Edward Mountain MSP: 'I used to be a rock and roll dance teacher'

What was the first record that you bought?

Devil Gate Drive by Suzi Quatro, in 1974. It was considered to be a bit rebellious, which I was when I was 13 years old.

What record will always get you on the dance floor?

Rock Around the Clock by Bill Haley & His Comets. I used to teach people how to do rock ‘n’ roll dancing. It was an easy one to encourage other people to come on the dance floor with me.

Why did you stop teaching?

I’m too old and I’m fat.

Do you have a karaoke song?

It’s a bizarre one. Feel Like Hell Today by Cooper Alan.

What song is guaranteed to make you cry?

Time To Say Goodbye by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman.

Do you have any songs that you want played at your funeral?

I Vow To Thee My Country, because I’ve spent more than 20 years of my life serving my country, either as a soldier or as a politician. It’s a song I had played at my wedding, and it is a song that I would want played at my funeral.

What song was the first dance at your wedding?

Interestingly, when I got married a lot of weddings were done in the afternoon, so we never had a dance. I’ve always felt rather aggrieved about that, but I probably would’ve had Come On Eileen by Dexys Midnight Runners.

What song do you associate with your childhood?

Ring of Bright Water [from the movie of the same name] which is from one of the first films that I went to see.

What record do you absolutely hate but can’t get out of your head?

I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) by The Proclaimers. I can’t abide it.

What record would you be embarrassed to owning up to having in your collection?

Blanket On the Ground by Billie Jo Spears. It was somebody that I probably listened to far too much when I was younger.

What was the last band you went to see and who with?

I went to see Rod Stewart at the Inverness Caley Thistle Stadium with my wife.

Is there any song that you associate with your political wins?

Part of the Union by Strawbs. The story behind that is that earlier in my political career I made a comment on Twitter and the person I made the comment about took grave exception and threatened to sue me for rather a lot of money. And it appeared that he was also after a trade union that had also made a comment, and he went on to Facebook and tried to drum up some funding to take us on. And I said to the union that I would join them, and we could defend each other. So, I used to play it in the office, saying “you won’t get me, I’m part of the union”. It made me smile because I didn’t like him trying to muzzle my free speech.