gooddelta

Well done Julian/ABBA! On paper they probably have the strongest catalogue of all the artists sent, but as we know, it's all about song choice in this competition and I really admire the way you weaved some underrated gems like Eagle and The Day Before You Came In, not to mention those tracks right at the start which put ABBA immediately in jeopardy, yet left their huge hits open for the latter rounds - so well played strategically and this final song was of course the obvious and best choice. ABBA still have about 15 big hits or classic songs in the tank unused too! I was 100% sure you were ABBA from the first round (for some reason it always sticks in my head that you ranked Agnetha as your all-time third favourite female artist in a Gezza rank, so stands to reason the group must be a big favourite), but Scene and Joseph being Kelly and Lily I hadn't called until recently. Kelly is the only other artist that could have beaten ABBA but it would have definitely taken Since U Been Gone to do it, so as that was used in the battle rounds this top three outcome felt like a very clear result to me (and tbh even then I'm not certain that could even get past The Winner Takes It All, but it would have been a closer battle). Nevertheless I love that Sober finally got its moment and Scene you played some cool choices, especially from the brilliant My December, plus Piece by Piece, the string of smashes from Breakaway and so many more <3 I ranked them 1) ABBA, 2) Kelly, 3) Lily, but the first two are all-time favourites <3 Never really been that much into Hard Out Here but Joseph has played Lily so brilliantly (I was so sure you were Atomic Kitten for almost the whole thing!). Showcasing a lot of the best album of last year, plus some great cuts from across all of her other eras. Very well played all of you, and of course, biggest thanks and congrats to Calum for the herculean effort involved in this and amazing hosting. I loved being part of it this time! I knew Delta never stood a chance but I couldn't not play her, with the opportunity to share so many of my all-time faves. Going to have a think for next year on who could potentially be competitive but who I also love (and also from a different category).

Rontvian votes are in, very diverse semi, the second listen last night helped to cement my favourites, but 12 songs stood above the rest of the pack for me so hope they can all get through (unlikely going by the predictions currently).

I'm sure I predict a top ten for Aeroche nearly every month, but this is almost certainly one. Can see it crossing over more for sure. Cute choice!

Welcome back, this is a really impressive song and production, hopefully a top half finish for you.

New Lex sounds like a Q to me - gives me ABBA piano meets Sabrina vibes, which always goes down well here. Plenty of pop countries in its semi to support I'd have thought.

Ashanti I think, not one of my favourites from her, even less so since Aitch sampled it.

That's the third month in a row with a Scene DNQ prediction oops, going to have to overcome it AGAIN!

Voted. One mentor has played and timed everything to perfection by not throwing out an unbeatable song too early.

@Doctor Blind

BalladJack Song Contest come through

Sober finally used ❤️ A foreshadowing choice from ABBA or will the winner not take it all? Anyway two of my favourite songs ever here.

If the final had been held four months earlier I’d have put a sizeable bet on Underneath The Tree being able to win ❤️🎄

My sister got me Sophie Ellis-Bextor as I was out of the country for RSD ❤️ That’s really all I wanted. I was vaguely interested by Loreen/Ólafur Arnalds but only for completist purposes, the music from this project is not massively appealing to me so while I did see it in Bengans in Stockholm, I decided to leave it.

Huge congrats and commiserations to Wardy, Jay and ElectroBoy, you did these artists very proud and that Conan song was yet another great discovery (second in my vote which was a surprise to me when I love all of its competition). Certainly am intrigued to see if the winner will really take it all or if Kelly or Lily can find a song to beat the unbeatable.

Make A Move On Me, loved this at the time and bought it on single.