Political Spin: Jamie Greene MSP

Jamie Greene - Scottish Conservative MSP for the West Scotland region

 

What was the first record that you ever bought?

It was either ‘Don’t Leave Me This Way’ by The Communards, or ‘Karma Chameleon’, by Culture Club. I think it was a cassette tape, it was definitely that era… I also remember buying the Mr Blobby Christmas single, but that would have been a bit after that!

 

Did your parents encourage you to get into music?

My dad was a musician, and he was in a band – he was a guitarist and lead singer in the 70s, in the long hair, open shirts, rock band era when lots of Scottish bands were doing the rounds, so I was brought up in a musical family. A lot of my childhood influences was music that I had around the house, music that my parents liked.

 

Is your dad still around?

No, he passed away when I was in my twenties. Like many ageing rockstars he was an alcoholic. I grew up in Greenock, and there were a lot of bands around at the time, and some of them went on to become really successful. A lot of them went one of two ways, it either went downhill, because of the pub culture that it was – it was just touring pubs six nights a week and I used to get dragged along to a lot of the gigs, and all they did was smoke and drink beer every night. That’s all they did, that was their life, in the hope that someone would be sitting at the back and give them a record deal. The ones that became famous became really famous, and the ones that didn’t drank themselves to death.

 

Did your dad pass on any of his musical abilities?

He tried to get me to play guitar, which I hated. I was a delicate child and it hurt my fingers. I tried piano too, but my fingers weren’t big enough for playing chords… so then I tried trombone, I tried flute, I tried everything. My passion really was drums and percussion, so I did that at school and then during lockdown I bought myself an electronic drumkit to keep myself busy and to try and get back into it.

 

What’s your favourite song to play along to?

I’ve actually got a drums playlist, it’s got everything from Chuck Berry to Status Quo, some Fleetwood Mac, and a lot of country music, which is great to play drums to.

 

What’s the hardest song to play on your playlist?

The one I’ve been practising, which is just impossible, is ‘Summer of ‘69’ by Bryan Adams, and anything by Rolling Stones – it’s great to hit along with but it’s really hard.

 

What record will always get you on the dance floor?

‘Point of View’ by DB Boulevard,  ‘Freed From Desire’ by Gala and ‘Groovejet (If This Ain’t Love)’, by Spiller. They bring back memories of a misspent youth in London clubs, going to clubs like Fiction at Kings Cross, and Trade, and all these kind of iconic nightclubs in East London, and once you get in the groove, it was a sub culture of proper, jump around dance music. I still have a soft spot for that kind of stuff.

 

What is your go-to karaoke song?

Too many to mention… but ‘Wicked Game’ by Chris Isaak, ‘Going to a Town’ by Rufus Wainwright, ‘Hallelujah’,  the Jeff Buckley version, and any version of ‘Piano Man’.

 

What song would be your first dance at your wedding and why?

I think I will be eternally single, but on the off chance: ‘Song for Whoever’ by The Beautiful South.

 

What songs do you want played at your funeral?

‘Ave Maria’ performed by Barbara Bonney or Mirusia Louwerse on the way in,  ‘When I Was a Boy’ by ELO and ‘Imagine’ by John Lennon in the middle section, then ‘Don’t Stop me Now’ by Queen as the curtain shut. Though that leaves little time for elongated and multiple flattering eulogies, I know…

 

What songs are guaranteed to make you cry?

‘Smalltown Boy’ by Bronski Beat is very coming of age and makes me reflect, however, ‘Hotel California’ by The Eagles and ‘Daniel’ by Elton John both remind me of my gran and dad who have both passed.  

 

What music would you always associate with your childhood?

I grew up listening to my parents’ LPs such as The Housemartins, Kate Bush, Elkie Brooks, Mamas and the Papas, Elton John, T-Rex, Abba and Neil Diamond. All greats.

 

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

Anything by Chris Martin usually. Up there with Jive Bunny Mastermixes.

 

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

I secretly love STEPS. Don’t tell anyone.

 

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

Dolly Parton - the Musical, if that counts. She is a legend.