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The first song I fell in love with
My dad had a quite a small record collection, but it was pretty good, he had all the classics: Bob Marley, Bill Withers, Ella Fitzgerald, Tina Turner. But I vividly remember loving America by Simon and Garfunkel – there’s a sense of hope to it, like a feeling of wanting to escape. We spent a lot of time in the car, going on drives that didn’t really go anywhere, like that was our entertainment – we’d sing along in the car, me, my mum and dad.
The first single I bought
I remember my mum bought me a tape called Hardcore Ecstasy, which is a great compilation – I was genuinely seven. I just loved it. I think rave is so appealing to a seven-year-old, you know, it’s so noisy and vibrant. But the first song I remember buying is It’s Oh So Quiet by Björk, in Oldham’s HMV. It was weird and stuck out to me – I was nine. I think if I’m honest, I bought it based on the font and the silver metallic hyper-futuristic look – I didn’t know who she was, but I liked her DIY fringe.
The song I do at karaoke
I love karaoke. I like to do anything from Madonna’s back catalogue. I always attempt to rap, and it’s always a lot harder than I think. But I’m a big fan of Pulp’s Common People – that goes down very well and it’s a good communal singalong moment.
The song I inexplicably know every word to
It has ruined my brain remembering lyrics and not remembering anything useful from school. I played Dr Dre and Eminem in my teenage years a lot. I know word for word Juicy by the Notorious BIG, Big Momma Thang and Queen Bitch by Lil’ Kim, they are all cemented in there.
The best song to play at a party
I think Grace Jones is one of those artists who has such atmosphere in her music, she is someone that reminds me of how – in my head – I’d like to appear on a dancefloor … I definitely don’t. Pull Up to the Bumper is like a call to arms. I love the beat, the beeping cars and the city sounds – there’s something within it that feels like the essence of a good night out.
The song that makes me cry
I am a massive crier, anything can make me cry: adverts, dogs on Instagram. But Mio Cristo Piange Diamanti by Rosalía I find so viscerally honest. She sings in 13 different languages, and I just feel the emotion because I think she’s telling the truth. There is so much scale and depth, she really pushes herself to the limit. That song makes me cry.
The song that changed my life
Having an older brother and sister who went to gigs and clubbing felt really exciting to me as a kid. I would collect flyers before I even knew what a club was. I was really obsessed with being in their rooms, listening to whatever they were playing; A Guy Called Gerald, Joy Division, Kraftwerk, NWA. I wanted to be part of that world. I remember struggling with schoolwork and asking them for advice, they said: “Don’t get a real job, we’ve fallen for it. Go and do what you want.” They both saw Manchester and the scene in the city as something really special – music was important and Bizarre Love Triangle by New Order reminds me of my family and my need to do something in music.
The best song to have sex to
We have the radio on all the time at home. I just think it doesn’t really matter what’s on when you’re having sex. As long as it’s not one of your colleagues on the radio, Sara Cox or Huw Stephens. You also don’t want to hear your own trail.
The song that gets me up in the morning
I need silence first thing, but Yellow Eyes by Yebba is really nice in the morning.
The song I’d like played at my funeral
As someone that picks music every single day, I’d actually quite like a day off on my funeral. But I do like the idea of it feeling quite holy – I think everyone should be sad and go full crier. I’d like the soundscape of David Bowie’s Subterraneans – as everyone leaves the church – moody, atmospheric and dramatic.
Nick Grimshaw presents from the BBC Radio 6 Music festival, 28 March; all shows and sets are on BBC Sounds.
