Brief
Rebecca Ferguson shares the songs that shaped her life
From Whitney Houston to Sam Cooke, Ferguson explains why each song matters to her.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Rebecca Ferguson told the Guardian which songs have marked key moments in her life, from the first record she could afford to the track she would like played at her funeral.
She recalled that as a child her mother only allowed Christian gospel music until a neighbour’s friend gave her a cassette featuring Whitney Houston and Cher; the powerful vocal of "I Will Always Love You" made her decide to pursue music.
Her first single purchase was "So Young" by the Corrs, bought at a Sainsbury’s in Walton Village, Liverpool, a rare treat for a kid with limited money.
Ferguson admits she sings Oasis’s "Wonderwall" badly after a few drinks, describing it as a party trick she performs "drunkenly off‑key and awful, but impassioned".
She can recite every lyric to Bette Midler’s "The Glory of Love" and "Wind Beneath My Wings", and says REM’s "Everybody Hurts" rescued her during a low‑point as a teenager.
Among songs she pretends to dislike but may secretly enjoy is Eiffel 65’s "Blue (Da Ba Dee)".
For a romantic setting she suggests Beyoncé’s "Drunk in Love".
The track that changed her career, she says, is Sam Cooke’s "A Change Is Gonna Come", which she performed at her first X Factor audition after Simon Cowell barred her from two other choices.
To start a rough morning she plays U2’s "Beautiful Day", while Antony and the Johnsons’ "Hope There’s Someone" is the song that makes her cry.
When thinking about her own funeral she would prefer something upbeat, mentioning "Movin’ to the Sun" by Hugel, Imael Angel and Ultra Naté as a possible choice.
Ferguson will be touring "The Hits at Christmas" from 2 to 12 December.
Key facts
- Whitney Houston’s "I Will Always Love You" inspired Ferguson to become a singer (theguardian.com)
- Her first purchased single was the Corrs’ "So Young" from a Liverpool Sainsbury’s (theguardian.com)
- She performed Sam Cooke’s "A Change Is Gonna Come" at her X Factor audition (theguardian.com)
- Ferguson plans a Christmas tour "The Hits at Christmas" on 2‑12 December (theguardian.com)
- She would consider playing "Movin’ to the Sun" at her funeral (theguardian.com)
Sources
- [1] theguardian.com — originally reported as “‘I drunkenly sing Wonderwall off-key and awfully’: Rebecca Ferguson’s honest playlist”
