment you sign the contract,
the competition begins.
Being on The Signing
is a huge challenge for me.
Because if I win, I will have achieved
what I've always been searching for.
Why wait?
Let's get signed.
Reading the contract and signing it
makes you realize this is your future,
it could happen.
My hands are shaking because of everything
that can happen from this point on.
You're staying
in one of the best mansions in Miami.
But remember, this is not a vacation.
Welcome to The Signing.
I just signed a contract,
now I need their signature.
So we have to work hard
in this competition to make it happen,
and kill it on stage.
I'm from Hermosillo, Sonora.
The music trend there is mostly northern,
a lot of regional music.
I've been drawn to that sound
since I was a kid.
I didn't see much opportunity
in Hermosillo.
That's why I decided
to come to Mexico City.
I came with my suitcase,
figured I'd see where I'd end up.
And that's when I said,
"I want to be different."
So we put together all the music trends
I've listened to in my life.
MOSMO, 23
In the end,
I decided to explore urban regional music.
And from there I can create my own sound.
Put in a tuba there.
You're the drug, I'm your addict
Up to there, it's all purely regional.
-But then, suddenly...
-Boom! Pretty tropical, man.
Being an urban artist
is complicated in my country
because I feel
it's still not fully accepted.
Participating in The Signing will give me
a means of expression.
Putting down Mexican roots in urban music.
I don't think it's been
fully taken advantage of yet.
I think it's up to me to rise
to the challenge.
I have that responsibility.
I just have to do it.
THE SIGNING HOUSE
Wow!
-The house!
-Look, how nice.
Where are the rooms? This way or that way?
Where are they? Where?
It's taken.
No. So?
Everyone's emotions
are running high right now.
But I think this is a time to be calm
because we know that emotions, anxiety,
and being hyped
can cause problems among contestants.
And we just got here, imagine.
I already picked my room!
So don't bother me.
It's super cool.
I hope we really enjoy it,
and focus on making music.
I'm not that used to being around
so many people.
It's a very weird feeling.
Lots of excitement,
but, at the same time,
it's a very big challenge.
There's a little nook near our bedroom...
-Yes, next to it.
-To chill.
'Cause my social battery will run out.
-We'll take turns.
-Everyone's very...
And I'm like, "I'm scared."
At about 14 or 15, I began to upload
the first covers that I sang.
I did it as a hobby, but out of nowhere,
I got my first thousand followers
from different countries.
Even though there were many good comments,
there were also some negative reactions,
or as it's called now, "hate."
They laughed and mocked me.
The kinds of things that,
when you're 15
and figuring out your identity,
make you question yourself a lot,
your talent, your image,
and everything they comment on.
Being on The Signing
is like seeing a little light
at the end of an uncertain road.
It's a reaffirmation that this is
what I should do with my life.
-There he is, chilling.
-This one's mine, nobody's getting it.
We need to talk about the beds.
Because there are only ten.
-And...
-There are only ten?
-There are only ten and we're twelve.
-Who doesn't have a bed?
It's debatable. I got here first.
Nobody is moving me.
Everybody chose a room,
but we realized there are only ten beds,
and we're 12 contestants, so,
apparently, two will be leaving.
Okay, people, let's be clear.
Two won't be staying.
So let's not make up our minds
until two get eliminated. Okay?
I wanted to scream, but I can't scream.
Yandel is Yandel.
I love your energy. I like it.
He's the bomb.
Nicki Nicole is one of
my favorite artists. It's crazy!
It's so exciting
to think I'll be able to learn from her.
Rauw Alejandro is a phenomenon.
He writes, produces,
dances, and does his little twerk.
Rauw Alejandro.
Obviously, he's an icon right now.
To me,
he's the personification of success.
As you can see, the best in the industry
are right in front of you.
Impressing us won't be easy.
-I'm getting scared already.
-As judges, we'll be watching what you do.
You'll all face challenges
to test your talent.
Because this is not just about
a pretty voice or some nice bars.
In addition to the challenges,
you'll need to be in the studio every day,
creating songs with themes that we,
the judges, will pick.
After you make the songs,
you'll have to sing them live.
It's gonna get real, you know.
You'll perform for us
in the best clubs in Miami, so...
It's up to you to give it your all
or lose it all.
In the challenges, in the studio,
and with the performances. So stay alert.
And remember, even though you're in Miami,
this is a competition.
Wow.
It's on!
Bye!
Ah! Oh, I forgot one thing...
Get ready for tonight because
you'll be singing at club E11EVEN.
It's your first performance.
See you there.
I'll leave you with that.
What makes The Signing unique
is that the tracks are new.
They're not singing anyone else's songs.
They'll be locked in the studio working.
Today they'll perform at E11EVEN,
one of the hottest clubs in Miami,
with unique songs they created
before arriving here.
Let's see if they do deserve to be here.
Because two are getting eliminated today.
Dreams are starting
to come true little by little.
Let's smash it today!
Let's go get changed.
I never imagined
standing next to all the judges.
A couple of days ago I was at home.
SANTO DOMINGO,
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
The Dominican Republic,
my country, is a pretty interesting one...
from its music to its celebrities.
Music appealed to me really early on,
starting when I was about two years old.
What first caught my attention
musically was a drummer.
That's what made me go,
"Wow, that's cool."
My grandfather noticed that.
The interest I had in music,
for the drums.
So he took a metal pot
and removed the handle.
Then, he put a stick in the center
to make a sound like...
-I have a surprise for you.
-What?
The rest of the drum kit
I made for you when you began...
-Yeah.
-...back then.
This is important for me.
Not just to win a prize,
but so that my family
knows I'm fighting for my dream.
It's important, because this is a dream
I've had for as long as I can remember.
THE SIGNING HOUSE
We're giving it our all today.
Getting to go to Miami and live
in a mansion is a dream for anybody.
But at the end of the day,
they'll have to show what they're made of.
We'll see if their dreams continue,
or if they go home.
This is important to me because
it's the dream I've had since I was five.
I've been working since before I was ten
because I saw that we needed things,
normal things, to put it one way.
I feel like this is a big opportunity
for me to help my family somehow.
I'm fighting for a dream I've always had.
I will dedicate everything I achieve here
to my mom.
Tonight, the contestants are going
to perform live for us.
It'll be their own songs
which we've never heard.
It'll be the first time they perform,
and we hear their music.
Are you ready, Miami?
Welcome to The Signing.
With you tonight,
one of the most important artists
in the world right now.
Rauw Alejandro!
She raps and sings.
Representing Generation Z
from the Southern Cone,
Nicki Nicole!
One of the most influential
creative minds,
Lex Borrero!
From Puerto Rico, the legend Y.
Yandel!
The producer and number one hit-maker,
Tainy!
Tainy.
What does an artist have to do to get
the attention of a producer like you?
Well, what's most important
is to see who they are.
The more of their qualities
we get see on stage,
the easier for me to see what I can do
with these artists in the studio,
To see how I can bring the best
out of them.
