The first song I remember hearing
I shared a bedroom with my two big sisters, and remember being put in an oversize nightie that trailed behind me like a fabulous gown, and made to lip-sync to I Will Survive. This was before RuPaul’s Drag Race, so I was way ahead of the curve.
The first single I bought
I wish it was a cool one, but as I’m so giving and selfless, it was a charity single for Great Ormond Street hospital called The Wishing Well. By about 12, I was allowed to go into Bolton town centre by myself, and would head to the Body Shop, Our Price and Greggs – the height of sophistication.
The song I do at karaoke
I’ve only done karaoke once, when my husband worked in advertising and we went back to one of the bosses from Sony’s house after a few drinks – because Sony were one of his clients – and I sang Don’t You Want Me by the Human League, hoping it would help him win the contract.
The song I inexplicably know every lyric to
When I was getting to know my horse – an Irish sports horse called Nelly – I would sing 9 to 5 by Dolly Parton. When you sing, you can’t tense your buttocks, and a horse can sense when you’re tense. I’d sing so we were both relaxed.
The song I secretly like but tell everybody I hate
I’ve got loads of guilty pleasures, although I’m quite honest about them. I’m out and proud about my love of All Rise by Blue.
The song I can no longer listen to
I just can’t listen to any Red Hot Chili Peppers. That sort of funk rock really makes my toes curl. I love Dave Grohl and he brings great vibes, but the Foo Fighters leave me cold. I dread having to play either on the radio.
The best song to have sex to
Tubthumping by Chumbawamba.
The song I wish I’d written
Anything by Carly Simon. I’ll go for Nobody Does It Better.
The song that changed my life
There’s a great song by the Beatles called For No One. Whenever I’ve got to the end of a relationship, it’s given me huge strength. It’s very much: she wakes up, she takes the time, need to worry. It’s slightly passive aggressive: I’m beyond this now, it’s death by 1,000 cuts and you’re at the 999th cut. It’s really empowering, a bit of a fuck you, even though it was probably written with peace and love, knowing the Beatles. I still play it after an argument, but my husband doesn’t need to worry. I still love him.
The song that gets me up in the morning
Out of Space by the Prodigy has to be one of the best songs to ramp up your heartbeat and get you feeling bouncy. I try to slip it into the first half-hour of my shows as much as I legally can.
The song I want played at my funeral
All Rise by Blue might give me some Jesus vibes, but there could be complaints. So I’ll have Tubthumping by Chumbawamba.
Sara Cox’s show is Monday to Friday, 5pm to 7pm, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds.
