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BBC Sounds

For music and pop culture lovers looking for an authentic and light-hearted take on the week in music... with broadcasters and music fanatics Annie Macmanus and Nick Grimshaw.

Sidetracked with Annie and Nick

After an eye-opening survey by Live Nation, Annie and Nick discuss why more people would choose to go to a concert rather than have sex – and whether the both of those things belong in the same category. Otherwise this week, Nick attended a fashion show with Beth Ditto, and spotted a familiar face on the catwalk; and Annie was mesmerised by a Mulatu Astatke show. 

Plus, Lorde played the O2 and two listeners have strong opinions about it, CMAT is making people cry at her gigs, and BBC Introducing has been criticised for playing an “AI Artist” 

And Billie Eilish is taking on Elon Musk for not giving away his riches, but before they can decide who’s winning this feud, Annie and Nick need to work out how many billions are in a trillion.

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16, WhatsApp on 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk

SONGS 

Mark Morrison – Return of the Mack 

Mulatu Astatke - Tezeta 

Rosalía- Berghain 

Robyn – Dopamine 

Charli XCX – Chains of Love 

Hercules & Love Affair – Someone Else is Calling 

 
ALBUMS 

Mulatu Astatke - Mulatu Plays Mulatu 

Rosalía - LUX 

Lily Allen - West End Girl

Choosing Gigs Over Sex, Billie Eilish vs Elon Musk, and Lily Allen Smokes

The world reacts to Rosalía's new album and Annie and Nick debate whether there’s room for Berghain in the night club. Plus, the Grammy nominations have been announced, and rap music has fallen off the US charts prompting the question; do genres ever die? Elsewhere, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inducts new legends, Nick hears a song that inspires him to film a roundabout, and we discover the unlikely record that got Annie into DJing. Plus, is Charlie XCX’s new track suitable for early morning? 
Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16, WhatsApp on 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk 
 
SONGS 

Samantha Fu – Discotheque 

De La Soul – Buhloone Mindstate 

Blood Orange – Mind Loaded 

Joey Negro – Risky Biznizz 

Rosalía - Magnolia, Mio Cristo and La Perla 

Leon Thomas – Mutt 

Charlie XCX and John Cale – This House 

Handel – Messiah 
 
ALBUMS 

Rosalía - Lux 

Blood Orange – Essex Honey

Bad Bunny, Grammy Nominations and Rosalía Reactions

Annie and Nick follow the reaction of two major album releases this week from Dave and Lily Allen, with one breaking chart records and the other breaking the internet. They also look ahead to the much-anticipated album release from Rosalía, which left Nick wanting to see a chiropractor and make a ‘classical bangers’ playlist. 
Elsewhere, the pair discuss Erykah Badu’s mysterious messaging, Billie Eilish challenges billionaires, and the pair ponder some Grammy nomination predictions. 
Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16, WhatsApp on 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk 
 
SONGS 

Inflatable Boy Clams - Skeletons 

Jenny Beth – Savages 

Dave feat. Kano – Chapter 16 

Dave feat. James Blake – Selfish 

Rosalía feat. Björk and Yves Tumor – Berghain 

Krzysztof Penderecki - Symphony No. 3. 
 
ALBUMS 

Lily Allen – West End Girl 

Dave – The Boy Who Played Harp

Lily Allen think-pieces, Dave at number one, and is Rosalía pop?

What’s scarier: being haunted by ghosts, or promoting an album? It’s a Halloween special with Florence Welch. 

As she prepares to release her new record, Everybody Scream, Florence reveals the supernatural elements that inspired her. Plus, swapping playlists with Ethel Cain and Abigail Morris, using fear as a muse; and Annie and Nick reminisce about partying with Florence in the early days of all their careers. 

