Sing, sing a song. . .

MUSIC has the power to make you feel a host of different emotions and help you relive life’s key moments.

Everyone has a favourite style of music, but deciding on your all-time favourite tune can be a difficult task.

I’m painfully torn between the works of Take That, Morrissey and Winehouse and simply can’t choose one track over another.

When asked for their favourite Beatles song at an event held in Liverpool to celebrate the work of the Fab Four, Gordon Brown opted for “All My Loving”, David Cameron chose “The Long and Winding Road” and Nick Clegg plumped for “A Day in the Life”.

I decided to quiz a number of well-known Oldhamers to see which songs make it to the top of their lists.

These are their answers . . .



John Stapleton (GMTV presenter and former Oldham Chronicle reporter)



“Take it to the Limit” The Eagles.

“They are my all-time favourite band whose music I play daily and even take away on holiday. Why ? — because I just love their mixture of rock and folk, because it evokes so many memories of yesteryear and because they are such pros — the only band I have ever seen whose performance on stage matches precisely that on CD. It’s little wonder ‘The Best Of The Eagles’ is the best selling album of all time.”




Judith Barker (Oldham actress)



“Its so difficult to decide. Particular favourites are ‘You’re the Top’ (Ethel Merman), ‘I Have Dreamed’ (Frank Sinatra), ‘My Romance’ (Carly Simon), as well as favourite Abba/Bee Gees/ Marvin Gaye songs and glorious numbers from many musicals I have seen over the years.

“As things are, however, with four grandchildren and another on the way by the end of the year, if I had to choose one it would have to be ‘Not While I’m Around’ by Stephen Sondheim from Sweeney Todd.”




Jeff Hordley (actor and DJ at 96.2 The Revolution)



“The Snake” — Al Wilson

“It reminds of the good times DJ-ing and has now become a firm favourite of my daughter’s too. She is always asking for the snake song.”




Phil Beckett (DJ and head of music at 96.2 The Revolution Drive Time, 4-8pm)



“The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” — Roberta Flack

“Written by Salfordian Ewan McColl (Kirsty’s dad) it reminds me of being a kid and my mum and dad being totally in love (as they still are — yuk), but listening to it now it could have been written for my kids; that feeling of overwhelming unconditional love you feel when you first see them. Until the sleepless nights and dirty nappies kick in, that is.”




Rachel (DJ at 96.2 The Revolution Rock Show, Wednesday, 10pm)



“Another Girl Another Planet” — The Only Ones

“This has to be one of the few tunes that stacks up in today’s indie-rock-tastic-planet. I turn it up full blast. Can’t help myself. It never fails to put a grin on my face and if I arrive and it’s not finished I absolutely have to go back around the block till the last cord has been strummed.”




Phil Woolas (Labour MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth)



“These Foolish Things”

— Bryan Ferry

“He takes a sad song and makes it happy - an approach we should all have to life.”




Howard Sykes (Liberal Democrat leader of Oldham Council)



“Supper’s Ready”

— Genesis

“It is one full side of an LP for us vinyl generation people and Genesis are still my favourite band who I saw again last summer at Old Trafford.

“From my early teens to now it is by far my most listened-to piece of music, so it has stood the test of time for me for over 30 years.”




John Sheridan (Latics manager)



“You’re My First, My Last, My Everything” —Barry White

“It makes me want to dance and make love.”



Mark Allott (Latics


midfielder)



“Wonderwall”

— Oasis

“Reminds me of my youth.”




Kelvin Lomax (Latics defender)



“Red Red Wine”

— UB40

“My dad used to play it all the time.”




Neal Eardley (Latics defender)



“Mr Brightside”

— The Killers

“Reminds me of my first holiday away with the lads.”




Mark Crossley (Latics goalkeeper)



“Lying in the Sun” — Stereophonics

“The reason is in the title.”