Sidetracked with Annie and Nick

In a monumental week for music news, Annie and Nick sit down to discuss their thoughts on Madonna’s long-awaited Confessions II – after months of worrying it might be anticlimactic, what do they think about the album?
And Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce had one of the most musically relevant weddings of all time but what should we learn from their rumoured choice of first dance song? And are there any rules we should stick to for wedding playlists?
Plus, Wonderwall is having a moment in the 2026 World Cup, could Oasis get involved if England make the Final?
Annie and Nick also speak to the incredible producer and musician, James Ellis Ford, about his upcoming album. James has produced albums for Arctic Monkeys, Pulp, Florence and the Machine, Jessie Ware, Fontaines D.C., Carly Rae Jepsen, the Pet Shop Boys, and so many more. He talks to Annie and Nick about how he works with artists to create truly brilliant music, and how it was to make this latest solo album in a completely isolated and daunting environment – a hospital room. Plus, is James worried about how AI will change the way music producers have to work?
Lost in Another World is out on 14th August (Nick’s birthday)
Get in touch with Annie and Nick! You can send a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk
And you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel, which you can find in the BBC Sounds Instagram.
SONGS
Oasis – Wonderwall
Tina Turner - Simply the Best
Madonna – Danceteria
Madonna - One Step Away
Madonna – L.E.S Girl
Lil Louis - French Kiss
Candi Staton - Young Hearts Run Free
Maroon 5 - She Will Be Loved
Womack & Womack – Teardrops
Janet Jackson - That's the Way Love Goes
ALBUMS
Madonna - Confessions II
Madonna – Confessions on a Dance Floor
James Ellis Ford - Lost in Another World
War Child Records- Help(2)
Charli XCX - brat

Bad Bunny came to London and Nick may never be the same again. What is it about Benito that makes his music and live performances so impactful? Nick tells Annie why the show made him cry – and confesses to one embarrassing detail.
Elsewhere, Charli XCX came on the 6 Music Breakfast Show and Sidetracked investigates whether she told a big fat lie. Plus, why is Noah Kahan talking about poo at gigs? This - on top of Olivia Rodrigo’s previous comments about people wearing nappies to her shows - prompts Annie and Nick to give a stern talking-to to front row fans.
Get in touch with Annie and Nick! You can send a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk
And you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel, which you can find in the BBC Sounds Instagram.
SONGS
Luther Vandross - Never Too Much
Fugees - Killing Me Softly With His Song
Charli XCX – Wink Wink
Madonna - Hollywood
Noah Kahan - Stick Season
Lauryn Hill – Ex-Factor
Fugees – Ready or Not
Daft Punk - Voyager
PJ Harvey - Voyager
earthsignchels - Daddy Died [we recommend you watch the video]
Robyn – Call Your Girlfriend

ALBUMS
Charli XCX – Music, Fashion, Film
Bad Bunny - DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS
Alewya - Zero
Beth Orton – The Ground Above

Annie and Nick discuss rumours of Adele returning to music, after she was seen attending one of Lola Young’s London shows. What might a new Adele album sound like? And what is it about her that means any record is guaranteed to be brilliant?
Elsewhere, Madonna has revealed why the planned biopic of her life was canned, James Blake has called out the growing fakery of the music industry, and Bad Bunny is coming to London.
Plus, why can’t Annie and Nick remember if they’ve met Solange?
Get in touch with Annie and Nick! You can send a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk
And you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel, which you can find in the BBC Sounds Instagram

SONGS
Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water
Adele - Hometown Glory
Adele – Daydreamer
SZA - Saturn
Cher - Believe

ALBUMS
Madonna - Veronica Electronica
Madonna – Confessions II
Adele - 19
Olivia Rodrigo - Guts

Annie and Nick dissect Olivia Rodrigo’s new album and analyse the online theories that Taylor Swift might be jealous. What is it about Olivia that speaks to such a vast and diverse audience? And what does she have to do with the England football team?
Elsewhere, Annie has conflicting feelings about embracing AI; it’s never been easier to make music with it but at what cost? And Phoebe Bridgers is planning for her next tour to be a phones free experience – does the backlash that ensued prove how problematic our relationships to our phones are? And why Nick thinks the UK government should extend the social media ban to all under-45s.
Plus, Nick’s mum is worried about Harry Styles, a Primavera round up, and Jeff Goldblum weighs in on the bird song debate.
Get in touch with Annie and Nick! You can send a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk
And you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel, which you can find in the BBC Sounds Instagram bio.

SONGS
Olivia Rodrigo & Robert Smith – what's wrong with me
Olivia Rodrigo – vampire
Madonna – Ray of Light
Madonna – Don’t Tell Me
Madonna - Music
ALBUMS
Olivia Rodrigo – you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love
Kamasi Washington - Fearless Movement
Madonna – Confessions II
Madonna – Ray of Light
Madonna – Music
Jeff Goldblum – Night Blooms

For this instalment of the Sidetracked Album Club, Annie and Nick venture back to 2009 and revisit the debut album from the xx. Why did this record stand out so much at the time, and does it hold up 17 years later? And why did the band make Annie and Nick so nervous?
Plus, how the BBC handled the death of Michael Jackson, La Roux nostalgia, and one listener grapples with cringe GCSE Drama memories.
And what if the Rolling Stones had been managed like the Sugababes were in the noughties?
Get in touch with Annie and Nick! You can send a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk
And you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel, which you can find in the BBC Sounds Instagram bio.
SONGS
The xx - Crystallised
The xx - Intro
The xx - Infinity
Paolo Nutini - New Shoes
Lady Gaga - Poker Face
Beyoncé - Single Ladies
ALBUMS
The xx – xx
Michael Jackson – The Collection

Beyoncé - I Am... Sasha Fierce
Black Eyed Peas - The E.N.D.
Paolo Nutini - Sunny Side Up
The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses
Florence + The Machine - Lungs
La Roux - La Roux
Lady Gaga - The Fame
Noisettes - Wild Young Hearts
Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper
Lunatic Asylum
LCD Soundsystem – LCD Soundsystem