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2 hours ago
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The first single I bought
Ally’s Tartan Army, the 1978 Scottish World Cup song, because England hadn’t qualified. I loved that Scottish team – Alan Rough, Martin Buchan, Gordon McQueen, Kenny Dalglish – and the 10-year-old me got completely swept up in World Cup fever.
The first song I fell in love with
When I was 17, I fell in love with a girl called Mary, who was this huge Smiths fan. I bought Hatful of Hollow so I could serenade her with William, It Was Really Nothing. I don’t think she adored me quite as much as she adored the Smiths.
The song I do at karaoke
I was celebrating my 29th birthday in Japan while doing promo for OK Computer. The head of Toshiba EMI, Mr Inagawa took us to a karaoke bar. By 1am, we were wearing prosthetic animal heads, and Mr Inagawa was in floods of tears as Thom sung My Way. I love karaoke when people are so inebriated, they’re like: “I fucking love you, let’s do Copacabana for the third time.”
The song I inexplicably know every lyric to
Fastlove by George Michael, who I really appreciate as a genius of pop. And, holy moly, his voice, which might sound odd coming from some guy from Radiohead.
The best song to play at a party
I was at a Halloween party in LA, all a bit cool and timid, when the DJ spun Daft Punk Is Playing at My House by LCD Soundsystem, and I thought: “Fucking hell, here we go.”
The best to song have sex to
It’s either music or sex for me. I’m much rather the sounds of nature: the river, the wind, each other.
The song I can no longer listen to
I don’t listen to indie music any more. I’ve had my fill of it. I’m done with guitar music in a way. I’m certainly glad I never have to listen to How Do You? by Radiohead any more.
The song I secretly like, but tell everyone I hate
I’ll be out with friends, hear a tune, and drift off because I’ve started analysing it. I heard The Captain of Her Heart by Double recently, something that I might once have dismissed as dubious, but now think: “This is a fucking good tune.”
The song that changed my life
Walking on the Moon by the Police made me want to pick up a guitar. The sound of Andy Summers’ guitar makes it sound like it was recorded on the moon.
The song that gets me up in the morning
Bach’s Mass in B minor.
The song that makes me cry
My new song Blue Morpho. When the kids were little, we lived in Brazil on a farm on the edge of the rainforest. It’s amazing how music can capture emotion. Any time I think of their childhood, I start crying.
The song I’d like played at my funeral
I sang in Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem in a choir as a kid. The final movement, In Paradisum, is one of the most beautiful, seemingly simple pieces of music. So I’ll have that, please.
Blue Morpho is out now. Ed O’Brien plays live in October.
