A week after it transpired that he loves Kylie Minogue, the King has now paid tribute to the “marvellous, infectious energy” of Bob Marley as part of his favourite songs playlist.
Charles IIICommonwealth Day by partnering with Apple Music to launch The King’s Music Room show – where he has put together his favourite songs (or, at least, those that were chosen as his favourite songs).
In collaboration with Apple, the monarch has expressed his love for a diverse range of music, from across the Commonwealth. And as well as Jamaica’s Marley and Australia’s Kylie, he has said he is a fan of Grace Jones, Davido and Raye.
The King has announced his collaboration to be: “A musical journey that spans 10 decades and reflects the diversity of the Commonwealth and a personal taste shaped by extraordinary experiences around the world.”
After calling Minogue the “princess of pop”, the King paid tribute to Marley by adding his song Could You Be Loved to the playlist.
“It has that infectious energy which makes it, I find, incredibly hard to sit still,” he said. “There is such an irresistibly joyous feeling to that song.”
Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, who sang at his wedding to Diana, is also included, as is Diana Ross, Beyoncé and Raye.
But while some older numbers feel on brand for Charles, Guardian music critic Alexis Petritis has expressed doubt that the monarch was totally behind all of the choices.
“Is King Charles really a fan of Afrobeats, with a particular penchant for Nigeria’s Davido?” he wrote. “Do he and Camilla bust moves of an evening to Beyoncé’s Crazy in Love? At the risk of sounding like a hopeless cynic, it doesn’t seem terribly likely, does it?”
Whether decided by Charles himself, a committee, or a mixture of both – here are the songs put forward by the King as his favourites for Commonwealth Day.
What is on King Charles' playlist?
The playlist is being shared on Apple Music from Monday - but here are the choices, from pop to reggae to calypso via Afrobeats. We’re only really missing a rock song or a dance hit.
Kylie Minogue – The Loco-Motion
The King said he met Kylie in 2012 ahead of a Prince’s Trust performance. The 1987 release by Minogue is a cover of the 1960s Gerry Goffin and Carole King original.
"The song is The Loco-Motion, and this is music for dancing,” he said. “Again, it has that infectious energy which makes it, I find, incredibly hard to sit still!”
Diana Ross – Upside Down
Charles says this one dates back to his youth.
"This very last song is one of my particular favourites… and, when I was much younger, it was absolutely impossible not to get up and dance when it was played! So, I wonder if I can still just manage it...?!"
Raye – Love Me Again
The 2019 release dates back to when Raye was still very much a major label player in a period before her self-released debut album brought her into the big leagues.
Charles said he was “pleased” to meet her at a King’s Trust event in Battersea.
Beyoncé – Crazy in Love
The singer’s breakthrough solo hit, performed with Jay-Z, came out in 2003 – around the time when she met Charles at a fashion event for the Prince’s Trust.
“…a performer so exceptional that I just could not resist including her music,” he said of the singer.
Bob Marley & The Wailers – Could You Be Loved
While not admitting to divulging in all of Tuff Gong’s lifestyle, the King did heap praise on Marley.
“I remember when he came to London to perform, when I was much younger, and I met him at some event,” the king recalled.
Millie Small – My Boy Lollipop
One of a few cover versions of songs included is the 1964 version of this classic, recorded by Millie Small.
The late singer, who passed in 2020, is one of several Jamaicans on the playlist.
Al Bowlly – The Very Thought of You
The South African / Mozambique singer made a name for himself in London in the 1920s before his untimely death aged just 42.
Grace Jones – La Vie En Rose
Another Jamaican singer who Charles has expressed he’s a fan of.
He included Jones’s version of the Édith Piaf classic.
Daddy Lumba – Mpempem Do Me
The 2008 song is a nod to Charles’s appreciation of Ghana – a country he has visited a few times.
Of the song, he described “the urge to dance to that pulsating rhythm”.
Davido – Kante (feat Fave)
Another West African choice, Charles is not your most obvious candidate for being a fan of Afrobeats but he did apparently sign it off after a listening party in Sandringham.
Miriam Makeba – The Click Song
Back to the 1960s for this one, Charles has selected this version of The Click Song – traditionally performed at weddings for the Xhosa people of South Africa.
Jools Holland & Ruby Turner – My Country Man
From 2015, the song was the product of a collaboration between Jools Holland and one of his frequent guest singers, Ruby Turner.
The three were all present at a Platinum Jubilee celebration in 2022 and it’s possible that Charles heard the song then.
Anoushka Shankar – Indian Summer
Celebrating Indian music, Charles gave a shout out to this 2013 hit by Shankar.
Shankar is a well-known sitar player and is based in the US, having been born in London.
Siti Nurhaliza – Anta Permana
Whether a genuine fan, or wanting to get all sides of the Commonwealth represented, Charles has selected this one by the Malaysian singer Siti Nurhaliza.
“I wanted to share songs that brought me joy,” he said.
Dame Kiri Te Kanawa – E Te Iwi E (Call to the People)
Dame Kiri Te Kanawa sang at Charles’s first wedding and is perhaps the most obvious choice to acknowledge New Zealand on the Commonwealth list.
Michael Bublé – Haven’t Met You Yet
Proof that Bublé doesn’t only come out at Christmas, Charles has paid tribute to the Canadian by including the crooner’s 2009 hit.
Arrow – Hot Hot Hot
And, finally, the King has ended with this seven-minute calypso number from the Montserratian musician.
This popular party anthem of the 1980s has apparently caught the attention of the King – or, at least, that of his retainers!
