The first song I remember hearing
‘Jesus Loves The Little Children’ (Christian hymn)
“My mom had no money and was going to the Baptist church for childcare – like, ‘Here’s my three children!’. The first song I would sing there was this hymn in the church’s daycare. There’s also video of me, at six years old, singing the hymn ‘The Lord Is Blessing Me Right Now’ on stage with my father introducing me.”
The first album I bought
Mariah Carey – ‘Mariah Carey’
“I bought the cassette tape for the boombox ‘cause it was cheaper. I gotta keep it real, I wasn’t able to afford the vinyl! I played it religiously all the way through, especially ‘Vision Of Love’. At the time I connected to Mariah‘s voice – it was on another level!”
The first gig I went to
ChicagoFest 1979 – Navy Pier, Chicago
Recommended
“I was 10 years old. I only went because I had a crush on Andy Gibb who was performing. I thought he was the cat’s meow and watched him with tears streaming down my face. My sister and mom went to see The Police, who were headlining, and I was like ‘Whatever!’”
The song I wish I’d written
Queen – ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’
“The intricacy of this song is way beyond what I could ever do. The words are beautiful and the nuances of being able to go from operatic to rock feels up my alley because I call my music ‘sprock’ – a combination of soul, pop and rock. I can rock a Metallica song as well as a Celine Dion ballad, but ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ is on a whole other level. I was in the Queen musical We Will Rock You and I performed with Queen in Cape Town in 2003. On that occasion I didn’t feel worthy. I’d gone from being signed aged 30 [in 1999] and had just recovered from cancer and suddenly I was singing with Queen, thinking: ‘What is happening? Who am I?!’”
The song I can’t get out of my head
AC/DC – ‘You Shook Me All Night Long’
“Back in 2002, I sang this song for VH1’s Divas Las Vegas special with Céline Dion. Fast forward to 2024 and I’m touring Germany with Peter Maffay, who asked me to sing it again. It’s bittersweet because I just saw the documentary I Am: Céline Dion which makes me think of her when I sing it. It’s permanently in my head in a good, sentimental way. I feel blessed by the memory of it. My heart goes out to her, but I had so much fun with her that it brings me joy.”
The song that makes me want to dance
Kool & The Gang – ‘Celebration’
“I don’t know anybody who wouldn’t be able to move to it. It sends a positive message, it’s fun and the horn section is awesome. No matter where you are, it speaks the language of ‘have a good time’.”
The song that makes me cry
Anastacia – ‘The Saddest Part’
“Depending on your mood, sometimes songs can hit you in different ways. In 2005, my father passed away, and I hadn’t had that much communication with him, and when I was singing this on tour, I just lost it. I was snotting and couldn’t get out of what the words were doing to me. When I’m sad, I won’t put sad music on, because that’s like punching yourself in the face when you’re hurting!”
The song I do at karaoke
Harry Belafonte – ‘Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)’
“Everyone wants to sing along. It’s one of those fun, cool fun songs that you don’t have to use your voice for – at karaoke I’d always pick something you don’t have to belt out!”
The song I want played at my funeral
Rammstein
“I’ve had so many health scares that I don’t think about when I’m going to die. I’m a survivor! I know my fans are going to be playing my songs when I die, but that’s the last thing I’d want playing at my funeral! I’ve heard Bette Midler’s ‘Wind Beneath My Wings’ and the classic choices, but I don’t even want a funeral. When I’m upstairs, I’ll watch everyone else’s choices at the memorial. Maybe they’ll play Rammstein?!”
The song that reminds me of home
‘Danny Boy’ (Traditional folk song)
“My mom Diane always sang ‘Danny Boy’ for my grandfather, because he and that side of the family is Irish. I heard it a lot growing up and it brings back fuzzy childhood memories. Even if we were in a restaurant, he’d say ‘You need to sing it for me, Diane!’ My mom was a theatre actor so she was happy to belt it out and stop the whole place from eating!”
Anastacia’s 25th anniversary ‘Not That Kind’ UK tour kicks off in April 2025