Soundtrack to My Life: Tracey Donaldson

Arthur's Theme - Christopher Cross (1981)

This is my number one song in the universe - hands down. I just remember the very first time I heard that song, I was in high school and my bedside alarm went off and that song came on and ... just something about it, just the melody and his voice. I just almost wondered if I was still dreaming, it was that good. I loved the lyrics because it was all about the magic of New York City and that is just my favourite place in the world. Christopher Cross came to New Zealand recently and I went specifically just to hear him sing that song and honestly, I thought I was going to spontaneously combust. It's a beauty.

Rivers of Babylon - Boney M (1978)

I was only 4when this came out but it is one of the first songs that I can remember being aware of as a kid. I can just vividly remember that song; I can remember the house I lived in and that I would sing it all the time - just the chorus, the hook. And it's quite funny because now with hindsight you can see that it's almost got a nursery rhyme sort of feel to it - you can see how it would resonate with a kid. It's just feel-good music, it gets you up and was definitely one of the first times I remember being aware of music.

Mull of Kintyre - Paul McCartney & Wings (1977)

When I was maybe 7 or 8, my parents split up and my dad moved to Australia and, instead of writing letters to meand my brother here in New Zealand, he would make tapes. Just of himself talking ... and at the end of each side he'd always put a song on it and [once] he put Mull of Kintyre on. I don't know why, but I remember hearing that song and just being wowed. I thought it was very futuristic and cool of my dad to send us tapes and I guess because of what that song represented, I've always loved it.

All My Life - KC & JoJo (1998)

This was my wedding song. The funny thing is - I've been trying to think back to why I chose it. I couldn't name the album it's on, I couldn't name you a single other song of theirs, it certainly had no sentimental value to us, I just remember loving the song. It obviously just came on the radio one day and I liked it and just decided, "that's the song I'm gonna walk down the aisle to". We actually eloped and got married in Las Vegas. The chapel was tiny, the aisle was so short that by the time I got to the altar the lyrics hadn't even started. It was about five seconds. So now whenever I hear that song I just burst out laughing, it was a fail all around.

Still The Same - Bob Seger (1978)

When I was a teenager and got my very first car - a Ford Capri - Bob Seger's Greatest Hits was one of the first CDs I brought. It takes me right back to that time of just getting my independence - my first car, my first flat, I'd drive around, windows down with Bob Seger. Any song of his would take me back to that time but that one in particular, it's just my absolute favourite.

The air that I breathe - The Hollies (1972)

This was the song that my mum told me was on the radio when she and my dad were driving me home from Waikato Hospital as a newborn. So she always told me when I was growing up; "This is your song." So it's always held a very special place in my heart. My mum died recently, so I kind of chose this song for her. Every time I hear it, I just associate it with her now, I love it.

Into The Groove - Madonna (1985)

I was probably about 10 when the Like A Virgin album came out and I think every girl who was 10 when that album came out would probably have a lifelong love of Madonna. Desperately Seeking Susan had just come out and was the biggest movie at the time and I just remember; I had this ghetto blaster and I had the cassette and I would literally put it in my bedroom window and turn it around to play it to all my neighbours. I sort of wonder now if that was my introduction to being a DJ - choosing the music I thought people should hear and punishing them with it. But back in 84, she was everything.