‘Aretha Franklin hits notes that bring me to shivering tears of ecstasy': Mick Hucknall's honest playlist
One of the first albums I bought was Sticky Fingers by the Rolling Stones; the first single was The Last Time. I was about 11 when my dad bought me my first record player, and I wore it out by listening to it so much.
The first song I fell in love with
My first love was an unrequited crush. I heard Let's Stay Together by Al Green on the radio, went out and bought it, and played it over and over to heal the pain of teenage rejection.
The song that changed my life
I Want to Hold Your Hand by the Beatles was the first song I remember performing. It was when I was about six, with a band at a wedding. I've since been told that I was singing even younger than that. A friend of ours was a landlady in a pub, and she used to stand me up on the bar when I was about three and have me sing to customers. Those Beatles double LPs, the red and the blue, 1962-66 and 1967-70, were among the first albums I bought when I was a kid.
The song that is my karaoke go-to
Papa Don't Take No Mess by James Brown, who is probably the most influential figure in the history of recorded music. The first gig we did as Simply Red, right after we signed our contract, was opening for him at Hammersmith Odeon. I remember him watching from the side of the stage with curlers in.
The song I inexplicably know every lyric to
Daisy Bell (Bicycle Built for Two) by British songwriter Harry Dacre from 1892. I'm enamoured with some of the old songs. The melody just glues in your head and the lyric is beautifully visual.
The song I can no longer listen to
Mother by John Lennon. John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band is a stark masterpiece. This song is a little too close to the mark.
The song that I secretly like, but tell everyone I hate
24 hours from Tulsa by Gene Pitney. The recording is tinny, even for the 60s. His nasal approach to the voice exacerbates that. However, that has its own charm too. It's an excellent song.
Sign up to Inside Saturday
The only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend.
after newsletter promotion
The song that makes me cry
There are moments in Mary, Don't You Weep by Aretha Franklin where the first lady of soul hits notes that bring me to shivering tears of ecstasy. A monumental performance.
The song that gets me up in the morning
Ravi Shankar has been my alarm clock for a few years. I've got his entire catalogue on shuffle and that's the first thing I hear every morning to get me ready to face the day.
Simply Red tour Ireland and the UK from 23 September.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Jay-Z teams up with Caesars and SL Green to bid for huge Times Square Casino project
MEGASTAR JAY-Z joined forces with some of the biggest names in the casino business, looking to pitch a Caesars Palace Times Square casino project in New York. The rapper - real name Shawn Carter - was among several attendees to sit in front of the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) and bid for one of three $500 million downstate licenses. 1 The Roc Nation co-founder was representing a partnership alongside Caesars Palace and SL Green Properties and pledged $250million in benefits to the community as part of their pitch to convert an existing office on Broadway. They face stiff competition though with EIGHT applications in total having been submitted to the New York State Gaming Commission. Jay-Z, who grew up in Brooklyn, says the location was "perfect" for the partnership group and says the introduction of a casino resort would only "fulfil and enhance" the area, which he likened to huge landmarks around the world. The 150,000-square-foot gambling hall would boast 1000 casino rooms, a Caesars Sportsbook, four restaurants associated with high-profile chefs and a spa. Concerns over the venue becoming the main attraction to Broadway have been rebuffed by the entrepreneur, who insists they would only act as an 'additive' to a tourist spot which entices over 50 million tourists per year. During the presentation, Jay-Z said: "It's our chance to change the narrative and create something all around the world. "If we treat Times Square with the love and the attention that it requires, it can fulfill its promise. 'This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I believe, to support something that's homegrown. 'As we hear a lot of talk about community, we are the community. We're from this community. 'We're not coming to compete with Broadway. We're coming to be additive. "Anything that we've done in the past, we've always included the community. We've never excluded the community.' The group's proposition also indicated a forecasted $7 billion in direct tax revenue and $26.7 billion in local economic activity in the first 10 years. Roc Nation also stated they'd supported more than five million people with social impacts worth more than $78 million. More than 3,000 construction jobs would be created as a result if they were awarded a license, and the 3,800 permanent jobs it would create would be 'mostly filled by New Yorkers'. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
American living in the UK visits Poundland for the first time - but has one major criticism