These artists better do their best
because impressing us won't be easy.
Otherwise, they'll go home tonight.
Wow! You heard him!
I feel very nervous right now.
I feel like I'm dying.
Jesus, I want to go on. I need to go on.
Stay calm until they call us,
then smash it. Because we're ready.
I'm impatient. I want to go now.
I live on stage.
Twenty-six years of dreams and struggles.
And I hope they like my music,
because this is really everything
I have inside.
From Medellín, Colombia.
Please give a round of applause
for Nati Boulier!
Hi!
Hi!
This song is called "False Promises."
I hope you enjoy it.
You know what?
Everything froze if we were alone
"FALSE PROMISES"
But it'd be easier if you had told me
What you wanted
And that it wasn't the same as me
In the end, it was all fucked up
But it doesn't weigh on me
If it doesn't interest you
There are no broken hearts
And even though I mess up
I won't buy any more
Of those false promises
Now you feel
How it feels
That's why it hurts you
To know that it no longer weighs on me
If it doesn't interest me
There are no broken hearts
And even though I mess up
I won't buy any more
Of those false promises
Colombian pride.
That's how I Iike it, celebrating.
You're a pro on stage.
I've always backed up other artists,
and this is the first time
in my life I've sung
a song of my own, performing as Nati.
And it feels beautiful.
Nati, like I said. You're a pro on stage.
But I have to say I didn't love the song.
I loved your energy.
But I didn't feel touched
by the melody in the chorus.
Tainy, she took a musical risk
making this song. Speak up.
Well, I can see there's a lot
you can do with your voice.
You can go up, you can go down,
you can make it a bit softer,
you can give your voice more strength.
But I didn't see much of that
in this song.
Make it more dynamic.
Maybe get soft and low a bit.
And maybe then you can bring it up
to a higher range.
So, keep that in mind.
Thanks. Thank you so much.
I feel like she gave us one percent
of what she can really give.
Exactly.
From Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico.
Please give a round of applause for Mosmo!
Hello, good evening.
Thanks. Wow.
Wow. It's so exciting to be here.
Drop it, DJ.
Baby, when I'm with you
I feel better than anyone
I'd be loyal to that ass
If you'd just give me the chance
"GIRL"
I've only thought about those lips
Since you kissed me
And if the party goes south
I won't forget to have a blast
Girl, you've got me in my bed
Lying back, imagining you
Like happiness
Everyone always wants to have you
Out of seven days
I think I spend eight imagining you
I'm drinking to forget you
And what I do is remember you
Thank you.
I feel like your performance
was incredible.
How you came onstage and looked at each
of us during every part of the song.
That makes every person
in the audience feel special.
Like, "He's looking at me, he sees me,
I can't believe it." That's so important.
The song is a hit.
-Yes, it's really good.
-The song's great.
But it still needs...
Maybe you could transform those nerves
into your strength to push forward.
But it's amazing.
-Thanks, Nicki, I'm a big fan of yours.
-Thank you so much.
Mosmo.
Nerves and falsetto don't get along.
But you did good. Keep it up.
Thank you, thank you all.
The song was really good, seriously.
And he came in
looking right at you, for real.
-With confidence.
-With confidence.
He does a falsetto easily.
From Argentina... Wanda Original!
Thanks.
-Thank you.
-Let's go!
It's an honor for me to be here,
because I've always dreamed of this.
I've always had a plan in my head
to leave my country.
I dream about it all the time.
At 12 or 13, I began to write.
Then I started to realize
that I wanted to sing.
I wanted to be in studios, to record.
I said, "Let's find a way to grow."
There were no recording studios
in the small town where I lived.
So I told my mom,
"I'm sorry, but I'm leaving."
Being an artist in Argentina is hard,
especially if you're a woman.
You go into a studio and get hit on,
you can't work in peace,
you feel uncomfortable.
Being here is a privilege.
Win or lose.
I think I can achieve a lot with my music.
For a while I've been surfing
On a wave of anguish
"LET'S GO TO SPACE"
Not having you by my side
Scares me
You know, girl, put your seatbelt on
Let's go to space to smoke a blunt
Get away from the people
For a better life
No problems in space
Just you and me
Shorty, sorry
However much you insist
You look like a magazine model
You look super original with your Adidas
I'd rather sing to pass the days
They don't compare
You're simpler
You know I want to see you
You know, girl
You know how it is
Argentina's representing hard.
Let's go to space to smoke a blunt
Get away from the people
For a better life
Get in my car
Yeah
Just you and me
Yeah
Just you and me
Thank you very much.
I'm speechless.
Honestly, I saw you come onstage,
and I never imagined
you would smash it so hard. I mean...
Hell yeah.
Honestly, I loved it.
I feel like you have a unique flow.
It's not because we're Argentinian,
but honestly...
Thanks.
I saw the judges, they were all like this.
And I went,
"Yo, this is really good, right?"
-It's awesome, right?
-It's awesome.
Thanks, Rauw.
-So, keep on killing it.
-Hell yeah. Thank you.
Thanks so much. Thanks, everybody.
-We weren't expecting that.
-No, I wasn't expecting that at all.
Hey, dude,
I feel like we found one of the...
-Exactly.
-It was incredible.
The bar is high now, it's really high.
STEFANO TOLLER, 24
It's inevitable we'll see each other again
It's not good but maybe we can't stop it
This time don't let me go
Come and hold me tight
You don't know the trouble
You caused in me
Peru, right?
Yes, Peru.
There are very few artists
who come from Peru in the urban genre.
You could be one of the first.
Thank you so much.
Yandel, the living legend, just told you
you could represent your country.
You understand the pressure that brings.
But, you know,
the song wasn't enough for me.
You have to make sure that the music is
at a higher level than that.
Because I think you can take it there.
Thank you so much.
I say what I think, don't kill me.
-Yes.
-Nicki, don't kill me.
-You're terrible.
-Someone has to get cut.
Good evening!
GIGI SALDAÑA, 25
We're pumped, my people.
A pleasure to be here with you.
To the street
Let loose
"FULL MOON"
With money in our wallets
We don't go with just anyone
We're all hot
They're all burning
To the street
Let loose
With money in our wallets
We don't go with just anyone
We're all hot
They're all burning
You have... It's in your blood, girl.
You're Boricua.
Boricuas are what's up.
You're a natural performer,
and you were confident.
Ever since I met you
at the house I've felt that.
It's very important to be confident.
I like what you're doing,
so congratulations.
How's it going, my people in Miami?
Make some noise!
Yo
I was going to screw you last night
In answer to your story
But I saw you made a post with him
And I felt regret
"BY YOUR HOUSE"
All the videos we filmed
I've got on repeat
Girl, if you were a bet
I'd be the casino
I lost it all
No one will eat you like...
How does it go?
I passed by your house
To see if I'd see you
We lost the trust
But not the desire
To fool around
Brother, I think you have
an amazing talent. For real.
