“Somebody Told Me” by The Killers is the song that took Mad-Dog to the Live Shows of X Factor 2026. In the Last Call episode broadcast on Thursday, October 15, the band from Sassari won one of the three seats on Paola Iezzi’s team, keeping it until the performances came to an end.

After recounting Mad-Dog’s qualification for the Live Shows, we take another look at Renato Marchisio, Davide Dore, Jacopo Sale and Luca Pintus’s performance: one that convinced their judge to continue the journey with them, while leaving them a few pointers to work on.

Watch Mad-Dog perform “Somebody Told Me” at Last Call

The Killers’ song continues the musical journey the band has showcased throughout the auditions. At the Auditions, they performed “Brianstorm” by Arctic Monkeys, earning four yeses and a standing ovation; at Bootcamp, “Take Me Out” by Franz Ferdinand won them another unanimous vote of approval.

For the final selection before the live shows, the four musicians from Sassari once again opted for 2000s rock, taking on a song where rhythm and the ability to sustain the performance are central.

Watch Mad-Dog’s Last Call performance below.

Paola Iezzi’s verdict: a seat and some advice for growth

Making it through came with a specific observation. Paola Iezzi noted that the performance was too fast, saying she would have liked more room for the groove and linking that frenetic pace to the emotion of the moment.

Overall, her assessment was positive: the judge recognized the group’s strengths and decided to give them a seat, sending Angelo DT1 off the stage.

For Mad-Dog, another wait began. The performances that followed could still have changed the team’s lineup, but the final switches involved other contestants. By the end of the selection, the band’s place was secure.

From Sassari’s stages to the Live Shows on October 22

On Paola Iezzi’s team, Mad-Dog will be joined by Manuel Gargano, known as Manù, and Camilla Guerini.

For the group formed in Sassari in 2023, which has already released the album Shame On Youth, a different phase now begins: preparing performances for the live shows alongside their judge. A new chapter in Mad-Dog’s story, from their first rehearsals to the X Factor stage.

The Live Shows begin on Thursday, October 22, from the Teatro Repower in Assago, on Sky Uno and streaming on NOW.