An American who is living in the UK visited Poundland for the first time but he had one major criticism. Kobie Jordan, who is from the US but now living in London, took to his TikTok @kjordyyy to share a video of himself touring the popular British discount chain. However as he browsed the aisles, he was confused by the range of prices on items, despite the store's name suggesting a flat £1 cost. In the clip, which racked up 44,000 views, he said: 'It's automatically giving me Dollar General vibes. But the things aren't a pound, which is kind of crazy. I'm seeing £3.' UK-based social media users were quick to point out that while the store originally sold everything for £1, its pricing model has changed over the years due to inflation. One person said: 'When it first opened, everything was a pound. Then lockdown happened!' Another added: 'It used to literally be everything £1 now it's just a pointless shop full of stuff that's not £1.' But it wasn't just the pricing that raised questions. Kobie also had a cheeky take on the name itself, hinting that Poundland carries a very different, and much more risqué, connotation back in the US. 'They couldn't choose a different name besides Poundland? Poundland, really? UK... at least it's not called Pound Town,' he joked in the video. He even captioned the clip: 'Not a bad store... but the name is a bit sus.' Despite the eyebrow-raising branding, Kobie was surprisingly impressed by the store itself. He said: 'It's giving like a low key mini Walmart,' before adding, 'I'll be honest, most dollar stores back in the States are kind of like dirty, dingy... but there's something so clean and sterile about this one. Like, it's so pristine.' As he explored more of the shop, the American stumbled on a beloved British snack that he was eager to try. He added: 'Also, party rings. Never had them, but apparently all my British friends said they're a staple when you're growing up. Gotta try them one day. 'I'm genuinely shook with the variety of everything, cause it's not a big store from the outside, but they have a little bit of everything, which I kind of like. 'Imagine like a clean, sterile small Walmart mixed with Dollar General- that's what you have. Poundland. Many rushed to the comments to leave their own thoughts on his fair review of the discount chain 'I think I've explored every square inch of the store. I don't know what I was expecting from a Poundland, but it's pretty legit, innit? 'Living the dream, man. Living the dream in Poundland of all places.' Many rushed to the comments to leave their own thoughts on his review of the discount chain. One person said: 'My husband's American and wants a 'Poundland' T-shirt as he thinks the name is so funny.' Another suggested: 'Please try Greggs, Wetherspoons, Sports Direct and Primark.' Someone else added: 'Back in the day everything was a pound!!! There's 99p stores as well' A fourth added: 'Poundland needs to rename itself at this point. Bring back the days when everything was actually a pound'. It comes after Kobie revealed the British cultural habit of being 'over-polite' is sometimes confusing for visitors. The TikToker admitted he's still adapting to the famously apologetic and overly polite nature of British culture. In the clip, which racked up more than 45,000 views, he revealed one train journey in particular left him completely stumped. He said: 'As much as I love living in the UK, there's just one thing I have to talk about. 'Their over politeness almost to a fault. It's no secret they have a huge apologising culture. Always saying sorry, sorry all the time. But boy, do I have a story for y'all.' Kobie explained he was on a 'super packed train' from Birmingham to London when an older gentleman boarded the train and began eyeing the seat beside him, but wouldn't take it. He said: 'Every single seat was taken except for one. Right next to me, there's an older gentleman that just got on the train. 'He kept looking at me. Cause it's not my job to tell you to come sit if he wants to sit. He's a grown man, he can come sit. 'He would even look, look at me and look away. His wife had found a seat, but he was kind of looking at me like I was doing something wrong.' The American admitted he was tempted to offer the free seat to the man but he hesitated as he claimed the man could just grab the seat if he wanted it. He said: 'Part of me wanted me to offer my seat next to me to him, but I was like, wait a minute, it's an open seat, he can just come grab it if he wants to sit there. 'And me being from the US, it's hard for me to judge these type of situations here because, one, I don't know if he's actually just being too polite, maybe he's not too fond of me, or it just doesn't make sense.' He concluded: 'If y'all know me, y'all know I love the UK. And this is just my opinion and I Gotta see how it is. 'As much as I love it, that's one thing that I just can't really get my head around.' Many British commenters quickly weighed in, offering their own interpretations of what the elderly gentleman may have been thinking. One person said: 'I think he wanted you to give up your seat so him and his wife could sit together.' To which Kobie responded: 'Very true, why didn't he ask?' Another added: 'It polite to offer the seat… especially to pregnant or older people. He may not have wanted to have assumed he should squeeze past you.' Kobie added: 'Again that's so British. If you want to sit. Sit.' Someone else added: 'We're just polite to a fault. There's an unwritten rule about sitting next to people, although in PACKED situations usually doesn't apply. 'The 'look' would typically be inferred as a request to sit there and then the other party obliges.' A fourth added: 'I'm English. if he wanted the seat he would have either taken it or asked' Another added: 'As a old English lady who loves good manners, you acted in the correct manner. the choice was his to stand.'