-Thank you.
-Your voice is... high-pitched.
With time, you'll be able
to tighten those bolts.
There is a big difference
between being a good writer
and being an artist.
You should work on how
you reflect as an artist from now on,
because you've got the music.
You know what you're doing.
Thank you very much, my people.
I'm very flirtatious.
They say I'm like a Kardashian
and I feel very proud of that.
I know where I'm from
"SAY, GIRL"
I carry the sun in my blood
You feel it when I leave
I melt your heart
And all the boys die for me
They say, "Girl, gimme, gimme"
They're not drunk but they tell the truth
He confesses he likes them natural
He says, "Girl, gimme, gimme"
They're not drunk but they tell the truth
He confesses he likes them natural
Thanks very much.
I feel like the sensuality
was well conveyed.
Very sexy, the moves, the whole...
However, I feel like your voice falls
into a different style of rhythm.
-But I like it, you're talented.
-Thank you.
I didn't connect with the song.
There are a lot of people with talent,
very few people with something to say.
And I'd like to see what
you're trying to tell me as an artist.
Thanks very much.
The only thing I'm worried about is
we had very little time to rehearse.
But I feel like that's the challenge.
JUÁREZ, MEXICO AND EL PASO, USA
WELCOME TO MEXICO
I live on the border.
I've always felt like
a person from two worlds.
I have my family in Mexico.
And on the weekdays,
from Monday to Friday,
I live in El Paso, Texas.
It's really nice to know
that you have the best of both worlds.
I do something
that I call "sad reggaeton."
I make music to twerk to while crying.
Because there's the dance beat,
but with a melody and lyrics
that make you want to cut your wrists.
I produce my beats,
I write my songs, I sing them.
I feel like one of the things
I have to work on musically is
how to present myself...
They tell me there's no way
"BAD DECISIONS"
This feeling of mine will die
It always does what it wants with me
It's got that, oh...
It makes me make bad decisions
It's got me hypnotized
It puts an abracadabra on me
It's got that, oh...
It's got that, oh...
It makes me make bad decisions
Thanks very much.
Thank you.
Tell me. Bad decisions.
Why did you want
to make a song about that?
I am, in my own words,
a nice girl, a goody-two-shoes.
But there are always temptations in life.
And they make you want
to bite the apple of...
of temptation.
I liked the dynamic of the song very much,
but you're lacking on stage.
Yes.
You have to work on your stage presence
so that your voice can be brought out.
Try to show me with your gaze or hands
what you're trying to say, you know?
Sorry, can you give her an example?
You started here, right?
You did this and I was like, "Okay."
Then you went over here.
After that you come over here with...
well, this.
It's a sexy song.
So you have to project sexiness,
you get me?
So then I'll be like, "Oh, shit."
"Who is that girl?" You get me?
I mean...
-Only here at The Signing...
-You smashed it.
...can you have Rauw Alejandro
teach you how to move on stage.
I know.
Thanks very much.
Nicki is throwing everybody...
Don't make me get up there.
I'm embarrassed, man.
I made you go up because I thought,
"He can dance, he'll show her some moves."
No, listen. Please, man.
What's up, how are you doing?
Well, I'm Nashy-Nashai
and this song is called "Look, Ma."
"Look, Ma."
The neighborhood played ball
Rhyming at mine
In the silence I heard
A ton of melodies
The teacher scolded me
For always being distracted
He didn't understand
That an artist was emerging
They said to me
Don't say that
No more of that
Don't fuck with me
Talent's not a business, bro
He sent her into the world
And my hand trembles
But I can cause an earthquake if I want to
Life's an uphill climb
After so many mistakes
I swear I understood
That it's not the summit that matters
What matters is the process
And how I climb it
Look, Ma
Look where I got to
I'm like the cassette in the '70s
Sounding how I once dreamed
I want to thank me
Second me, third me
The people who I trusted
When I didn't even trust myself
Because it's not an easy talent
To make a living from music
Art isn't a privilege
It's a way of existing
I can't shut up
If I have a lot to say
I've been told "No" a thousand times
Today I came for "Yes"
I came to be a hit
I dedicate this to those people
Who brought me here today
Who brought me here
Okay.
What were you going to say?
You have nothing to say.
-Great song. I loved it.
-Thank you.
You're one of
the two best artists I've seen tonight.
And you're both Argentinian.
Argentina in the house, baby.
You have the best mix
of what I like to hear.
Rap mixed with a very sweet voice
at the same time.
I feel like you have everything
to become what we're looking for.
-You can't deny that.
-A star.
Damn, this is too much.
Let's see what my friend Rauw thinks.
I didn't like it.
I loved it!
I liked it a lot, and I want to see you
reach the end of the competition.
Let's go!
Argentina. Killing it.
Man, Argentina has...
-It's not because I'm Argentinian.
-No, Argentina has serious power.
Incredible.
Hi, judges. How are you?
If you see me shaking a bit,
it's part of the choreography.
Don't worry. Drop it, DJ!
My goal is not to fit
Into what the mold decrees
"NOT MAINSTREAM"
It's overrated
Being a black sheep
Shines my shoes
Nah nah
Nah nah
"Howevers" always find me
I recycle them
I collect them
Not mainstream
Always the support
But I laugh more
They know my name
They know my story
Neither fame nor contacts
Just a pair of glories
I don't have many friends
I prefer to be with myself
I'm a bit utopian
With traces of nonsense
Not commercial
I like it better that way
Not commercial
Thank you!
Thanks very much!
Look, whenever you come on stage,
you have to give it your all.
And I'll tell you, if you were
the first artist I saw tonight
my reaction might be different,
but we're looking for
the best artists in the world here.
Thanks very much! Thanks to the audience!
From one to ten, be honest.
Right now, how nervous are you?
Zero. No nerves.
As long as you're calm,
doing your best, and giving it your all,
you're shining and vibrating high...
-That's it!
-Yes.
Vibrating high.
-That's it.
-You said it.
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
If I could sum up the story of my life
in one word,
it would be "passion."
Since birth,
I swore I'd be a soccer player.
I pictured myself representing Mexico
in a stadium full of people.
I fractured my heel.
That sank me into a deep depression.
During that dark time in my life,
all I did was shut myself inside
and make bad decisions.
I ended up in the hospital
with a really bad stomachache.
They removed my appendix.
It turned out it was cancerous.
Music really kept me company
at one of the hardest times in my life.
It held me, it snapped me out of it.
And from there my love and passion grew,
and I knew I wanted to do this
for the rest of my life.
So, here I am now,
with the same dream of being in a stadium,
but this time, singing.
