West End star and soul music legend Beverley Knight has opened up about the soundtrack to her life in a remarkably candid playlist interview. The Wolverhampton-born singer reveals a deep-seated passion for Prince, a secret love for the Spice Girls, and the surprising song that even her dog can't stand.
The Songs That Shaped a Soul Diva
Beverley Knight's musical journey began not with pop, but with gospel. As a young child, she was mesmerised by Sam Cooke's Jesus Gave Me Water spinning on the family record player, hypnotised by its "power, dexterity and raw passion." Her first foray into buying music came with Chaka Khan's I Feel for You, which had rocketed to number one. "I lost my mind to the 'Chak-Chak-Chak-Chaka Khan' bit," Knight admits. After dutifully completing her chores, she persuaded her parents to take her to the Our Price store in Wolverhampton to buy the single.
The artist who truly captured her heart, however, was Prince. Hearing Little Red Corvette at age nine was a pivotal moment. "I lost my mind and heart," she says. After seeing the video, the young Knight declared, "He is the most incredible man I've ever seen. I'm gonna marry him when I'm old enough." She notes with regret, "Did I? Sadly, no."
Karaoke Anthems and Secret Bops
When it comes to karaoke, Knight doesn't shy away from a challenge. Her go-to is Whitney Houston's powerhouse ballad I Have Nothing. "Frankly, I'm a show-off," she confesses. She explains the track requires serious technical skill, including range and breath control, which she happily possesses in her "arsenal."
Her taste isn't all high-brow soul, however. She proudly defends the Spice Girls' Who Do You Think You Are as an "absolute bop," dismissing any critics. For party energy, she turns to Missy Elliott's Get Ur Freak On, which she says "absolutely bangs."
A Final Ascension and a Singing-Shy Dog
In a poignant revelation, Knight shares the song she would like played at her funeral: Prince's Mountains. "I love how the chord structure ascends and the vocals feel like an ascension," she explains, referencing the lyrics 'It's only mountains and the sea / There's nothing greater than you and me'. "I'd like to think, when I shuffle off this mortal coil, I'm going to be ascending as opposed to descending. I think I've been a good girl."
Not everyone appreciates her vocal talents, however. Her eight-year-old black-and-white terrier, Zain, is distinctly unimpressed. Her morning routine involves singing along to Prince's Anotherloverholeinyohead in the shower, much to Zain's annoyance. "He hates my singing completely," she says. The dislike is so strong that when she took him to the recording studio, he ran to the door whining to be let out the moment she began to sing.
Beverley Knight is currently starring in Marie & Rosetta at Sohoplace, London, until 11 April. She will then embark on a UK tour in June.
