Soul music legend and West End star Beverley Knight has opened up in a remarkably candid interview about the songs that have defined her life, from her earliest musical memories to the track she hopes will soundtrack her final farewell.
The Songs That Shaped a Star
Knight's musical journey began in a devout household where gospel was the primary soundtrack. Her first musical love was Sam Cooke's 'Jesus Gave Me Water', which she recalls staring at, hypnotised, on a record player as a three-year-old. She was captivated by the raw passion and vocal dexterity of the performance.
The first single she ever purchased was Chaka Khan's 'I Feel for You', which rocketed to number one. Knight vividly remembers losing her mind to the iconic "Chak-Chak-Chak-Chaka Khan" intro. As a reward for completing her chores, her parents took her to the Our Price store in Wolverhampton to buy the record, a treasured memory from her childhood.
Karaoke Anthems and Secret Passions
Never one to shy away from a challenge, Knight admits her go-to karaoke song is Whitney Houston's powerhouse ballad 'I Have Nothing'. She confesses this choice is partly because she's "a show off", but also because the song's technical demands for range and breath control play to her vocal strengths.
In a surprising revelation, the soul diva declares her unabashed love for the Spice Girls' hit 'Who Do You Think You Are', calling it "an absolute bop" and dismissing any notion that she should hate it. For setting a party mood, she turns to Missy Elliott's 'Get Ur Freak On', which she says "absolutely bangs".
Life, Love, and Legacy
Knight credits Prince with changing her life when, at age nine, she saw the video for 'Little Red Corvette'. She was so smitten she decided then she would marry him. While that dream didn't materialise, his influence remains profound. She even starts her mornings by loudly singing along to his track 'Anotherloverholeinyohead', much to the dismay of her eight-year-old terrier, Zain, who reportedly hates her singing and once fled a recording studio when she began.
For more intimate moments, she suggests the late D'Angelo's 'Untitled (How Does It Feel)', noting its appropriate length. Looking to the future, Knight has already selected her funeral song: Prince's 'Mountains'. She is drawn to its ascending chord structure and lyrics, hoping it will symbolise her own ascension when she "shuffles off this mortal coil", adding with characteristic wit, "I think I've been a good girl."
Beverley Knight is currently starring in 'Marie & Rosetta' at Sohoplace, London, from 28th February to 11th April. She will also embark on a UK tour in June.