I was trapped in the past so long
"GOING FOR THE MILLION"
I feel so many things
And in the end I stay quiet
So today, at last
I promised to finally make a change
And this time
The devil's not at my side
Like a virgin exorcised
Body cut
Abstinence, little by little
Is killing me
And though it's a bitch
To get out of the hole I find myself in
I'm deeply grateful
To have a beating heart
My absent mind
Looked for the present
This music thing comes to me naturally
An entity that
All of a sudden, to be pro-mind
Enters your veins
Your unconscious, it changes
I lived flying on pills
With music I survived
Now I think about money all day long
I promised my mother I'd get it for her
I didn't know what was born
When I arrive
That's how I spend the day
And suddenly this cool melody
My battery's been changed
Now I'm going to do my show
I have to be honest.
I didn't understand a thing.
Perhaps you could explain
your lyrics a little.
This song talks about
what I've been going through this year.
I've been sober for six months,
and it's about...
I love that you made it personal,
reflecting something you're going through.
But I'd like you to think about a sound
that reflects, from beginning to end,
everything you want to say to the audience
and what you want people to take from it.
We see you now, and we want you
to become the best version of yourself.
If you have that best version inside
and you don't bring it out here,
we won't be able to see it.
So it's really important
that you're able to show us
what you really... what I know you can do.
Thanks, Nicki.
Thank you, Miami!
We're still going!
From Chile, Diego Smith!
Hey! How are you, Miami? How's it going?
How's the energy? Hey!
I get up for you in the morning
"TEACHER"
I even run for the bus at the station
The other teacher always scolds me
And that's why I made this song for you
Teacher, if you want
You can teach me
Show me what I don't know
And I'll study
What? Yeah! Say it!
Everyone wants you
The whole school is on fire
Assign some homework
I want to study you
Study
There's chemistry
We also have biology
I know your psychology
But I like your anatomy class
You're so hot, girl
Hail Mary
Teacher, if you want
You can teach me
Show me what I don't know
And I'll study
Everyone wants you
The whole school is on fire
Assign some homework
I want to study you
Study
Thank you all very much.
-Diego. I had a blast, for real.
-Yes.
I had a blast.
As soon as you began
I felt the vibes, the energy.
That's very important.
You have it, that's clear.
Thanks very much, bro.
I liked the style of the song,
I liked your style, too,
which you carry well, like...
-a student, in a way.
-That was the idea.
-It's all thought out.
-D for Diego.
That's the best thing
about a complete artist,
who thinks about it all,
not just the song.
It's very good.
-Yeah.
-Thank you, really.
Diego, first of all, I'd like to have
your hair one day, because, you know,
I think it'd look good on me...
I'd look pretty sick.
You felt like an artist.
And that's what we're looking for.
A unique sound, a presence.
I want to see what else you have to offer.
And I want to see more of that hair.
Maybe you can lend me a little.
Well, the two Argentinians smashed it.
-Argentina's representing hard.
-And they're women, they represent me.
But if I look at them all together,
in terms of the live singing today,
-he doesn't...
-Not him.
Exactly, if you compare him with the rest,
it gets hard for him.
I feel the same about this girl.
-I feel that...
-Comparing her to the other girls.
Compared to the other girls,
she's lacking as an artist.
-This is The Signing.
-Yes.
We're not playing.
Do we all agree? Have we made a decision?
-Yes.
-All of us?
-Agreed.
-Are we clear?
Okay, Tony!
Call these three to the stage
and get me the contracts.
Here comes Tony.
Oh, man.
HEAD OF SECURITY
Mila.
Monique.
Dreamboy.
Come with me.
Everything in life
is an opportunity to learn and grow.
And I think that's the reason
why we made this show.
So that you can grow
and take the next step in your career.
But at the end of the day,
this is a competition,
and somebody has to be eliminated.
Tony, please bring me the contracts.
Dreamboy.
You won't be signed today.
Your contract has been terminated.
Thank you for everything.
Thank you all.
It's been an honor,
I'm going to keep on working.
I won just by being here.
Thanks very much.
NEXT TIME
I want to put them under full pressure.
-You're kidding me. No, Lex.
-I'm going to... Look.
No. What did you do? No.
Yes, Lex, sir!
Damn it.
No, how embarrassing!
With your chest and heart.
She smashed it hard.
-Cheers!
-Cheers!
We're in Luny's house.
J. Balvin, man.
I don't know what to expect!
This competition will bring out
the best and worst in each person.
I screwed up, bro.
I looked like a fool in front of Tainy.
I feel like a fucking failure.
Is it personal?
-If I'm the devil, you're the angel.
-Obviously.
-Nobody here is safe.
-You won't go anywhere in life?
Wait.
No, wait.
Listen.
THE SIGNING
LISTEN TO THE OFFICIAL
THE SIGNING PLAYLIST
Subtitle translation by: Bridget Ochocka
record label contracts.
But only one of you will be signed
and become an official Neon16 artist.
The moment you sign the contract,
the competition begins.
There are a lot of people with talent,
but we're looking for the best artists
in the world here.
When they ask me, "Hey, are you tired?"
I say, "No."
"How could I be tired of being here, bro?
I'm living my ."
I'm tired of being poor, man.
Of seeing my mom wake up every morning
to keep working and struggling.
Honestly, I'm here to give my family
the best and achieve my dream.
Really.
As judges, we'll be analyzing
everything you do.
You'll have to go into the studio
every day to create new songs.
The best producers
will be working with you.
There are very few people
with something to say.
It should be real.
When you write, write what
you're really feeling in your heart.
Stay for me
Yeah
-It's gonna be tough.
-Let's kill it today!
Make some noise!
This is the first time
I've sung my own song.
That song had no chemistry.
After listening to the others,
I felt like this one...
-Yes. Even worse.
-It went down.
Your mistakes can cost you
the chance of a lifetime.
You won't be signed.
Your contract has been terminated.
That's how it is, brother.
And we got excited, just to realize...
it was for nothing.
-Is it personal?
-Yes.
Because if I'm the devil,
you're the angel.
Obviously. Listen to me.
Let's show them what you've got.
The boy comes from the patio
He grew up in the heat
From his grandma's house
To school in a motor
In his heart he wears a multicolored flag
D.R. in the house
Until the sun goes down
Even though delinquency abounds
Due to lack of education
And the governments steal from us
Instead of caring for the nation
Our hearts are always happy
Even without soup
We never lose the seasoning
So we're in the D.R.
D.R.
Yo
I've never seen a show
with so much talent.
It's not just what the song conveyed,
but what you conveyed.
It must've been very difficult
to write this.
I know you didn't write it just for
the performance, but that came naturally.
And that's exactly what we're looking for.
Let's get signed.
-We're gonna make it. Yes.
-We're gonna make it. Yes.
Wait.
Wait.
Listen.
THE SIGNING
MIAMI, USA
The force is a shaman
And I ring the bell
And if we're talking about food
No one beats us here
What makes The Signing unique
is we're not just looking for talent,
but for artists who have something to say.
Fam, The Signing auditions just came in.
I just sent them over to you,
there's lots of talent.
I'll see you at The Signing.
"PRODUCER OF THE YEAR"
THREE TIME WINNER
Bro, I'm looking at the auditions
and I'm really surprised.
