dandy*

This isn't even a flops round, it's essentially send a song you'd never want to represent your act with. Generally lowest streamed songs are lowest streamed songs for good reason. 😬 (unless of course you happen to have Adele)

01 Robyn 02 Kate Bush 03 Sophie 04 Adele 05 Marina 06 Zara

01 Depeche Mode 02 New Order 03 Fontaines DC 04 Texas 05 Bananarama 06 Sade

Agree with Rich, the groups were the strongest this round

I’ve listened to everything and would have voted like this if I were a judge (I’d have stuck solely to the chosen songs as I think that’s the only fair thing to do): Females 01: Zara 02: Robyn 03: Kate 04: Marina 05: Adele 06: Agnes 07: Sophie 08: Leona Top 4 leagues ahead of the bottom 4 for me. Very close between Agnes and Sophie, could easily have swapped them round on another day. Males 01: Gary Numan 02: Damien Rice 03: Calvin Harris 04: Sam Smith 05: Sam Fender 06: Tom Grennan 07: Darin 08: HRVY No shock that the twinks would have been in danger if I was deciding. Even the elder twink. Groups 01: New Order 02: Sade 03: iamamiwhoami 04: Bananarama 05: Depeche Mode 06: Fontaines DC 07: Years & Years 08: Texas I’ve surprised myself here when I realised I also would have reluctantly had to send Years and Years home.

We’ve all missed out on Pav being able to make the iconic announcement of iamiamamiwhoami 😢

I do think they are a brilliant act, but there are definitely some songs in that list that are substantially worse than their stronger material. I think you’ll disapprove of one of my low scores in particular, apologies in advance!

Just had a quick look at my rate and I gave 12 songs a score of 5 or less.

I voted last night in this. I may have given out a zero if I recall correctly.

Interesting! I definitely still don’t agree and in some ways probably agree even less now after the additional context 😂 I definitely don’t equate working with others as seeking help because they’re lacking in inspiration… I can think of loads of people from older eras who worked with others all the time - what about legends like Whitney, Cher, Madonna? None of those people played their own instruments and some didn’t even write the songs they were singing, yet I don’t think people would have had the same issues? Zara for example probably had equal involvement in Symphony as she did in Lush Life - just that one of those songs you know who else was involved and the other you don’t.

Yeah I can see the argument a bit more for that in terms of the first rounds where it’s supposed to be male - but ultimately Calvin is still the main artist, I think it’s just a clever pick.

Choosing your quote here Rollo but it applies to others who have made similar statements as I’m not sure I understand the logic behind this at all. It’s like inventing a reason that isn’t part of the rules and then suggesting it’s unfair? Why is it not okay for someone to feature with a song that they collaborated on with a known artist and share credits, but then people would be fine with songs where the artist is the only named person but still collaborated with producers and writers, just less famous ones who don’t get a credit? I think all of the features/collabs included so far have been entirely within the spirit of the contest so far with the act being the only notable singer - exception of Bladee of course! - and also all being part of the original recording and release. Same principle for Tubeway Army being fine for Gary Numan as well. I’d understand the logic a bit more it if it was something like Save Your Tears for Ariana Grande where people dial in a verse for a re-release single, but these collabs have been ones that have been main parts of the acts’ catalogues.

Argh this is so cruel, I don't really feel like Agnes' mentor has put a foot wrong either - really sorry for whoever is behind her

The Girl and the Robot! <3 <3 <3

Oh that's one of my fave Marina tracks as well, surely she'll be safe with that <3