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The first tune I became enamored with
My most primal memory is walking into a space at kindergarten where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was enthralled by the sound effects, and John Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the chorus, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The inaugural single I acquired
When I was eight years old, I was victorious in a competition at school to choose a new record to play at the mini disco we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to a local store, and I chose Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I bought with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was topping the charts at the time, and I chose it when my dad noted that it was by one of the Beatles.

The song I sing at sing-along
I candidly cannot stand karaoke and dodge it at all costs. But under duress, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The piece I inexplicably recite all the words to
I recently realised 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 best song to play at a party
It hinges on which phase of the party you are at. At the start it would probably 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 really kicks off, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an undeniable hit.

The track I can no longer hear
I strangely loathe Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The ultimate song to have sex to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The album that altered my perspective
When I was 12 and just learning to study the guitar, I’d only listen to 1950s rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on Elvis, the rock pioneer, the killer, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter brought round Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock music. As soon as he placed the vinyl on the record player, I was a fan for life.

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

The song that gets me emotional
Most music leaves me emotional. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the melody and utter beauty of the vocals. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner gets me going consistently.

The song I’d like to be played at my funeral
The King. 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.