This is what we're looking for.
WINNER OF TWO SPOTIFY AWARDS
Lex, I sent you the ones I liked most.
Okay, send me some as well
and we'll take it from there. Bye.
MORE THAN 20 MILLION ALBUMS SOLD
LATIN GRAMMY AWARD WINNER
They have lots of talent,
lots of potential.
This is going to be dope.
This is going to be next-level, so...
Hey!
I was born in a neighborhood called
Villa Soldati. I still live there today.
Every time my mom sees me
achieving one of my goals,
she almost always starts to cry.
She sees the reflection
of what she couldn't do.
And she's happy I can achieve it.
It's all right, honey. Don't worry.
I just have to go to work, that's all.
I'd like to be my own boss someday, but...
My mom was a ballerina.
When she got pregnant
with my older brother,
she had to leave those dreams behind
because it wasn't easy for her.
Seeing my mom working every day
in a job she didn't like...
She always knew
I'd go on to do what I like doing.
When things aren't going well,
you don't understand.
You don't understand, and you say,
"Why? Why this, why that?"
But when nice things come along in life,
you say, "It was all worth it."
I'm going to give my mom another life.
I think I'm going to step on that stage
conscious of everything I'm saying.
What's up, my people?
It's Captain Yandel here with Lex.
We're here to tell you
you were chosen to be part of The Signing.
See you in Miami.
No.
I love you.
Bye, sweetheart, take care.
I don't know what's wrong with me.
I feel very sensitive.
I'm ready, I'm hopping on the plane.
I hope this is the only time
you see me cry on the show.
How can I be going from the countryside
to Miami?
MIAMI, USA
NEON16 OFFICE
Arriving at the Neon offices
feels amazing. It's like living a dream.
RECORD LABEL FOUNDED BY
LEX BORRERO AND TAINY
I imagined a photo of me,
and under it a sign saying, "Neon16."
Welcome.
Man, who has been here?
Who has sat here? Who was signed here?
To win The Signing, they need
their own essence. To be original.
Discipline, creativity, focus.
That person must transmit what
they're imagining, what they're doing.
So I see it and say,
What makes The Signing unique
is we're not just looking for talent,
but for artists who have something to say.
And to stand out, you have to be original.
Neon16 are visionary people.
They're the best producers.
Welcome to Neon16.
In front of you are 12
record label contracts.
But only one of you will be signed
and become an official Neon16 artist.
Feel the weight of that pen.
Because the moment you sign the contract,
the competition begins.
Being on The Signing
is a huge challenge for me.
Because if I win, I will have achieved
what I've always been searching for.
Why wait?
Let's get signed.
Reading the contract and signing it
makes you realize this is your future,
it could happen.
My hands are shaking because of everything
that can happen from this point on.
You're staying
in one of the best mansions in Miami.
But remember, this is not a vacation.
Welcome to The Signing.
I just signed a contract,
now I need their signature.
So we have to work hard
in this competition to make it happen,
and kill it on stage.
I'm from Hermosillo, Sonora.
The music trend there is mostly northern,
a lot of regional music.
I've been drawn to that sound
since I was a kid.
I didn't see much opportunity
in Hermosillo.
That's why I decided
to come to Mexico City.
I came with my suitcase,
figured I'd see where I'd end up.
And that's when I said,
"I want to be different."
So we put together all the music trends
I've listened to in my life.
MOSMO, 23
In the end,
I decided to explore urban regional music.
And from there I can create my own sound.
Put in a tuba there.
You're the drug, I'm your addict
Up to there, it's all purely regional.
-But then, suddenly...
-Boom! Pretty tropical, man.
Being an urban artist
is complicated in my country
because I feel
it's still not fully accepted.
Participating in The Signing will give me
a means of expression.
Putting down Mexican roots in urban music.
I don't think it's been
fully taken advantage of yet.
I think it's up to me to rise
to the challenge.
I have that responsibility.
I just have to do it.
THE SIGNING HOUSE
Wow!
-The house!
-Look, how nice.
Where are the rooms? This way or that way?
Where are they? Where?
It's taken.
No. So?
Everyone's emotions
are running high right now.
But I think this is a time to be calm
because we know that emotions, anxiety,
and being hyped
can cause problems among contestants.
And we just got here, imagine.
I already picked my room!
So don't bother me.
It's super cool.
I hope we really enjoy it,
and focus on making music.
I'm not that used to being around
so many people.
It's a very weird feeling.
Lots of excitement,
but, at the same time,
it's a very big challenge.
There's a little nook near our bedroom...
-Yes, next to it.
-To chill.
'Cause my social battery will run out.
-We'll take turns.
-Everyone's very...
And I'm like, "I'm scared."
At about 14 or 15, I began to upload
the first covers that I sang.
I did it as a hobby, but out of nowhere,
I got my first thousand followers
from different countries.
Even though there were many good comments,
there were also some negative reactions,
or as it's called now, "hate."
They laughed and mocked me.
The kinds of things that,
when you're 15
and figuring out your identity,
make you question yourself a lot,
your talent, your image,
and everything they comment on.
Being on The Signing
is like seeing a little light
at the end of an uncertain road.
It's a reaffirmation that this is
what I should do with my life.
-There he is, chilling.
-This one's mine, nobody's getting it.
We need to talk about the beds.
Because there are only ten.
-And...
-There are only ten?
-There are only ten and we're twelve.
-Who doesn't have a bed?
It's debatable. I got here first.
Nobody is moving me.
Everybody chose a room,
but we realized there are only ten beds,
and we're 12 contestants, so,
apparently, two will be leaving.
Okay, people, let's be clear.
Two won't be staying.
So let's not make up our minds
until two get eliminated. Okay?
I wanted to scream, but I can't scream.
Yandel is Yandel.
I love your energy. I like it.
He's the bomb.
Nicki Nicole is one of
my favorite artists. It's crazy!
It's so exciting
to think I'll be able to learn from her.
Rauw Alejandro is a phenomenon.
He writes, produces,
dances, and does his little twerk.
Rauw Alejandro.
Obviously, he's an icon right now.
To me,
he's the personification of success.
As you can see, the best in the industry
are right in front of you.
Impressing us won't be easy.
-I'm getting scared already.
-As judges, we'll be watching what you do.
You'll all face challenges
to test your talent.
Because this is not just about
a pretty voice or some nice bars.
In addition to the challenges,
you'll need to be in the studio every day,
creating songs with themes that we,
the judges, will pick.
After you make the songs,
you'll have to sing them live.
It's gonna get real, you know.
You'll perform for us
in the best clubs in Miami, so...
It's up to you to give it your all
or lose it all.
In the challenges, in the studio,
and with the performances. So stay alert.
And remember, even though you're in Miami,
this is a competition.
Wow.
It's on!
Bye!
Ah! Oh, I forgot one thing...
Get ready for tonight because
you'll be singing at club E11EVEN.
It's your first performance.
See you there.
