January 15, 2011, 4:00 pm

American Idol Finalists: Beatles? Are They New?

American Idol host Ryan Seacrest has revealed that some of this year’s hopefuls had never heard a Beatles song before they entered the competition.

This season, approximately 60 contestants were flown out to Las Vegas where they were asked to perform Beatles tunes up on stage. Seacrest, interviewing a handful of them, asked them what they thought of the songs. Ryan revealed that some of them replied with “‘I’ve never heard a Beatles song before in my life!”

I’m just a little appalled. You want to be a music artist, and yet, even being as young as some may be, they have never heard a Beatles song? Not even a re-made track? Ryan said, “They had to learn the Beatles songs in 24 hours. It makes for some compelling television… and surprising.”

Are you surprised?

American Idol will premier on January 19th at 8/7c on Fox.