Tony Mortimer, best known as a member of 90s pop group East 17, has shared his honest playlist, revealing the songs that have shaped his life, from the first single he bought to the track he wants played at his funeral.
The First Single I Bought
Mortimer recalls buying 'Shut Up' by Madness from a record shop on Hoe Street in Walthamstow, London. 'It gave me a kind of independence in the world when I could choose what I wanted,' he says. 'And as a nine-year-old, you could find 10p down the back of the sofa and get a Madness badge at the market to stick on your coat.'
The Song I Do at Karaoke
Despite being a pop star, Mortimer has only done karaoke once, in Japan, after drinking sake. 'I'd had a few and thought: "This isn't really doing much", then it hit me like a hammer,' he laughs. If forced to do karaoke now, he would choose East 17's 'House of Love' because at least he remembers the words.
The Best Song to Play at a Party
Mortimer, who also DJs, says C&C Music Factory's 'Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)' is 'like an electric shock'. He also praises CeCe Peniston's 'Finally' for getting the crowd going. However, he once cleared the dancefloor by playing Shannon's 'Let the Music Play' – 'everyone went to the bar,' he admits.
The Song I Can No Longer Listen To
Dire Straits' 'Romeo and Juliet' holds painful memories for Mortimer. 'My late brother used to sit in his bedroom and play it on guitar. It's a lovely song, but it just brings me down now.'
The Song I Secretly Like
Despite the famous 90s boyband rivalry, Mortimer admits to liking Take That's 'Patience'. 'I thought it was a great comeback song. Our "rivalry" was always tongue-in-cheek. We secretly liked each other. The rivalry was more between our fans.'
The Song That Changed My Life
Unsurprisingly, Mortimer chooses East 17's 'Deep', which he wrote. 'I know it's mine, but it smashed so many doors open. Without that song, there wouldn't have been a band. That's how much importance I put on it.'
The Song That Gets Me Up in the Morning
Mortimer says he's not a morning person, but a remix of Bob Marley's 'Sun Is Shining' by Funkstar De Luxe helps. 'It just brings the sunshine. Lately I've been going on the exercise bike in the mornings to lose some weight.'
The Song That Makes Me Cry
Adele's 'Someone Like You' moves Mortimer to tears. 'As soon as I heard that, I just found it so emotive. It's the tone of her voice. She sounds so sincere. You can tell it comes from a place that's really honest to her.'
The Song I'd Like Played at My Funeral
Mortimer wants to leave people smiling, so he'd choose Monty Python's 'Always Look on the Bright Side of Life'. 'It's so easy to make people cry. But it'd be my last chance to put a smile on their faces. I've heard it before at funerals and you just feel like the person is still there. I think I'll put that in my will. But when I'm dead, people could play anything they want. They could play 'Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead'...'
Tony Mortimer DJs at Bush Hall, London, on 28 May and Brudenell Social Club, Leeds, on 29 May as special guest to D:Ream.