The Guardian
4 hours ago
- The Guardian
Australian actor Rebel Wilson sued by production company behind her own film
The legal drama surrounding The Deb, Rebel Wilson's directorial debut, has made landfall in Australia, with one of the production companies behind the venture filing a lawsuit against Wilson in the New South Wales supreme court this week. UK-based AI Film, represented by Australian legal firm Giles George and high-profile barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC, accused the Pitch Perfect Australian actor of deliberately sabotaging the film's release, alleging threats and defamatory claims had caused the production company financial and reputational damage. The suit also claims the motive behind Wilson's actions was to devalue the production's worth and pressure AI Film and Australian company Dunburn Debutantes Commissioning Company (DDCC – the entity managing the film's rights and named as the second plaintiff in the lawsuit) into selling their stake to Wilson's company Camp Sugar. Originally conceived as a quirky musical comedy celebrating Australian culture, The Deb was co-produced by AI Film and Camp Sugar, with Wilson directing and starring. But the partnership fractured in mid-2024 when Wilson took to Instagram to accuse fellow producers Amanda Ghost, Gregor Cameron and Vince Holden of alleged embezzlement, sexual misconduct and obstructing the film's release. The allegations, broadcast to Wilson's 11 million followers, were swiftly denied by the producers who began defamation proceedings against Wilson in the Los Angeles superior court last July. In November, the film's lead actor, Charlotte MacInnes, who Wilson claimed was the victim of the alleged sexual misconduct, filed a declaration in the US court stating that Wilson fabricated the claims, describing them as 'completely false and absurd'. The court subsequently threw out Wilson's bid to strike out the defamation suit, not accepting her lawyer's argument that under California's anti-Slapp laws, the accusations she had made against the producers of her The Deb constituted 'protected activity' and were a matter of public interest. That defamation case remains ongoing. After filing its lawsuit in the supreme court's equities division on Thursday, AI Film issued the following statement: 'These proceedings are regrettable but essential to ensure The Deb's timely release. It's a joyous, fun film, and we are sure that audiences are going to love it.' And MacInnes issued a second statement, saying: 'I love this film and I can't wait for it to be released … it would be wonderful if these proceedings can help make that happen.' Wilson's Californian legal team, Freedman Taitelman + Cooley, which is handling the defamation case, did not respond to the Guardian's request for comment. In its lawsuit filed this week, Giles George claims that on 5 January, Wilson's lawyer Bryan Freedman responded to correspondence by AI Film's legal team, saying that 'Wilson is currently in active discussions to outright purchase The Deb (the 'Film') and all associated rights and title'. The Freedman letter also threatened to 'pursue all claims and damages should Al Film or any agents acting on its behalf interfere with that business opportunity'. AI Film is alleging that Wilson's motivation behind her alleged undermining of distribution efforts, including making threats to seek an injunction against the film's release, was personal financial gain. AI Film's lawyers claim that on 6 June 2025, Wilson had a discussion with film distributor Kismet, who was bidding to secure the rights for the theatrical release of The Deb in Australia, during which she said words to the effect that she was supportive of Kismet as the Australian distributor of the film but while there was a legal case involving the film in the US she could not support the film's distribution and would seek an injunction if any attempts to distribute the film were made. Giles George alleges Wilson knew the legal proceedings in the US were not impeding the film's release, and knew the threat of injunction was against her and her company, Camp Sugar's, contractual obligations. But as evidence in Byran Freedman's correspondent to them in January, Wilson was delaying the film's release so that she could pursue the 'business opportunity' of buying all rights to the film outright. AI Film is seeking damages, a formal apology, corrective advertising and a permanent restraint on Wilson and her company making any further disparaging and incorrect claims relating to other companies and individuals involved in the making of The Deb, which have come to been know in legal circles as 'The Wilson Statements'.
