The song I inexplicably know all the lyrics to
Can’t Help Falling in Love by Elvis – the song I sent off on tape as my audition to Blue.
The song I do at karaoke
I had my 30th birthday party in a karaoke bar above a Chinese restaurant. My mum was doing It’s Raining Men by Geri Halliwell, just as Geri herself walked in, so she grabbed her, brought her on stage, and went: “Sing. It’s your song.” I thought: “Mum. She’s just arrived. Chill out!”
The first single I bought
I spent a lot of time with my grandparents because my mum was a nurse. My gran said pop music hurt her ears, so I asked my friend Tracy to buy me something from Woolworths that my gran would approve of. She bought Sadeness (Part I) by Enigma, which has Gregorian chanting and a sexual bit where a woman sounds as if she’s having an orgasm.
The first song I fell in love with
I remember jumping on the sofa, doing twizzles in the air, going mad to Fantasy Island by Tight Fit, maybe because my little gay self was in love with the guy in the zebra print headband from the video.
The song that makes me cry
The Spanish Netflix series called La Casa De Papel (Money Heist) that came out around lockdown is one of the best things I’ve ever seen. Every time I hear the title track, My Life Is Going On by Cecilia Krull, I cry like a baby.
The best song to have sex to
I was getting down with a random one-off, and he decided to put on One Love by Blue. I said: “Why would I want to make out listening to my own voice?” He said: “I thought it would be fun.” I said: “No. It’s creepy. You need to change the music as soon as possible.”
The song that changed my life
When we went to Norway to record All Rise, the producers wanted us to sing it very tough and staccato over this hardcore, techno, Europop beat. When we heard the finished version, it was nothing like we’d recorded; it became a worldwide hit and started Bluemania.
The best song to play at a party
I love a bit of musical theatre, so if someone plays Defying Gravity from Wicked, I’ll be up on a table.
The song I can no longer listen to
Every time I hear Meu Abrigo (My Shelter) by the Brazilian group Melim, it just reminds me of my ex, and makes me feel sad.
The song I secretly like, but tell everybody I hate
I do love a bit of cheese. I think Doctor Jones by Aqua is such a great record, even if it makes everyone question my musical taste.
The song I’d like played at my funeral
Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen is one of the greatest songs ever written, and a bit left field if you don’t want something sad and gloomy. You don’t want too much drama as you’re being cremated.
Blue’s new album Reflections is out now. They tour the UK from 7 April to 26 May.
