Jeremy Vine: My Life in Music and Honest Playlist

The broadcaster and journalist outlined the defining tracks of his life ahead of his appearance at BBC Radio 2 in the Park, detailing the songs that shaped his youth, his karaoke habits, and his funeral requests. He listened to the track 18 times in his bedroom after returning home at 5 a.m. from an end-of-term party where a fellow sixth-former named Sarah, whom he loved unrequitedly, kissed him once. Years earlier, music had already altered his perspective when he first heard “Sound and Vision” by David Bowie at age 12. Vine stated that he found the track weird and brilliant because Bowie does not begin singing until halfway through, pointing to the opening lyrics—Blue, blue, electric blue…—as the moment that awakened him. Karaoke Choices and Party Anthems

Vine’s karaoke preferences lean toward tracks that test room tolerances. He once cleared a bar in the United States by singing “Losing My Religion” by REM, though he noted he would also consider “Stan” by Eminem because the rapper sings just one note, which matches his own vocal range. For parties, Vine recalled dancing with Rylan Clark to “Shackles (Praise You)” by Mary Mary. According to the broadcaster, Clark possesses snake hips that left Vine feeling arthritic by the end of the dance, though he would repeat the experience if Clark were available. Guilty Pleasures and Funeral Songs

When it comes to tracks he secretly enjoys, Vine admitted a fondness for “Mandy” by Barry Manilow, describing it as soppy, melodramatic, and silly, while acknowledging that the key change near the end resembles a car crash. Conversely, there are songs he can no longer listen to. He estimated he played “Big Yellow Taxi” by Joni Mitchell 2,000 times, but now finds the line they paved paradise and put up a parking lot too reflective of sad human behavior. For more reflective moments, Vine cited “Diamonds & Rust” by Joan Baez as the song that makes him cry, noting its exploration of the unequal love between Baez and Bob Dylan. For his own funeral, he selected “Heaven Is a Place on Earth” by Belinda Carlisle, though he joked that Carlisle would have to tone it down a bit and perform it live for his friends and family.