The first song I fell in love with
I was going out with this Jamaican girl when we were about 15, and would listen to Night Nurse by Gregory Isaacs all the time. We had a daughter together when we were 17 – she’s 35 now and works as a social worker in Bristol – so that song has always stayed with me.
The song that makes me cry
Astral Weeks by Van Morrison, because it reminds me of my mum and growing up in Bristol. He sings about his mum dressing him and showing him pictures, and my mum was exactly like that. In every childhood photo I’m in a shirt and tie and looking proper.
The first single I bought
I remember getting on the bus from Knowle West into town to buy the Specials album. I was obsessed with the artwork and the sleeve notes. I sat on the bus reading everything on the way home and listened to it for three days straight.
The song I know all the lyrics to
I can still rap every word of Check Out My Melody by Eric B and Rakim off the top of my head, 40 years later.
The best song to play at a party
Song 2 by Blur, because of that riff. I still listen to it now. I was listening to it yesterday in my hotel room. I put on my headphones, smoked some hashish and played Song 2.
The song I can no longer listen to
There honestly isn’t one. Songs I loved years ago – Purple Rain by Prince or Fight the Power by Public Enemy – I can still listen to now.
The song I do at karaoke
I can’t say I’ve ever done karaoke, but if I had to, I’d probably do True Colors by Cyndi Lauper.
The song that gets me up in the morning
Release Yo’ Delf by Method Man gets me moving.
The best song to have sex to
People have been telling me for years: “Me and my partner have sex to your music.” Some people have even said they’ve conceived to my music, which is all very flattering. But I don’t think sex and music even go together, so it’s always seemed a bit weird to me.
The song that changed my life
I loved Prince, but I knew I could never sing like him. Then I heard Too Much Too Young by the Specials and saw them live. Terry Hall and Neville Staple were singing about the life I knew. Suddenly it felt possible. They made me realise I could do that, too.
The song I secretly like, but tell everyone I hate
Breathe Me by Sia is fucking gorgeous. I don’t really know any of her other stuff, which is bad, because I probably should.
The song I’d like played at my funeral
I’m never going to die, so there’s no need to think about that.
Tricky’s album When It’s Silent is out now.
