Yo Canto (TV series)


Yo Canto is a Puerto Rican singing talent contest that started airing in 2011 on WKAQ-TV, the Telemundo outlet in Puerto Rico. It is produced by Soraya Sánchez, who previously produced the similar show Objetivo Fama, and Beatriz Oliveros. In contrast to Objetivo Fama, Yo Canto features singers from all ages, and contestants can participate as a group or duo.
The show features a group of aspiring singers who compete on a weekly talent show. During each show, contestants are evaluated by a panel judges, and are gradually eliminated until only one prevails. During the time of the show, contestants are "bunkered" in a studio/house where they will live together for several months. The show's first season began airing on February 5, 2011.
The show is hosted by Daniela Droz and Ektor Rivera. The winner of the competition was the Cuban duo FM5.

Auditions

Before the show season starts, auditions are held at several places in Puerto Rico and the United States to pick the finalists that will be featured in the show. These are evaluated by the show's producers. When the final contestants are selected, they are moved to Puerto Rico where the studio/house is located. Auditions were held in New York City, Miami, Florida, and Puerto Rico. On January 29, 2011, a show called Yo Canto: Las Audiciones aired on Telemundo as a preamble to the show.

Contestants

After the auditions, a group of 18 contestants were selected:
ContestantAgeNationalityHometownVoted Off
FM527/29CubanMiami, FloridaWinner
Jonathan Ríos22Puerto RicanLares, Puerto RicoMay 14
Favela21/23Puerto RicanAguada, Puerto RicoMay 14
Yaza22Puerto RicanNaranjito, Puerto RicoMay 14
Abimelec Vélez23Puerto RicanCoamo, Puerto RicoMay 7
Diomary41DominicanMay 7
NXO27/22Puerto RicanPonce, Puerto RicoMay 7
Massiel Nistal19Cuban Miami, FloridaApril 30
Yeika32Puerto RicanSan Sebastián, Puerto RicoApril 23
Argel53CubanMiamiApril 16
Mari Z25Puerto RicanCarolina, Puerto RicoApril 9
Joaquín Cantilana62ChileanNew York CityApril 2
Charli23New YorkMarch 26
Musa24/29Puerto RicanComerío and Toa Baja, Puerto RicoMarch 26
Andrea19EcuadorianNew JerseyMarch 19
Tivián36Arecibo, Puerto RicoMarch 12
Franie22Puerto RicanMayagüez, Puerto RicoMarch 5
Moisés45Puerto RicanSan Juan, Puerto RicoFebruary 26

Weekly Shows

During the weekly shows, each contestant performs the song they had received and rehearsed during the week. After each presentation, each contestant is evaluated by the panel of judges, who assign a score from 1 to 10. At the end of the show, the host announce which contestants have the lowest points. Viewers then have one week to call and "save" their favorite contestant.
Two additional shows follows the contestants during their week of rehearsal, and their reactions after each show.

Judges

Roberto Sueiro, a Puerto Rican artist and entertainment attorney, who also had a brief singing career. He served as judge of Objetivo Fama during all its seasons.Deddie Romero, a Puerto Rican actress, singer, and radio host.

Seasons Synopsis

Episodes

MMManny Manuel
DRDeddie Romero
RSRoberto Sueiro

First night: February 12, 2011

OrderContestantSong MMDRRSTotalResult
1FM5"Basta Ya" 710926TOP
2Argel"Por Tí Volaré" 89926Safe
3Diomary"El Hombre Perfecto"???26Safe
4Yeika"Que Fui Para Tí" 89926Safe
5Abimelec"No Haz Terminado Conmigo" 79925Safe
6Joaquín"Amnesia"???25Safe
7Jonathan"Ya lo sé que tu te vas"???24Safe
8Massiel"Quédate"89824Safe
9Tivián"Loco" ???24Safe
10Yaza"Estúpida" ???24Safe
11Mari Z"I Have Nothing" ???22Safe
12Charli"I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" ???21Safe
13Musa"Recuérdame" ???21Safe
14NXO"La Quiero a Morir" ???21Safe
15Moisés"Perdóname" ???19Safe
16Franie"Insensible a Tí" ???19Safe
17Favela"Aunque Duela Aceptarlo" ???17Bottom 2
18Andrea"Equivocada" ???16Bottom 2

Reggaeton duo RKM & Ken-Y were the guest artists of the night. Initially, there was an error in the vote tally that had Franie and Andrea as the Bottom 2 contestants. After the show, the producers made the correction which ended with Favela and Andrea in the bottom instead.

