My Ears Through the Years with Donna Head
Hello and welcome back! It’s Wednesday and it’s My Ears Through the Years, the series where we ask a wonderful mind in the industry to take us through the tunes that have travelled with them through their lives. We want to hear it all - the tracks you can never forget and the ones you wish you could; the good, the bad, and the karaoke classics.
Taking over the decks today is the brilliant Donna Head, managing director of AdGreen. Donna’s incredible career has spanned over creative agency production, audio post, music production and VFX postproduction. We’re sure you’ll love Donna’s picks, that is, unless your name is Bryan Adams… or Adele… or Ed Sheeran…, but especially if your name is Mick Hucknall…
Q> Hi Donna! Tell us, what was the first music you ever bought yourself…
Donna> Being a '70s/'80s kid, I spent my pocket money on 45” singles and LPs from Woolworths (I’m really showing my age here!) Madness, Michael Jackson, The Specials, Blondie, Stevie Wonder, Madonna, INXS were the soundtrack to my youth. I have vivid memories of Diana Ross - ‘Upside Down’ being on my stereo. I didn’t have a huge amount of vinyl, but I was immensely proud of my collection.
Q> The first gig you ever went to…
Donna> Not sure if it was my first but it’s my most memorable - after watching Live Aid I became obsessed with Queen so I made it my mission to see them live. They launched their ‘Magic’ tour a year later in 1986. I saw them twice at Wembley then again Knebworth Park. I was utterly blown away by Freddie’s theatrical performance and how incredible John, Roger & Brian were as musicians. Status Quo and INXS supported which then made me dive deeper into their music too… and naturally I fell in love with Michael Hutchence, the power of a live gig!
Q> Your first slow dance…
Donna> ‘Careless Whisper’ - George Michael
Q> A song you felt you could never escape from…
Donna> ‘(Everything I Do) I Do It For You’ is a song that immediately turn off when I hear it. It was at number one for SIXTEEN consecutive weeks and I couldn’t wait for it to be knocked off. Sorry @Bryan Adams if you’re reading this.
Q> Your dancefloor anthem…
Donna> Don’t laugh but ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ - Rick Astley. Clear memory of swishing around many a dancefloor in a puffball dress whenever that came on in the late '80s. In my later/slighter cooler/clubbing days it would be ‘Insomnia’ - Faithless.
Q> Your go-to for karaoke…
Donna> Oh God, you’re asking the wrong person. I absolutely loathe karaoke…. It’s just lots of people fighting for the mic and shouting?. I pretend to like it as most people do, but I really really don’t. If I was forced, I’d choose ‘Summer Loving’ from Grease and pick the nearest boy to duet with so I didn’t have to suffer the embarrassment on my own.
Fun fact: When I became mates with Andrew Ridgley last year we went for lunch together. I told everyone prior to the lunch I was going to get him drunk and lure him down to Lucky Voice and sing Wham songs with him. First part came true, second part, I got scared and chickened out!
Q> Your musical guilty pleasure…
Donna> Simply Red. Not even ashamed. I used to fancy Mick Hucknall (but that bit I am ashamed about!)
Q> A song you wish you wrote…
Donna> ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’. I’d be very rich. Or Wham ‘Rap’ because the lyrics are utterly ridiculous but so catchy and fun.
Q> Your musical unpopular opinion…
Donna> I have several! Ed Sheeran, Adele, Beyonce.. Also people seem to love ‘Re-rewind (The Crowd Say Bo Selecta)’ Artful Dodger featuring Craig David - I just don’t get it.
Q> Your desert island disc…
Donna> I’m going for Madonna ‘The Immaculate Collection’
Q> A song you want played at your funeral…
Donna> ‘The Show Must Go On’ - Queen. It’s so dramatic. I’d want everyone singing it too. So as much as I loathe karaoke, if you could put the lyrics up on a screen that would be great thanks!
Q> Best sync moment…
Donna> ‘Do you love me’ – The Contours : Dirty Dancing, 1987
When Baby snuck into the staff quarters carrying a watermelon, shuffling past the raunchy dancers before awkwardly dancing with Johnny. Absolute classic.
Was one of my most watched DVD’s. Proof again that I’m a proper '80s chic 😊
Q> Music that made an ad campaign…
Donna> Pérez Prado- ‘Guaglione’ for Guinness Dancer back in 1994. That guy’s dancing was epic and almost made me want to drink Guinness. Watch the original video from 1958 with the orchestra it’s utterly brilliant.
Q> Best theme song…
Donna> I have a few: ‘A Beautiful Mine’ from Mad Men. Succession theme by Nicholas Britell. White Lotus – I think I would have found it so painful (as it was so bonkers) if there was no context, but when you know there’s a whole hour of White Lotus to follow it’s really enticing! Also ‘Mrs Robinson’ - Simon & Garfunkel from The Graduate.
Q> Favourite film soundtrack…
Donna> La La Land. Made me want to learn to play the piano. Ryan Gosling learnt to play and practiced for up to seven hours a day to perfect his role as Sebastian Wilder. That really impressed me.
