21stCenturyBoy

Here in the UK, BMG have taken over responsibility for promoting British artists at the Eurovision Song Contest. They have a massive promotional arm and are particularly effective at pushing songs on streaming platforms. I think this is a great move for the future of Idol (now they can bring someone in from BMG to replace Bobby as in-house mentor).

Thank God!

I really miss Jimmy Iovine and thought he was a fantastic in-house mentor (much better than Randy, Scott or B*bby). He wasn’t afraid to challenge contestants if he thought they were getting complacent or over-stretching their ability, and seemed to genuinely care about their progress. The show really lost something when he left.

I hate this format. Why can't they cut out the flabby middle TOP 24 / TOP 16 / TOP 16 redux shows and give us at least an extra week of Finals? Even something like Top 12 / Top 10 / Top 8 / Top 6 / Top 4 / Top 3 would be better. Only a week shorter than the final run on Fox, but enough time for contestants to have some kind of arc. It would make the eliminations mean something more, too, rather than a tacked on boot at the end of the show.

Arthur's performance of Iris was average-to-poor and a classic example of a a contestant putting artistry ahead of listenability. EDIT And if Elise can be classed as a rocker girl, the judges had phases of really liking her (One & Only, Vienna, Whole Lotta Love) and then wanting to shake her because of poor song choices (pretty much the rest of the time).

If they are in the market for new / replacement judges, I’d love to see one of: Charlie Puth - Given he was already in the mix for Lionel’s spot in (reboot) season one, he’d be an easy get. Shania Twain - She just seems fun and I loved her on The Voice. Nile Rodgers - He’s worked with everyone, seems pretty chill but, when he subbed for Robbie Williams on X Factor, wasn’t afraid to give criticism. Lizzo - I think she’d be incredible. She’s got a fantastic voice and sense of artistry and her career is massively on the ascendancy. She spans genres and I think would bring a really cool new dynamic to the show. In fact, I’d be pretty happy if the above four were the panel. Nice mix of genres and personality types.

This is pretty tough but here's where I'm at... Beane - Use Me (Bill Withers) Caleb - Die A Happy Man (Thomas Rhett) Cecil - Memory I Don't Mess With (Lee Brice) Chayce - Give Me Love (Ed Sheeran) Collin - Hypersonic Missiles (Sam Fender) DeShawn - As I Am (Justin Bieber, Khalid) Graham - You Are The Best Thing (Ray LaMontagne) Hunter - Dandelions (Ruth B. - bit of an off-piste choice, but really think he could have a moment with this if he reworked it to fit his style) Jason - I'm Goin' Down (Rose Royce) Wyatt - Cough Syrup (Young The Giant) Willie - Human (Rag'n'Bone Man) Alana - Dancing With The Devil (Demi Lovato) Alanis - Team (Lorde) Alyssa - Golden Slumbers (The Beatles, but Jennifer Hudson arrangement from Sing!) Andrea - Don't Kill My Vibe (Sigrid) Anilee - Cry To Me (Solomon Burke) Ava - 1234 (Feist) Casey - More Hearts Than Mine (Ingrid Andreas) Cassandra - Emmylou (First Aid Kit) Grace - God Bless This Mess (Jillian Jacqueline) Hannah - Last Name (Carrie Underwood) Liahona - Look What You Made Me Do (Taylor Swift) Madison - Midnight Sky (Miley Cyrus) Mary Jo - This Town (Niall Horan)

I wonder if the 10 returning artists will compete in their own wildcard round for a spot in the Top 12/13?

Its looking like the rest of the reveals are going to be: Today - One more name still to come (although we don't know when or where) Tomorrow - One on the Zoe Ball Breakfast Show, one on Lorriane and two on This Morning Friday - One on Steve Wright's Radio 2 show and maybe one elsewhere if we're having a cast of 13 Exciting stuff! The only solid rumour yet to be confirmed is Bill Bailey - the rest are all surprises!

And 2-time Olympic gold medal winning boxer (and the first out LGBTQ+ person to win Gold) Nicola Adams has signed up, and confirmed she’s asked to be in a same sex partnership.

Clara Amfo was confirmed on Radio 1 just now. I think she’ll be one to watch! Good Morning Britain presenter / journalist Ranvir Singh has also been confirmed. Shaping up to be a great cast!

The return of the erstwhile Idol Gives Back?

I could definitely see Makalya pulling off Dangerous Woman! I've had a bit of a think (the joys of lockdown) and have come with up something for each of the Top 21: Aliana: Walking On Sunshine (Katrina & The Waves) Cyniah: This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) (Natalie Cole) Faith: Work It Out (Beyonce) Grace: A Little Dive Bar in Dahlonega (Ashley McBryde) Julia: God Bless This Mess (Jillian Jacqueline) Just Sam: Lean On (Major Lazer, MO & DJ Snake) Lauren: Emmylou (First Aid Kit) Lauren Spencer-Smith: Rescue (Lauren Daigle) Kimmy: Tattooed Heart (Ariana Grande) Makayla: Love Is Blindness (Jack White) Olivia: Nutbush City Limits (Ike & Tina Turner) Sophia: Put The Gun Down (ZZ Ward) Arthur: Downtown Train (Tom Waits) DeWayne: You Are The Reason (Calum Scott) Dillon: I And Love And You (The Avett Brothers) Francisco: Slow Hand (Niall Horan) Franklin: Flow With It (St. Paul & The Broken Bones) Jonny: Circles (Post Malone) Jovin: Glitter & Gold (Barns Courtney) Louis: The Sound (1975) Nick: Testify (NEEDTOBREATHE)

Given that we now know our Top 20 (well, 21) artists for this season, it got me thinking what songs I'd like to see each of them tackle. Share your ideas below!