I'll leave you with that.
What makes The Signing unique
is that the tracks are new.
They're not singing anyone else's songs.
They'll be locked in the studio working.
Today they'll perform at E11EVEN,
one of the hottest clubs in Miami,
with unique songs they created
before arriving here.
Let's see if they do deserve to be here.
Because two are getting eliminated today.
Dreams are starting
to come true little by little.
Let's smash it today!
Let's go get changed.
I never imagined
standing next to all the judges.
A couple of days ago I was at home.
SANTO DOMINGO,
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
The Dominican Republic,
my country, is a pretty interesting one...
from its music to its celebrities.
Music appealed to me really early on,
starting when I was about two years old.
What first caught my attention
musically was a drummer.
That's what made me go,
"Wow, that's cool."
My grandfather noticed that.
The interest I had in music,
for the drums.
So he took a metal pot
and removed the handle.
Then, he put a stick in the center
to make a sound like...
-I have a surprise for you.
-What?
The rest of the drum kit
I made for you when you began...
-Yeah.
-...back then.
This is important for me.
Not just to win a prize,
but so that my family
knows I'm fighting for my dream.
It's important, because this is a dream
I've had for as long as I can remember.
THE SIGNING HOUSE
We're giving it our all today.
Getting to go to Miami and live
in a mansion is a dream for anybody.
But at the end of the day,
they'll have to show what they're made of.
We'll see if their dreams continue,
or if they go home.
This is important to me because
it's the dream I've had since I was five.
I've been working since before I was ten
because I saw that we needed things,
normal things, to put it one way.
I feel like this is a big opportunity
for me to help my family somehow.
I'm fighting for a dream I've always had.
I will dedicate everything I achieve here
to my mom.
Tonight, the contestants are going
to perform live for us.
It'll be their own songs
which we've never heard.
It'll be the first time they perform,
and we hear their music.
Are you ready, Miami?
Welcome to The Signing.
With you tonight,
one of the most important artists
in the world right now.
Rauw Alejandro!
She raps and sings.
Representing Generation Z
from the Southern Cone,
Nicki Nicole!
One of the most influential
creative minds,
Lex Borrero!
From Puerto Rico, the legend Y.
Yandel!
The producer and number one hit-maker,
Tainy!
Tainy.
What does an artist have to do to get
the attention of a producer like you?
Well, what's most important
is to see who they are.
The more of their qualities
we get see on stage,
the easier for me to see what I can do
with these artists in the studio,
To see how I can bring the best
out of them.
These artists better do their best
because impressing us won't be easy.
Otherwise, they'll go home tonight.
Wow! You heard him!
I feel very nervous right now.
I feel like I'm dying.
Jesus, I want to go on. I need to go on.
Stay calm until they call us,
then smash it. Because we're ready.
I'm impatient. I want to go now.
I live on stage.
Twenty-six years of dreams and struggles.
And I hope they like my music,
because this is really everything
I have inside.
From Medellín, Colombia.
Please give a round of applause
for Nati Boulier!
Hi!
Hi!
This song is called "False Promises."
I hope you enjoy it.
You know what?
Everything froze if we were alone
"FALSE PROMISES"
But it'd be easier if you had told me
What you wanted
And that it wasn't the same as me
In the end, it was all fucked up
But it doesn't weigh on me
If it doesn't interest you
There are no broken hearts
And even though I mess up
I won't buy any more
Of those false promises
Now you feel
How it feels
That's why it hurts you
To know that it no longer weighs on me
If it doesn't interest me
There are no broken hearts
And even though I mess up
I won't buy any more
Of those false promises
Colombian pride.
That's how I Iike it, celebrating.
You're a pro on stage.
I've always backed up other artists,
and this is the first time
in my life I've sung
a song of my own, performing as Nati.
And it feels beautiful.
Nati, like I said. You're a pro on stage.
But I have to say I didn't love the song.
I loved your energy.
But I didn't feel touched
by the melody in the chorus.
Tainy, she took a musical risk
making this song. Speak up.
Well, I can see there's a lot
you can do with your voice.
You can go up, you can go down,
you can make it a bit softer,
you can give your voice more strength.
But I didn't see much of that
in this song.
Make it more dynamic.
Maybe get soft and low a bit.
And maybe then you can bring it up
to a higher range.
So, keep that in mind.
Thanks. Thank you so much.
I feel like she gave us one percent
of what she can really give.
Exactly.
From Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico.
Please give a round of applause for Mosmo!
Hello, good evening.
Thanks. Wow.
Wow. It's so exciting to be here.
Drop it, DJ.
Baby, when I'm with you
I feel better than anyone
I'd be loyal to that ass
If you'd just give me the chance
"GIRL"
I've only thought about those lips
Since you kissed me
And if the party goes south
I won't forget to have a blast
Girl, you've got me in my bed
Lying back, imagining you
Like happiness
Everyone always wants to have you
Out of seven days
I think I spend eight imagining you
I'm drinking to forget you
And what I do is remember you
Thank you.
I feel like your performance
was incredible.
How you came onstage and looked at each
of us during every part of the song.
That makes every person
in the audience feel special.
Like, "He's looking at me, he sees me,
I can't believe it." That's so important.
The song is a hit.
-Yes, it's really good.
-The song's great.
But it still needs...
Maybe you could transform those nerves
into your strength to push forward.
But it's amazing.
-Thanks, Nicki, I'm a big fan of yours.
-Thank you so much.
Mosmo.
Nerves and falsetto don't get along.
But you did good. Keep it up.
Thank you, thank you all.
The song was really good, seriously.
And he came in
looking right at you, for real.
-With confidence.
-With confidence.
He does a falsetto easily.
From Argentina... Wanda Original!
Thanks.
-Thank you.
-Let's go!
It's an honor for me to be here,
because I've always dreamed of this.
I've always had a plan in my head
to leave my country.
I dream about it all the time.
At 12 or 13, I began to write.
Then I started to realize
that I wanted to sing.
I wanted to be in studios, to record.
I said, "Let's find a way to grow."
There were no recording studios
in the small town where I lived.
So I told my mom,
"I'm sorry, but I'm leaving."
Being an artist in Argentina is hard,
especially if you're a woman.
You go into a studio and get hit on,
you can't work in peace,
you feel uncomfortable.
Being here is a privilege.
Win or lose.
I think I can achieve a lot with my music.
For a while I've been surfing
On a wave of anguish
"LET'S GO TO SPACE"
Not having you by my side
Scares me
You know, girl, put your seatbelt on
Let's go to space to smoke a blunt
Get away from the people
For a better life
No problems in space
Just you and me
Shorty, sorry
However much you insist
You look like a magazine model
You look super original with your Adidas
I'd rather sing to pass the days
They don't compare
You're simpler
You know I want to see you
You know, girl
You know how it is
Argentina's representing hard.
Let's go to space to smoke a blunt
Get away from the people
For a better life
Get in my car
Yeah
Just you and me
Yeah
Just you and me
Thank you very much.