Florence Welch’s Halloween Music Recommendations: 

ØXN - The Trees, They Do Grow High 

ØXN - Cruel Mother 

Lingua Ignota – DO YOU DOUBT ME TRAITOR 

Anna Von Hausswolff –Theatre of Nature 

Hilary Woods - Acts of Light 

PJ Harvey - White Chalk 

Swans - It's Coming and It’s Real 

Judee Sill 

Storefront Church 

Other Albums Mentioned: 

Florence and the Machine – Everybody Scream 

Florence and the Machine – Lungs 

Florence and the Machine – Dance Fever 

The Cure – Songs of a Lost World 

Ethel Cain – Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You 

The Last Dinner Party – From the Pyre 

Other Songs Mentioned: 

The Cure – Friday I’m In Love 

Kendrick Lamar – Reincarnated 

Kesha – Supernatural

Sidetracked with Florence Welch

In a busy week for new music announcements, Annie and Nick look back and ahead. First though, Nick needs to talk about his newfound passion: Sumo Wrestling. Elsewhere, Rosalía and Dave have announced new music, and Lily Allen is dropping an album on Friday - which Annie and Nick have had a sneak preview of. In other news: what made this year’s Mercury Prize so much better than previous years? And of course, the sad news of D’Angelo’s death has allowed the world to pay tribute to his immense influence; Annie and Nick discuss their love for his music. 

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16, WhatsApp on 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk 

SONGS 

Lily Allen – West End Girl 

D’Angelo - Playa Playa 

D’Angelo - Untitled (How Does It Feel) 

Lauryn Hill & D’Angelo - Nothing Even Matters 

ALBUMS 

Dave – The Boy Who Played The Harp 

Lily Allen – West End Girl 

Rosalía - LUX 

Sam Fender – People Watching 

D’Angelo - Brown Sugar 

D’Angelo - Voodoo 

D’Angelo - Black Messiah

Lily Allen’s Storytelling, D’Angelo, and an Abundance of New Music

With a grassroots campaign against Spotify getting global attention, Annie and Nick ask if the platform faces any real existential threat – or is its grip on the market unbreakable?

Elsewhere, Drake’s lawsuit against Universal has been dismissed, Missy Elliot’s “Get Ur Freak On” has been declared the best song of the 21st century so far and FKA Twigs wants to help more women work in music. Plus, breaking news: Patti Smith is good, going out keeps you feeling young, and Crazy Frog sounds better with food.

SONGS 

Patti Smith – Gloria

Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us

Missy Elliott – Get Ur Freak On

Frank Ocean - Thinkin Bout You

Britney Spears - Toxic

Radiohead - Idioteque

Kendrick Lamar - Alright

Robyn - Dancing on My Own

Taylor Swift - All Too Well

The White Stripes - Seven Nation Army

Beyoncé feat. Jay Z - Crazy in Love

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Maps

RAYE – Where the Hell Is My Husband?

The Smiths – Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now

Axel F – Crazy Frog

ALBUMS

Chronixx – Exile

Missy Elliott, Spotify’s Influence, and Crazy Frog

Annie and Nick attempt to wrap their heads around Taylor Swift’s sales stats, in the days after the release of her 12th album, The Life of a Showgirl. And ask important questions such as: what motivates the most famous person in the world, did she really bake all that bread for breakfast radio hosts, and is she the female Ricky Martin? 

Elsewhere, Mariah Carey may be on the verge of finally releasing the original version of her grunge album, Charli XCX is back in the studio, and Bad Bunny is fit. Plus, a twist: Nick has changed his mind about K-Pop Demon Hunters. 