Second night: February 19, 2011

OrderContestantSong MMDRRSTotalResult
1FM5"Stand by Me" 10101030TOP
2Yaza"Tu Peor Error" 991028Safe
3Massiel"Devuélveme la Vida" 99927Safe
4NXO"Mi Princesa" 971026Safe
5Tivián"Desde Cuándo" 89926Safe
6Diomary"All by Myself" 88925Safe
7Yeika"Mi Reflejo" 98825Safe
8Argel"A Puro Dolor" 79824Safe
9Abimelec"¿Y Como es El?" 77822Safe
10Andrea"Todos Me Miran" 86822Safe
11Jonathan"Por una Mujer" 77822Safe
12Joaquín"El Reloj" 78821Safe
13Mari Z"Víveme" 69621Safe
14Favela"Aléjate de mi" 78821Safe
15Musa"Llegaste Tú" 88721Safe
16Franie"Fantasma"???201Safe
17Charli"No" ???20Bottom 2
18Moisés"Me has Echado al Olvido" ???17Bottom 2

Due to a tie between Franie and Charlie, the judges had to decide which one to save. They chose Franie. Also, due to last week's error in the tally, the audience was asked to vote if they wanted to skip the elimination process for this night. 85.5% voted not to eliminate anyone.

Third night: February 26, 2011

OrderContestantSong MMDRRSTotalResult
1Diomary"Lo siento, mi Amor" 9101029TOP
2Charli"Herida" 991028Saved
3Jonathan"Te Amo" 991028Safe
4Argel"Lo que un día fue, no será" 99927Safe
5Moisés"Fabricando Fantasías" 910827Eliminated
6Yeika"Mi Mayor Venganza" 109827Safe
7Yaza"Para Volver a Amar" 99927Safe
8Abimelec"Por Siempre" 98926Safe
9FM5"El Último Adiós" 89825Safe
10Joaquín"La Puerta" 88925Safe
11Musa"Déjame Llorar" 88925Safe
12Favela"More Than Words" 78924Safe
13Massiel"Y Hubo Alguien" 87823Safe
14NXO"Y, ¿Si Fuera Ella?" 88723Safe
15Andrea"Como Han Pasado los Años" 78823Safe
16Mari Z"Loca" 79723Safe
17Franie"Bring Me to Life" 66618Bottom 2
18Tivián"Dile al amor" 2349Bottom 2

53% of the audience voted to save Charli, instead of Moisés. Also, the reggaeton duo, Dyland & Lenny, were the special guests of the night.

Fourth night: March 5, 2011

OrderContestantSong MMDRRSTotalResult
1Yeika"Angel"10101030TOP
2Argel"Te Quiero, Te Quiero" ???29Safe
3Joaquín"De Que Manera Te Olvido" 9101029Safe
4FM5"Hasta Que Me Olvides" 1010828Safe
5Massiel"Oye" 910928Safe
6Abimelec"Yo No Se Mañana" 99826Safe
7Mari Z"No One" 99826Safe
8Favela"Un Beso" 98825Safe
9Jonathan"Amor de una Noche" 98825Safe
10NXO"Así Como Hoy" 99725Safe
11Yaza"Sin Querer" 88824Safe
12Andrea"El Me Mintió" 78722Safe
13Charli"Daría" 87722Safe
14Diomary"Como Si No Nos Hubieramos Amado" 87722Safe
15Franie"A Que Vuelve" 87722Eliminated
16Musa"Lo Mejor de Mi Vida Eres Tú" 65617Bottom 2
17Tivián"Piel Canela"78722Bottom 2

52% of the audience voted to save Tivián, instead of Franie. Also, reggaeton singers Gotcho and Jowell, and singer Jencarlos Canela were the guest artists of the night.

