Black Bananas singer Jennifer Herrema has shared an honest playlist, revealing the songs that have shaped her life, from the first track she fell in love with to the one she wants played at her funeral.
Early musical memories
Herrema's first musical love was Van Halen's Runnin' With the Devil, which she heard at age five or six while visiting her older cousin Tommy at his hockey practice. She recalls asking, "Wait, what's this?!"
She also remembers the full 12-inch version of the Sugarhill Gang's Rapper's Delight, a record her dad gave her because he loved dancing to it.
Songs of joy and sorrow
Herrema's karaoke choice is AC/DC's You Shook Me All Night Long, noting her voice shares something with Brian Johnson's. She finds the Gap Band's Gotta Get Up perfect for early mornings, and Dazz Band's Let It Whip ideal for parties.
She can no longer listen to Fairport Convention's Meet on the Ledge, partly due to Sandy Denny's tragedy and partly because she played it repeatedly during a depressing time. Lou Reed's Satellite of Love changed her life when she first heard it on the radio.
Personal connections
The first single Herrema bought was Rick James's Mary Jane, purchased with her dad after buying patent leather Mary Janes at Buster Brown shoe shop. She didn't know what Mary Jane meant, but her dad did.
For her funeral, she wants Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd, calling the lyrics gorgeous and appropriate. Her choice for a chill vibe would be the Rolling Stones' Memory Motel.
Funkadelic's I Miss My Baby makes her cry, reminding her of her cat Callie, who was stolen by a postal worker. She says, "She was suspended from the postal service. But I never got my cat back."
Black Bananas' new album, Bad Bunch, is out on Friday.
