‘I find it sad and difficult to listen to the Smiths': Ana Matronic's honest playlist

The Guardian

4 hours ago

The first song I fell in love with
I was obsessed as a child with the Muppets and Sesame Street. My grandmother made me a puppet of the Count to help practise my counting. I loved The Pinball Number Count with the Pointer Sisters counting up 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 / 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 / 11/ 12 which is prophetic because I still consider the Pointer Sisters one of my all-time favourite bands.
The first record I bought
I was playing Delirious by Prince for my mother in 1982, and she said: 'He sounds like Little Richard.' I said: 'Who is Little Richard?' and she said: 'Get in the car, young lady,' and we went and bought a Little Richard greatest hits set. It was the start of a long conversation about music with my mom.
The song I do at karaoke
Psycho Killer by Talking Heads, Should I Stay Or Should I Go by the Clash, or – in the right mood – Pulp's Common People.
The song I inexplicably know every lyric to
You're speaking to someone who used to be a drag queen and is involved still in nightlife on Fire Island. I explicably know the words to lots of songs, especially if they are well known in the LGBTQ+ community. I've never owned Believe by Cher, but I can sing every word.
The best song to get the party started
I play so many kinds of parties: house music, disco, 80s, alternative. The one song they all agree is that Pull Up to the Bumper by Grace Jones is an absolute party starter.
The song I can no longer listen to
I find it sad and difficult to listen to the Smiths, but I still listen by pure virtue of Johnny Marr's guitar brilliance. How Soon Is Now was on such constant rotation when my father passed away, I'm sure my mom hates it now.
The song I secretly like
I don't believe in guilty pleasures. I think all pleasures should be enjoyed. I absolutely love – and can murder on karaoke – [US heavy metal band] Danzig. You'll often find me, late at night, headbanging.
The song that changed my life
I already loved Duran Duran and was a bit of a new romantic. But when my older sister brought home The Head on the Door by the Cure and I heard Inbetween Days, I went straight to the record store to talk to the guy behind the counter about my next purchase.
The song that gets me up in the morning
Straight Shooter by the Mamas and the Papas.
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The best song to have sex to
Side one of Led Zeppelin IV. Preferably in a van.
The song that makes me cry
My friend Amber Martin does an incredible show, where she recreates Bette Midler's Bathhouse performances from the 1970s and you have to check your clothes and wear a towel, so it's just like going to the Continental Baths in 1972. When she does I Shall Be Released by Bob Dylan, it always makes me cry.
The song I'd like played at my funeral
Lavender Coffin by Lionel Hampton. I could get a lavender coffin, that'd be great. I could just rent it. I don't have to be inside. Maybe the Count from Sesame Street could be inside, and come out and sing. That's what I want.
Ana Matronic's Good Time Sallies podcast is out now.