Fifth night: March 12, 2011

The show was dedicated to Latin American divas like Olga Tañón, Ednita Nazario, Yolandita Monge, Thalía and Gloria Estefan. The show opened with a group of transgender artists imitating the divas.
OrderContestantSong MMDRRSTotalResult
1Abimelec"El Privilegio de Dar" 10101030TOP
2Jonathan"Lo Que Son Las Cosas" 10101030TOP
3NXO"Sobreviviré" 10101030TOP
4Tivián"Una y Otra Vez" 10101030Eliminated
5Diomary"El Amor" 910928Safe
6FM5"Como Olvidar" ???28Safe
7Argel"Mi Tierra" 89926Safe
8Joaquín"Con los Años que me Quedan" 107926Safe
9Yeika"Débil" 99826Safe
10Musa"El Dolor de tu Presencia" 98825Saved
11Charli"Desilusióname" 88824Safe
12Mari Z"Cantaré" 89724Safe
13Yaza"No Me Enseñaste" 88824Safe
14Massiel"Entre el Mar y una Estrella" 87823Safe
15Favela"Tanto Que Te Dí" 86721Bottom 2
16Andrea"Así es la Vida" 54615Bottom 2

Guest artists were reggaeton singers JKing & Maximan. Musa and Tivián were the contestants "threatened" last week. 65% of the audience voted to save Musa.

Sixth night: March 19, 2011

Judge Manny Manuel was absent from this show due to previous obligations. Guest singer Gloria Trevi replaced him as guest judge.
OrderContestantSong GTDRRSTotalResult
1Diomary"Mala" 10101030TOP
2Massiel"And I Am Telling You" 10101030TOP
3Favela"Mar Adentro" ???29Saved
4Jonathan"Algo de Mí" ???29Safe
5Mari Z"La Gata Bajo la Lluvia" ???29Safe
6Yeika"No Podrás" ???28Safe
7FM5"La Despedida" ???28Safe
8Abimelec"Como Yo te Amé"???28Safe
9Andrea"Me Muero" ???27Eliminated
10Joaquín"Volver" ???27Safe
11NXO"Tu Como Estás" ???27Safe
12Argel"Tu Ni Te Imaginas" ???26Safe
13Charli"Inocente Pobre Amiga" ???25Bottom 3
14Yaza"La Vida es Así" ???24Bottom 3
15Musa"Por Amarte Así" ???23Bottom 3

Favela and Andrea were the contestants "threatened" last week. 91% of the audience voted to save Favela.

Seventh night: March 26, 2011

During the opening, the contestants sang Ricky Martin's "Livin' la Vida Loca".
OrderContestantSong MMDRRSTotalResult
1Diomary"Evidencias" 10101030TOP
2NXO"Vivo por Ella" 10101030TOP
3Yeika"Héroe" 10101030TOP
4FM5"Penélope" ???29Safe
5Jonathan"Cálido y Frío" ???29Safe
6Abimelec"Vida" ???27Safe
7Argel"Vida Loca" ???27Safe
8Massiel"Si Tu No Estas Aquí" ???27Safe
9Favela"Amor Narcótico" ???26Safe
10Yaza"Inevitable" ???26Saved
11Charli"Con los Ojos Cerrados" ???24Eliminated
12Musa"No Me Ames" ???23Eliminated
13Joaquín"Aparentemente" ???22Bottom 2
14Mari Z"Ese Hombre" ???22Bottom 2

Juan Vélez, winner of the fourth season of Objetivo Fama, and brother of Abimelec, was the guest singer. Charli, Musa, and Yaza were the contestants "threatened" last week. 58% of the audience voted to save Yaza, while Charli and Musa received 19% and 23% of the votes.

