ON TRACK: JANE MCDONALD ANSWERS OUR QUESTIONS
Jane McDonald is back on stage with a new show, mixing up her own compositions with cracking tunes she has made her own, and a decent selection lifted from her new album The Singer of Your Song.
Jane will be at MK Theatre on Wednesday (Oct 1). To book, visit www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes
We challenged her to tackle our On Track Q&A...
The song that first awakened your musical senses
The first song was “Downtown” by Petula Clark, Downtown was the first word I ever spoke as it was playing on the radio when I was a baby.
Physical or digital - how do you take your music?
I like both, usually I download for my iPad and iPod but still love the physical CD in my hand and for my collection.
The first time you thought 'Music - this is the job for me'
After I wrote one of my first songs “Some you win, some you lose” I co-wrote it with a friend of mine called John Best. We recorded it at Abbey Road and I will never forget the experience.
Your best on stage memory...
Now you may think it would be the MGM GRAND in Las Vegas, or the Royal Albert Hall and London Palladium but it was in fact quite recent at the King George Hall in Blackburn. Steve Cooper (my guitarist) and I had just finished our first co-write that day and I was so pleased with the outcome that I decided (much to Steve’s horror) to play it for the fans that night. I have never seen a response to a song I have written like that before……
And the worst gig you've ever done
This was one night working on a cruise ship, the sea was really rough and I was very sea sick! I kept having to run off the stage to be sick in a bucket. Not the best night I’ve ever had!
What made you take up singing
My mother! Lol…. I was a reluctant performer, I was very confident in private with no one watching but didn’t like being in front of people, but you soon overcome stage fright when you hear the appreciation from your audience.
Which one song by another artist do you wish you'd have written
Happy Birthday to you! It’s the most successful song in the world.
And one - by yourself - which holds special significance
That would have to be “The Hand that leads me” which I wrote for my lovely mum. No matter how old I get, I still reach out for my mother’s hand when I’m not sure what to do and she always guides me the right way.
If you could step into the shoes of another musician, living or dead, who would it be and what would you do?
Although I’m very happy in my own shoes… Aretha Franklin is the queen of soul and a legend.
Are there any current musical influences that you might look to
I seem to be going down a different road with my writing and its country/rock I think that is an influence of my amazing musicians in my band at the moment.
And any genre of music that you simply can't stand?
I don’t get rap but a huge amount of people love it, it’s a personal thing.
Finally, plug this tour and tell us about your new album, The Singer of Your Song...
My new album is called “The Singer of your song” and the title song is for my fans. I’m so grateful to still be here after 16yrs and its due to my amazing fans. The tour is 22 nights all over the UK. Its spectacular… amazing outfits, light show and the best musicians in the business it’s an emotion rollercoaster and a great night out! Come and see us.
