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The first song I became enamored with
My most primal recollection is stepping into a room at nursery school where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the sonic landscape, and John Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the chorus, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The first single I acquired
When I was eight, I won a competition at school to choose a brand new record to play at the small dance we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first record I purchased with my own savings was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was topping the charts at the time, and I chose it when my father noted that it was by one of the Beatles.

The song I do at karaoke
I honestly cannot stand karaoke and dodge it at all costs. But under duress, I’d choose Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The song I strangely remember each line to
I not long ago became aware that I can recall pretty much every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The ideal track to blast at a soirée
It relies on which phase of the party you are at. For the beginning it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the evening progresses, I’d transition into Prince, the Rolling Stones and Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an undeniable hit.

The song I can no longer listen to
I inexplicably detest Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The ultimate piece to get intimate to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The record that transformed me
When I was 12 and just learning to play the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock and roll, and was obsessed with Elvis, Chuck Berry, the killer, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter played Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock music. Instantly after he dropped the vinyl on the turntable, I was hooked.

The song that wakes me in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by Ray Charles.

The track that makes me cry
Most music makes me moved. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Fab Four all bring a tear to my eye because of the harmony and pure perfection of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley strikes a chord without fail.

The song I’d like to be played at my final send-off
Elvis. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.