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Win a £100 Waitrose voucher and a copy of Greatest Hits! **NOW CLOSED**

(605 Posts)
LauraGransnet (GNHQ) Fri 16-Mar-18 14:08:03

In our latest competition with Orion, we're giving you the chance to win a £100 Waitrose voucher and a copy of Greatest Hits by number one bestselling author Laura Barnett, a story about the power of reflection and how much our memories mean to us.

If you could choose just 16 moments to define your entire life, what would they be? That’s what Cass Wheeler must do. A musician born in 1950, Cass is now taking one day to select the 16 songs in her repertoire that have meant the most to her.

And behind each song lies a story - from the day her mother abandoned her, to her passionate first love, to the moment she lost everything. The dreams, the failures, the second chances.

So, what are the songs that mean the most to you, and evoke your most precious memories? Perhaps it was the first dance at your wedding, or the song repeated on the radio throughout your first holiday, or the only music that would rock your baby to sleep. Tell us in the comments below for the chance to win an £100 Waitrose voucher and a copy of Greatest Hits! We also have 25 copies of the book for runners-up.

Greatest Hits is published by W&N, an imprint of Orion, and is available online and from all good booksellers.

Please post your entries below by 11am 16 April.

Usual T&Cs apply.

LizHand Wed 21-Mar-18 11:01:32

For memories of my father..the Pearl Fishers: my young family life...Bohemian Rhapsody: My teenage angst ..10CC and Chicago: My best friend....Coming around again, Carly Simon....but must have IncyWincy spider reprise: My husband....anything Van Morrison and for Daughter and my car singalong ELO's Mr BlueSky

marpau Wed 21-Mar-18 11:03:04

When a child is born by Johnny Mathis which was played constantly on the radio when I was heavily pregnant with my first son

Molly10 Wed 21-Mar-18 11:03:04

Ah, there are so many songs that have memories. One of my earliest is Granddad by Clive Dunn. Someone in the street had this record and they used to play it in the summer with the window open. It made me feel so happy and sing along as I was very close to my Granddad. It even brings a teat to my eye now:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC5fqzKxau8

Ruskin Wed 21-Mar-18 11:03:46

The most important song to me has to be Twilight Zone by Iron Maiden \m/ When I was in 6th form someone loaned me the single & I loved it so much that it turned me into a headbanger & I have never looked back. Since a mutual love of heavy metal was what first drew my husband & I together without that I would never have had our 4 sons either

steph40 Wed 21-Mar-18 11:14:48

Pretty Woman, from the film which was the first film my now husband took me to see. Great memories xx

inishowen Wed 21-Mar-18 11:23:44

"I'm a believer" by the Monkees. I was fourteen and they used to play this at the ice rink. One day a gorgeous blonde boy took my hand and whisked me round the rink. We were both very good skaters and I was in heaven. We were in love for three days, then he moved on!

Bernie1964 Wed 21-Mar-18 11:25:57

Autumn Leaves by Nat King Cole
Makes my heart ache for my dad.

Annie29 Wed 21-Mar-18 11:27:39

I am sailing by Rod Stewart. It was being played a lot when we were on honeymoon in Cornwall

franjo Wed 21-Mar-18 11:30:39

Simon and Garfunkel’s Bridge over troubled water. Very thoughtful and melancholy.

NannyC2 Wed 21-Mar-18 11:44:53

'I'll Walk With God' sung by Mario Lanza.
As a very young child I used to sit on the sofa in our front room while my Dad played records on his home built stereo, vinyl record player.
He had many records of Strauss and Mario Lanza as well as others. However, these in particular really touched my heart and lifted me into world indescribable of words.
One in particular was the one I mentioned, for indeed, I have always walked with God to this very day, putting my trust and hope in Him.

ricbonio Wed 21-Mar-18 12:04:51

My wife and I had our first dance to Truly, madly, deeply by Savage Garden. We had a fantastic day and every time we hear that on the radio or in a store it brings back all those happy memories that we have.

Anj123 Wed 21-Mar-18 12:05:22

Let There Be Love by Nat King Cole which was played at my wedding. It was one of only a few songs we both agreed on! I especially like it as it refers to chilli con carne!! ?

jogette Wed 21-Mar-18 12:19:16

Close to you by the Carpenters - played at my wedding - I love it!

morningdew Wed 21-Mar-18 12:27:18

Me you and a dog named Boo , my first true love and I used to sing this and dream of doing all these things together , sadly the dream never materialised , whenever I hear this been played which is very rare , it takes me straight back to those wonderfull days ..

rozwell Wed 21-Mar-18 12:27:31

The song that means the most to me is Im not in love by 10cc.I was madly in love with some one for years but every time we would get together something or someone would ruin it for us.We managed about 3 dates in about two years but it was never to be.He was the love of my life but some years after i was married i heard he had died in a moterbike accident.We both loved this song and to this day its the most special song in my heart.

AlexG Wed 21-Mar-18 13:02:01

My father used to sing 'Lulla, lulla, lulla, lulla bye bye' to me when I was little and I've never heard it anywhere else. But with the wonders of the internet, have just found it being sung on YouTube. Typing this through a hail of tears but thank you for reminding me to look it up

Marycat2 Wed 21-Mar-18 13:12:53

The Power of Love Jennifer Rush version
My ex husband requested this on hospital radio for me during my recovery from major surgery it reminded us both of our courting days and still brings a tear to the eye

otherwiseknownasGrandma Wed 21-Mar-18 13:34:07

Bridge over trouble waters by Simon and Garfunkel. My ex-husband kept the CD collection, this was the first replacement I bought.

jan441 Wed 21-Mar-18 13:54:31

Old Cape Cod by Michael Halliday. My mum and dad had it on a 78 and played it regularly. It sounded such a lovely place I vowed I would go one day. Well I did but not until my late 50s. Magical place.

leemw711 Wed 21-Mar-18 14:35:26

Great question! For me, anything by the great Leonard Cohen, Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Sparks, Bob Dylan, Procul Harum, and lots of others, You can guess my age from the list!!!

greenfinger5 Wed 21-Mar-18 14:52:13

Mine would be 'Have i the right to hold you' by the Honeycombs, My son was premature and born at 27 weeks, we didn't know if he would survive, so i mentally distanced myself from him.. he was absolutely fine and it took a while but i gradually grew closer and now we are as close as ever, but this song was the one i sang over in my mind when i looked at that tiny little boy.

Dollyfair Wed 21-Mar-18 15:02:28

Crazy, by Patsy Cline. Always our song, "Im crazy for loving you". Now been married for 50 years and yes we are still "Crazy"!

Lindylou23 Wed 21-Mar-18 15:23:48

Better Midler Wind beneath my wings. Reminds me how me an husband have helped each other in our marriage especially when DD was bulimic tough times

janep57 Wed 21-Mar-18 15:31:44

Tears of a Clown. We were all Tamla when I was at university in the early 70s and where I met DH.

jacalpad Wed 21-Mar-18 16:06:33

I love all the Beatles music, but Fool on a Hill is a favourite since a boy I fancied in the 60s played it to me on a piano!