Radiohead guitarist Ed O'Brien has revealed his honest playlist, admitting he no longer listens to indie music and has had his fill of guitar-based sounds. In a candid interview, the musician also shared his love for George Michael, describing him as a 'genius of pop'.
O'Brien's first single purchase was the 1978 Scottish World Cup song 'Ally's Tartan Army', bought because England had not qualified. He recalled being swept up in World Cup fever as a 10-year-old, admiring players like Alan Rough and Kenny Dalglish.
The first song he fell in love with was The Smiths' 'William, It Was Really Nothing', which he bought to serenade a girl named Mary. He admitted she probably did not adore him as much as she adored the band. For karaoke, he fondly remembers a night in Japan with the head of Toshiba EMI, where prosthetic animal heads were worn and Thom Yorke sang 'My Way'.
O'Brien confessed to knowing every lyric to George Michael's 'Fastlove', praising his voice as extraordinary. He also named LCD Soundsystem's 'Daft Punk Is Playing at My House' as the best party song, recalling a Halloween party in LA where it transformed the mood.
When it comes to music for sex, O'Brien prefers the sounds of nature over any song. He admitted he can no longer listen to indie music, including Radiohead's 'How Do You?', but secretly enjoys 'The Captain of Her Heart' by Double, a tune he once dismissed.
The song that changed his life was The Police's 'Walking on the Moon', which inspired him to pick up a guitar. He wakes up to Bach's Mass in B minor, and his new song 'Blue Morpho' makes him cry, as it evokes memories of his children's childhood in Brazil. For his funeral, he has chosen Gabriel Fauré's 'In Paradisum' from his Requiem.