Eight night: April 2, 2011

OrderContestantSong MMDRRSTotalResult
1NXO"A Quien Quiero Mentirle" 10101030TOP
2Abimelec"La Nave del Olvido" ???29Safe
3Joaquín"Echame a Mi la Culpa" ???29Eliminated
4Diomary"Amor Eterno"???27Safe
5Yeika"Vengada" ???27Safe
6Jonathan"Esclavo de sus Besos" 98926Safe
7Argel"Llorarás" ???25Safe
8Yaza"Divino Amor" ???25Safe
9FM5"No me doy por vencido" ???24Safe
10Massiel"Porque me Amaste" ???22Safe
11Favela"Cuando Me Enamoro" ???21Safe
12Mari Z"Whine Up" ???20Saved

The guest artists of the night were pop-rock singer Sie7e and reggaeton duo Alexis & Fido. The contestants that were "threatened" last week were Joaquín and Mari Z. 61% of the audience voted to save Mari Z.

Ninth night: April 9, 2011

The night was dedicated to music from popular films. The contestants opened with a dancing number from Grease.
OrderContestantSong FilmMMDRRSTotalResult
1Jonathan"Kiss from a Rose" Batman Forever10101030TOP
2FM5"No Importa la Distancia" Hercules10101030Safe
3Massiel"Over the Rainbow" The Wizard of Oz???29Safe
4Yeika"I Will Always Love You" The Bodyguard???29Safe
5Abimelec"Sueña" The Hunchback of Notre Dame???27Safe
6Diomary"My Heart Will Go On" Titanic???27Safe
7Argel"Quiero Seguir Amándote"???26Saved
8NXO"Sexo, Pudor y Lágrimas" Sexo, Pudor y Lágrimas???26Safe
9Yaza"Todo lo Que Soy" Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves???26Safe
10Mari Z"Si Una Vez" Selena???26Eliminated
11Favela"Un Mundo Ideal" Aladdin???25Safe

The guest artist of the night was Carlos Baute, who sang a song with Massiel. The contestants with fewest votes were Argel and Mari Z. The judges decided to save Argel.

Tenth night: April 16, 2011

OrderContestantSong MMDRRSTotalResult
1FM5"Mientes" 9101029Safe
2Diomary"Amame Una Vez Más" ???29Safe
3NXO"Suelta Mi Mano" ???29Safe
4Yeika"Fuera de mi Vida" ???29Safe
5Yaza"Si tu Eres Mi Hombre" ???28Safe
6Jonathan"Yo Si Me Enamoré" 810927Safe
7Massiel"Hoy Tengo Ganas de Tí" ???27Safe
8Abimelec"Tu Amor Me Hace Bien" ???26Safe
9Argel"Cartas Amarillas" ???25Eliminated
10Favela"Yo Te Voy a Amar" 77822Safe

The contestants also had a chance to sing in groups. Males, females, and duets were paired with each other to sing an additional song. Abimelec, who was suspended for the week, couldn't sing with males Jonathan and Argel.
OrderContestantSong
1FM5"Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely"
1Favela"Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely"
1NXO"Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely"
2Diomary"Si Yo Fuera Un Chico"
2Massiel"Si Yo Fuera Un Chico"
2Yaza"Si Yo Fuera Un Chico"
2Yeika"Si Yo Fuera Un Chico"
3Argel"El Amor de Mi Vida"
3Jonathan"El Amor de Mi Vida"

Antonio Orozco and the a cappella group Nota were the guest artists. The contestants with fewest votes were Cubans Argel and Massiel. The judges decided to save Massiel.

