Political Spin: Daniel Johnson

What was the first record that you ever bought?

I think the first record, actually a CD, I remember having was Automatic for the People by REM, with which I inherited my dad’s old CD player. I also remember having old 1980s compilation tapes, like NOW6 or something, which really dates me… 

Me and my brother used to share music, especially when we were at school, and we had sort of interchangeable music collections.

What record will always get you on the dance floor?

No record. I’m a very reluctant participant on the dance floor. 

Alright, when’s the last time you danced…? 

Well, it’s kind of cheesy, but also a slightly political thing, as the last time there was a record playing that compelled me to dance was when they played Things Can Only Get Better by D:Ream at Labour conference in March. It may also have, or may not have, involved me dancing with Wes Streeting. I’ll let your readers make of that what they will.

What is your go-to karaoke song?

It’s all the embarrassing stuff… I do a great injustice to Don’t Stop Believing by Journey.

It’s a very powerful tune.

What song was your first dance at your wedding?

We had a Ceilidh band at our wedding, so our first dance was a St Bernard’s Waltz.

What songs do you want played at your funeral?

There’s always been a bit of me that would quite like, as the coffin descends, to have the coda from Layla by Derek and the Dominos playing, perhaps inspired by that scene in The Goodfellas. I’ve always wanted to have some classical playing too, something a bit sombre, like Schubert.

What songs/music is guaranteed to make you cry?

A song I find very moving is the Nina Simone version of Baltimore, rather than the Randy Newman original. I find it very compelling, it’s about a lot of urban poverty, which speaks to my politics. 

What music would you always associate with your childhood?

My teenage years were all about indie music. I bought every single from the first two Suede albums, and was into everything from Blur to the Auteurs – all of the bands you’d see on the covers of NME and Melody Maker. My childhood was in the 80s, however, and so that was Pet Shop Boys and Eurhythmics. My kids like a lot of 80s stuff too.

So, were you team Oasis or team Blur?

Oasis. They were a bit more raw, and in many ways Blur was more original, but I actually think Oasis was more authentic. 

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

There’s so many, especially bringing up primary-age girls. Let It Go from Frozen is a particular one. It seems since our eldest daughter turned three there is always a song like that in the house.

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

I quite like listening to Charles Aznavour, some cheesy French croon-pop, and in particular, his version of She, which is a cheesy song to begin, but with a very overdone French accent. 

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

A few months ago I went to se The War On Drugs with a bunch of schoolfriends at the Corn Exchange. It was fun, and they were the same guys I used to read NME and Melody Maker with.