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The earliest song I was captivated by
My most primal recollection is entering a room at preschool where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the audio textures, and Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the refrain, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The very first record I acquired
When I was eight years old, I won a contest at school to pick a new vinyl to play at the weekly dance party we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to a local store, and I opted for Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I purchased with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a record shop in Colne. It was topping the charts at the time, and I selected it when my dad pointed out that it was by one of the Beatles.

The song I perform at karaoke
I frankly actively avoid public singing and dodge it at all costs. But under duress, I’d choose Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The piece I inexplicably know all the words to
I just discovered that I can recall pretty much every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The ideal tune to put on at a soirée
It hinges on which phase of the evening you are at. At the start it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the party deepens, I’d transition into Prince, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an massive track.

The song I can not bear
I inexplicably loathe Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The best song to have sex to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The record that transformed me
When I was 12 and beginning to play the six-string, I’d only listen to 1950s rock and roll, and was obsessed with Elvis, the rock pioneer, the killer, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder introduced me to Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was high voltage rock ’n’roll. Instantly after he put the record on the record player, I was hooked.

The song that wakes me in the AM
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by The Genius.

The song that makes me cry
Virtually any music leaves me touched. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Beatles all make me cry because of the harmony and pure brilliance of the singing. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley hits me hard without fail.

The music I’d like performed at my final send-off
Elvis. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.