Eleventh night: April 23, 2011

Due to the celebration of Holy Week, all the performances of the show were of spiritual or religious songs. The contestants opened the show singing "Creeré" of Christian duo Tercer Cielo.
OrderContestantSong MMDRRSTotalResult
1FM5"Imagine" 10101030Safe
2Abimelec"El Privilegio de Amar" ???29Safe
3Jonathan"Todo se lo Debo a El" 1091029Safe
4Massiel"Un Largo Viaje" ???28Safe
5NXO"Yo te Extrañare" ???28Safe
6Diomary"¿Y tu Cómo Estás?" ???27Saved
7Yaza"Llegar a Ti" ???27Safe
8Favela"Juan en la Ciudad" ???27Safe
9Yeika"Contigo o Sin Tí" ???27Eliminated

Also, some contestants had a chance to sing an additional song with a special guest.
OrderContestantSong
1FM5"Quiero Alcanzarte"
2Jonathan"La Gloria de Dios"
3Yeika"Que te Ama"

In the end, the contestants with fewest votes were Diomary and Yeika. After much deliberation, the judges decided to save Diomary.

Twelfth night: April 30, 2011

The show was dedicated to 80s music. All the contestants sang in the opening which featured songs like "Súbete a Mi Moto", "Mi Banda Toca Rock", and "A Volar", from 80s boyband Menudo.
OrderContestantSong MMDRRSTotalResult
1FM5"Se Me Sigue Olvidando" 10101030Safe
2Jonathan"Mi Mundo" 10101030Safe
3NXO"Un Buen Perdedor" 10101030Saved
4Diomary"Volvió Juanita" 910928Safe
5Yaza"No Digas Nada" 109928Safe
6Abimelec"Pero Lo Dudo" 99927Safe
7Massiel"Eclipse Total del Amor" ???27Eliminated
8Favela"Tan Enamorados" 86721Safe

The contestants had an opportunity to sing a song with other contestants, although no points were given.
OrderContestantSong
1FM5"Ese Hombre"
1Massiel"Ese Hombre"
2NXO"Este Ritmo se Baila Así"
2Jonathan"Este Ritmo se Baila Así"
3Abimelec"Yo Se Que Volverás"
3Diomary"Yo Se Que Volverás"
4Favela"Perdóname y Olvídalo"
4Yaza"Perdóname y Olvídalo"

Singer Divino was the guest artist of the night. The two contestants with fewest votes were NXO and Massiel. The judges unanimously decided to save NXO.

Thirteenth night: May 7, 2011

OrderContestantSong MMDRRSTotalResult
1FM5"Tu Ausencia"10101030Safe
2Jonathan"Mi Esposa" 10101030Safe
3Favela"Kilómetros" 109928Safe
4Yaza"Sueños Rotos" 910928Safe
5Abimelec"Si Ella Supiera" ?????Eliminated
6Diomary"A Mi Manera"10101030Eliminated
7NXO"Vive Ya" 9101029Eliminated

Final night: May 14, 2011

OrderContestantSong TotalResult
1FM5"No Me Quiero Enamorar" 55%WINNER
2Jonathan"Fuera de Este Mundo" 21%Safe
3Favela"Desde Hoy" 13%Safe
4Yaza"Pero Me Acuerdo de Ti" 11%Safe

Also, during the presentation each finalist had a special presentation with a guest singer.
OrderContestantSong
1FM5"Rayando El Sol"
2Jonathan"Se Acabó"
3Favela"Estoy Enamorado"
4Yaza"Estoy Enamorada"

Finally, the two finalists had a chance to sing their own compositions. Jonathan sang "Misterio" and FM5 sang "Ni Una Lágrima". At the end of the show, FM5 was announced as the winner of the competition with 55% of the votes.

Elimination chart

1 Due to a production error in the vote tally the previous week, the audience was asked to vote if they wanted to skip the elimination process, resulting in no eliminations during the second week.

Reception

During the final weeks of the competition, producer Soraya Sánchez was asked about the show's ratings to which she replied that "they've been good in general" and that they were "in a good path". Sánchez has said that she is looking forward to future seasons of the singing competition show and that this first experience was "a promising start". She also said that the participation in the voting was at "half a million votes".