I'm speechless.
Honestly, I saw you come onstage,
and I never imagined
you would smash it so hard. I mean...
Hell yeah.
Honestly, I loved it.
I feel like you have a unique flow.
It's not because we're Argentinian,
but honestly...
Thanks.
I saw the judges, they were all like this.
And I went,
"Yo, this is really good, right?"
-It's awesome, right?
-It's awesome.
Thanks, Rauw.
-So, keep on killing it.
-Hell yeah. Thank you.
Thanks so much. Thanks, everybody.
-We weren't expecting that.
-No, I wasn't expecting that at all.
Hey, dude,
I feel like we found one of the...
-Exactly.
-It was incredible.
The bar is high now, it's really high.
STEFANO TOLLER, 24
It's inevitable we'll see each other again
It's not good but maybe we can't stop it
This time don't let me go
Come and hold me tight
You don't know the trouble
You caused in me
Peru, right?
Yes, Peru.
There are very few artists
who come from Peru in the urban genre.
You could be one of the first.
Thank you so much.
Yandel, the living legend, just told you
you could represent your country.
You understand the pressure that brings.
But, you know,
the song wasn't enough for me.
You have to make sure that the music is
at a higher level than that.
Because I think you can take it there.
Thank you so much.
I say what I think, don't kill me.
-Yes.
-Nicki, don't kill me.
-You're terrible.
-Someone has to get cut.
Good evening!
GIGI SALDAÑA, 25
We're pumped, my people.
A pleasure to be here with you.
To the street
Let loose
"FULL MOON"
With money in our wallets
We don't go with just anyone
We're all hot
They're all burning
To the street
Let loose
With money in our wallets
We don't go with just anyone
We're all hot
They're all burning
You have... It's in your blood, girl.
You're Boricua.
Boricuas are what's up.
You're a natural performer,
and you were confident.
Ever since I met you
at the house I've felt that.
It's very important to be confident.
I like what you're doing,
so congratulations.
How's it going, my people in Miami?
Make some noise!
Yo
I was going to screw you last night
In answer to your story
But I saw you made a post with him
And I felt regret
"BY YOUR HOUSE"
All the videos we filmed
I've got on repeat
Girl, if you were a bet
I'd be the casino
I lost it all
No one will eat you like...
How does it go?
I passed by your house
To see if I'd see you
We lost the trust
But not the desire
To fool around
Brother, I think you have
an amazing talent. For real.
-Thank you.
-Your voice is... high-pitched.
With time, you'll be able
to tighten those bolts.
There is a big difference
between being a good writer
and being an artist.
You should work on how
you reflect as an artist from now on,
because you've got the music.
You know what you're doing.
Thank you very much, my people.
I'm very flirtatious.
They say I'm like a Kardashian
and I feel very proud of that.
I know where I'm from
"SAY, GIRL"
I carry the sun in my blood
You feel it when I leave
I melt your heart
And all the boys die for me
They say, "Girl, gimme, gimme"
They're not drunk but they tell the truth
He confesses he likes them natural
He says, "Girl, gimme, gimme"
They're not drunk but they tell the truth
He confesses he likes them natural
Thanks very much.
I feel like the sensuality
was well conveyed.
Very sexy, the moves, the whole...
However, I feel like your voice falls
into a different style of rhythm.
-But I like it, you're talented.
-Thank you.
I didn't connect with the song.
There are a lot of people with talent,
very few people with something to say.
And I'd like to see what
you're trying to tell me as an artist.
Thanks very much.
The only thing I'm worried about is
we had very little time to rehearse.
But I feel like that's the challenge.
JUÁREZ, MEXICO AND EL PASO, USA
WELCOME TO MEXICO
I live on the border.
I've always felt like
a person from two worlds.
I have my family in Mexico.
And on the weekdays,
from Monday to Friday,
I live in El Paso, Texas.
It's really nice to know
that you have the best of both worlds.
I do something
that I call "sad reggaeton."
I make music to twerk to while crying.
Because there's the dance beat,
but with a melody and lyrics
that make you want to cut your wrists.
I produce my beats,
I write my songs, I sing them.
I feel like one of the things
I have to work on musically is
how to present myself...
They tell me there's no way
"BAD DECISIONS"
This feeling of mine will die
It always does what it wants with me
It's got that, oh...
It makes me make bad decisions
It's got me hypnotized
It puts an abracadabra on me
It's got that, oh...
It's got that, oh...
It makes me make bad decisions
Thanks very much.
Thank you.
Tell me. Bad decisions.
Why did you want
to make a song about that?
I am, in my own words,
a nice girl, a goody-two-shoes.
But there are always temptations in life.
And they make you want
to bite the apple of...
of temptation.
I liked the dynamic of the song very much,
but you're lacking on stage.
Yes.
You have to work on your stage presence
so that your voice can be brought out.
Try to show me with your gaze or hands
what you're trying to say, you know?
Sorry, can you give her an example?
You started here, right?
You did this and I was like, "Okay."
Then you went over here.
After that you come over here with...
well, this.
It's a sexy song.
So you have to project sexiness,
you get me?
So then I'll be like, "Oh, shit."
"Who is that girl?" You get me?
I mean...
-Only here at The Signing...
-You smashed it.
...can you have Rauw Alejandro
teach you how to move on stage.
I know.
Thanks very much.
Nicki is throwing everybody...
Don't make me get up there.
I'm embarrassed, man.
I made you go up because I thought,
"He can dance, he'll show her some moves."
No, listen. Please, man.
What's up, how are you doing?
Well, I'm Nashy-Nashai
and this song is called "Look, Ma."
"Look, Ma."
The neighborhood played ball
Rhyming at mine
In the silence I heard
A ton of melodies
The teacher scolded me
For always being distracted
He didn't understand
That an artist was emerging
They said to me
Don't say that
No more of that
Don't fuck with me
Talent's not a business, bro
He sent her into the world
And my hand trembles
But I can cause an earthquake if I want to
Life's an uphill climb
After so many mistakes
I swear I understood
That it's not the summit that matters
What matters is the process
And how I climb it
Look, Ma
Look where I got to
I'm like the cassette in the '70s
Sounding how I once dreamed
I want to thank me
Second me, third me
The people who I trusted
When I didn't even trust myself
Because it's not an easy talent
To make a living from music
Art isn't a privilege
It's a way of existing
I can't shut up
If I have a lot to say
I've been told "No" a thousand times
Today I came for "Yes"
I came to be a hit
I dedicate this to those people
Who brought me here today
Who brought me here
Okay.
What were you going to say?
You have nothing to say.
-Great song. I loved it.
-Thank you.
You're one of
the two best artists I've seen tonight.
And you're both Argentinian.
Argentina in the house, baby.
You have the best mix
of what I like to hear.
Rap mixed with a very sweet voice
at the same time.
I feel like you have everything
to become what we're looking for.
-You can't deny that.
