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The first tune I was captivated by
My earliest memory is stepping into a space at kindergarten where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was enthralled by the sound effects, and Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the hook, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The very first single I purchased
When I was eight years old, I was victorious in a competition at school to choose a brand new record to play at the mini disco we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single I bought with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a music store in Colne. It was No 1 at the time, and I selected it when my dad noted that it was by one of the Beatles.

The tune I do at sing-along
I candidly do not enjoy karaoke and dodge it at all costs. But if forced, I’d select Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The song I strangely remember every lyric to
I not long ago discovered that I have memorized 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 song to blast at a soirée
It depends on what stage of the party you are at. For the beginning it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the evening progresses, I’d transition into the Artist, the Stones and Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an undeniable hit.

The song I can not bear
I strangely detest Mr Brightside by the Killers.

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

The record that altered my perspective
When I was 12 and starting to study the guitar, I’d only listen to 1950s rock ’n’roll, and was obsessed with The King, Chuck Berry, the killer, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter played Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was electrifying rock music. As soon as he dropped the record on the turntable, I was a fan for life.

The tune that wakes me in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.

The track that gets me emotional
All music makes me moved. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Fab Four all stir my emotions because of the melody and pure perfection of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley hits me hard every time.

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.