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16, WhatsApp on 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk 

SONGS 

Q-Tip – Vivrant Thing 

Q-Tip – Breathe and Stop 

Mustafa – Stay Alive 

HUNTR/X, Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami – Golden 

Lianne La Havas – Disarray 

Danny Brown – Starburst 

Taylor Swift – Actually Romantic 

Charli XCX – Sympathy is a Knife 

Aqua – Barbie Girl 

Ace of Base - All That She Wants (Is Another Baby) 

Technotronic - Pump Up The Jam 

Patti Smith - Gloria 

ALBUMS 

Q-Tip – Amplified 

Doja Cat – Vie 

Chick – Someone's Ugly Daughter 

Mariah Carey – Daydream 

Taylor Swift – The Life of a Showgirl 

Taylor Swift – Folklore 

Charli XCX – brat 

Pink Pantheress – Fancy That

Taylor Swift’s Psyche, Bread, and Teaching Children About Vinyl

In a week that saw the terrorism case against Kneecap’s Mo Chara thrown out, and Bad Bunny announced as the performer at next year’s Super Bowl half-time show, Annie and Nick discuss the complex history of music and world events. Elsewhere, Rihanna and A$AP Rocky have announced the birth of their third child Rocki Irish Mayers, and Robyn might be about to release a new album. Plus, Annie has some grammatical feedback for Nick, and many questions about Geese. 

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16, WhatsApp on 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk 

 
SONGS 

Olivia Dean – Man I Need 

Bad Bunny - NUEVAYoL 

ALBUMS 

Olivia Dean – The Art of Loving 

Geese – Getting Killed 

Robyn – Honey 

Bad Bunny - Debí Tirar Más Fotos

Robyn Rumours, Banned Music, and Bad Bunny (Again)

Olivia Dean is the first British Female Artist since Adele to have three singles in the top 10 simultaneously and her single Man I Need is the highest performing song on the Global Spotify Chart from a UK artist in 2025 so far. Annie and Nick welcome Olivia to the Sidetracked studio, on the eve of the release of her second album, The Art of Loving. 

Olivia, Annie and Nick delve into the week in music: Cardi B’s long awaited second album, Frank Ocean addressing rumours of new music, and Miley Cyrus collaborating with Fleetwood Mac. Plus, the power of the comfort zone, British chocolate bars - and can AI write a convincing Olivia Dean song? 

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16, WhatsApp on 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk 

SONGS 

Olivia Dean - Man I Need 

Robbie Williams – Angels 

Robbie Williams – Rock DJ 

Cardi B, Lizzo – What's Goin On 

4 Non Blondes – What’s Up? 

Miley Cyrus, Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood – Secrets 

ALBUMS 

Olivia Dean – The Art of Loving 

Cardi B – Am I the Drama? 

Miley Cyrus – Something Beautiful 

Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

Sidetracked with Olivia Dean

Are phone-free experiences the future? Annie and Nick discuss the importance of forging real connections after an effective stickers-on-phones policy. Elsewhere, 90,000 Bowie artefacts are being exhibited at London’s V&A museum and Bad Bunny puts his fan’s safety first by deciding not to tour in the US. Plus, Cardi B takes album sales into her own hands, the 2026 Coachella line-up is (already) here, and Annie and Nick discuss their Mercury Prize winner predictions.
 
Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16, WhatsApp on 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk
 
 
ALBUMS

Cardi B – Am I the Drama? 

CMAT – EUROCOUNTRY 

Jacob Alon – In Limerence 

Pulp – More 

Fontaine’s D.C. - Romance 

Joe Webb - Hamstrings & Hurricanes 

Martin Carthy - Transform Me Then Into A Fish 

SL – Block Tales 
 
SONGS 
 
Selda Bağcan - İnce İnce Bir Kar Yağar

Bad Bunny, Bowie at The V&A, and Chicken Gate

Sabrina Carpenter has divided the internet this week with the artwork for her new album, Man’s Best Friend - but is it radical or regressive? Elsewhere, despite a famously rocky relationship with the Catholic Church and three ex-communications, it turns out that Madonna is related to the new Pope. Plus, Ticketmaster are in trouble again, Nick’s found a way to make DJ’ing easier and remembering the genius of Sly Stone and Brian Wilson.

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16 WhatsApp 079700 82700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk

Sabrina Carpenter, Madonna’s Unexpected Relative and Remembering Brian Wilson & Sly Stone

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