-A star.
Damn, this is too much.
Let's see what my friend Rauw thinks.
I didn't like it.
I loved it!
I liked it a lot, and I want to see you
reach the end of the competition.
Let's go!
Argentina. Killing it.
Man, Argentina has...
-It's not because I'm Argentinian.
-No, Argentina has serious power.
Incredible.
Hi, judges. How are you?
If you see me shaking a bit,
it's part of the choreography.
Don't worry. Drop it, DJ!
My goal is not to fit
Into what the mold decrees
"NOT MAINSTREAM"
It's overrated
Being a black sheep
Shines my shoes
Nah nah
Nah nah
"Howevers" always find me
I recycle them
I collect them
Not mainstream
Always the support
But I laugh more
They know my name
They know my story
Neither fame nor contacts
Just a pair of glories
I don't have many friends
I prefer to be with myself
I'm a bit utopian
With traces of nonsense
Not commercial
I like it better that way
Not commercial
Thank you!
Thanks very much!
Look, whenever you come on stage,
you have to give it your all.
And I'll tell you, if you were
the first artist I saw tonight
my reaction might be different,
but we're looking for
the best artists in the world here.
Thanks very much! Thanks to the audience!
From one to ten, be honest.
Right now, how nervous are you?
Zero. No nerves.
As long as you're calm,
doing your best, and giving it your all,
you're shining and vibrating high...
-That's it!
-Yes.
Vibrating high.
-That's it.
-You said it.
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
If I could sum up the story of my life
in one word,
it would be "passion."
Since birth,
I swore I'd be a soccer player.
I pictured myself representing Mexico
in a stadium full of people.
I fractured my heel.
That sank me into a deep depression.
During that dark time in my life,
all I did was shut myself inside
and make bad decisions.
I ended up in the hospital
with a really bad stomachache.
They removed my appendix.
It turned out it was cancerous.
Music really kept me company
at one of the hardest times in my life.
It held me, it snapped me out of it.
And from there my love and passion grew,
and I knew I wanted to do this
for the rest of my life.
So, here I am now,
with the same dream of being in a stadium,
but this time, singing.
I was trapped in the past so long
"GOING FOR THE MILLION"
I feel so many things
And in the end I stay quiet
So today, at last
I promised to finally make a change
And this time
The devil's not at my side
Like a virgin exorcised
Body cut
Abstinence, little by little
Is killing me
And though it's a bitch
To get out of the hole I find myself in
I'm deeply grateful
To have a beating heart
My absent mind
Looked for the present
This music thing comes to me naturally
An entity that
All of a sudden, to be pro-mind
Enters your veins
Your unconscious, it changes
I lived flying on pills
With music I survived
Now I think about money all day long
I promised my mother I'd get it for her
I didn't know what was born
When I arrive
That's how I spend the day
And suddenly this cool melody
My battery's been changed
Now I'm going to do my show
I have to be honest.
I didn't understand a thing.
Perhaps you could explain
your lyrics a little.
This song talks about
what I've been going through this year.
I've been sober for six months,
and it's about...
I love that you made it personal,
reflecting something you're going through.
But I'd like you to think about a sound
that reflects, from beginning to end,
everything you want to say to the audience
and what you want people to take from it.
We see you now, and we want you
to become the best version of yourself.
If you have that best version inside
and you don't bring it out here,
we won't be able to see it.
So it's really important
that you're able to show us
what you really... what I know you can do.
Thanks, Nicki.
Thank you, Miami!
We're still going!
From Chile, Diego Smith!
Hey! How are you, Miami? How's it going?
How's the energy? Hey!
I get up for you in the morning
"TEACHER"
I even run for the bus at the station
The other teacher always scolds me
And that's why I made this song for you
Teacher, if you want
You can teach me
Show me what I don't know
And I'll study
What? Yeah! Say it!
Everyone wants you
The whole school is on fire
Assign some homework
I want to study you
Study
There's chemistry
We also have biology
I know your psychology
But I like your anatomy class
You're so hot, girl
Hail Mary
Teacher, if you want
You can teach me
Show me what I don't know
And I'll study
Everyone wants you
The whole school is on fire
Assign some homework
I want to study you
Study
Thank you all very much.
-Diego. I had a blast, for real.
-Yes.
I had a blast.
As soon as you began
I felt the vibes, the energy.
That's very important.
You have it, that's clear.
Thanks very much, bro.
I liked the style of the song,
I liked your style, too,
which you carry well, like...
-a student, in a way.
-That was the idea.
-It's all thought out.
-D for Diego.
That's the best thing
about a complete artist,
who thinks about it all,
not just the song.
It's very good.
-Yeah.
-Thank you, really.
Diego, first of all, I'd like to have
your hair one day, because, you know,
I think it'd look good on me...
I'd look pretty sick.
You felt like an artist.
And that's what we're looking for.
A unique sound, a presence.
I want to see what else you have to offer.
And I want to see more of that hair.
Maybe you can lend me a little.
Well, the two Argentinians smashed it.
-Argentina's representing hard.
-And they're women, they represent me.
But if I look at them all together,
in terms of the live singing today,
-he doesn't...
-Not him.
Exactly, if you compare him with the rest,
it gets hard for him.
I feel the same about this girl.
-I feel that...
-Comparing her to the other girls.
Compared to the other girls,
she's lacking as an artist.
-This is The Signing.
-Yes.
We're not playing.
Do we all agree? Have we made a decision?
-Yes.
-All of us?
-Agreed.
-Are we clear?
Okay, Tony!
Call these three to the stage
and get me the contracts.
Here comes Tony.
Oh, man.
HEAD OF SECURITY
Mila.
Monique.
Dreamboy.
Come with me.
Everything in life
is an opportunity to learn and grow.
And I think that's the reason
why we made this show.
So that you can grow
and take the next step in your career.
But at the end of the day,
this is a competition,
and somebody has to be eliminated.
Tony, please bring me the contracts.
Dreamboy.
You won't be signed today.
Your contract has been terminated.
Thank you for everything.
Thank you all.
It's been an honor,
I'm going to keep on working.
I won just by being here.
Thanks very much.
NEXT TIME
I want to put them under full pressure.
-You're kidding me. No, Lex.
-I'm going to... Look.
No. What did you do? No.
Yes, Lex, sir!
Damn it.
No, how embarrassing!
With your chest and heart.
She smashed it hard.
-Cheers!
-Cheers!
We're in Luny's house.
J. Balvin, man.
I don't know what to expect!
This competition will bring out
the best and worst in each person.
I screwed up, bro.
I looked like a fool in front of Tainy.
I feel like a fucking failure.
Is it personal?
-If I'm the devil, you're the angel.
-Obviously.
-Nobody here is safe.
-You won't go anywhere in life?
Wait.
No, wait.
Listen.
THE SIGNING
LISTEN TO THE OFFICIAL
THE SIGNING PLAYLIST
Subtitle translation by: Bridget Ochocka