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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.

joannapiano Sat 17-Mar-18 10:57:26

When our children were small we went on holiday to Austria. One night there was an open-air festival, and late in the evening everyone sat on the grass, the band played Edelweiss, and everyone sang, including us. The stars were out and the mountains were beautiful. This is not my favourite song of all time, but every time I hear it I think of that happy time.

Helsbells68 Sat 17-Mar-18 11:20:36

Bryan Adams - everything I do was number one when we got married smile

Telly Sat 17-Mar-18 11:24:14

The song that evokes the most memories for me is The Locomotion by Little Eva. It was the first song that we played on the huge radiogram that my parents bought. In fact for a while it was the only record that we had. Whenever I hear it I remember the polished dark wood of this impressive piece of furniture contrasting with the green and cream fabric of the speakers and I'm back in the 60s!

Flowerpower22 Sat 17-Mar-18 11:34:45

Super Trooper by Abba which was top of the pops when I met my husband. Quite a while ago I might add!

TeenaK Sat 17-Mar-18 11:36:07

Slipping Through My Fingers by ABBA as it is a song about how quickly children grow up. The youngest of my five children has just turned 18 so now they are all adults and I don't know where the time has gone and this song sums it up. Makes me cry every time I listen to it.

andywedge Sat 17-Mar-18 11:37:50

Anything by The Beatles, especially the early 1962 to 1964 music

glenka Sat 17-Mar-18 11:41:08

The Power Of Love by Jennifer Rush because it's just a beautiful song.

carolynhey Sat 17-Mar-18 11:44:15

Songs from the eighties remind me of being young, OMD Joan of Arc. Eurythmics Sweet Dreams and Rio Duran Duran, can never go back !

heavensjoys Sat 17-Mar-18 12:16:51

This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You) the Isley Brothers is 'Our Song'. From 1966. we are still together 47 years later.

Smithy Sat 17-Mar-18 12:24:15

Guantanamera by the Sandpipers, think it was around 1966. When life was sweet and carefree and full of promise. My first holidays abroad with friends. Jobs were easy to get and life hadn't yet kicked you in the teeth. It still makes me feel emotional now.

vivianallman Sat 17-Mar-18 12:36:44

any Northern Soul song.. we love them all and they remind us of good times... all-nighters.. all-dayers.... and our youth... no alcohol, just coca cola to drink.... perfect times... travelling to different venues around the country ... and better still our favourite bar in Altinkum Turkey plays them all for us when we are there visiting my brother.... #AwesomeChoons

antheacarol55 Sat 17-Mar-18 12:38:30

Mine is somewhere over the rainbow every time I hear it I think of my mum .Bless her she sang her heart out but it was painful to listen too ?

karenweedon Sat 17-Mar-18 12:43:33

'You are my sunshine' - my dad used to sing it to me (whilst playing the guitar) when I was young

jane1956 Sat 17-Mar-18 13:03:33

any Jim Reeves song, can still hear my dad singing or whistling them to my mum... I love you because etc

GlitterFizz Sat 17-Mar-18 13:15:27

My parents are both dead and so many somgs remind me of them....music is so wonderful at evoking special memories. Rod Stewarts Maggie May was my mums favourite song and she also loved Shakira so anything by her reminds me so much of my mum. I have a love of Paul Simon and Neil Diamond from my dad who was always singing and playing these! Also, the last song my dad and I were listening to the night when he died suddenly of a heart attach was Run by Snow Patrol and that song is now guarenteed to make me cry x

VelvetGlove Sat 17-Mar-18 13:15:36

Black is black by Los Bravos - when I was really little mum would be doing cooking or cleaning and would be singing. That particular song though, strongly reminds me of her.

lizd31 Sat 17-Mar-18 13:27:19

Patricia The Stripper as I always used to sing it on karaoke. It used to get the crowd going & make everyone laugh & I won the karaoke contest with it on my last holiday abroad on a cruise that I won. I've been very poorly for a while now & doubt I'll ever be able to go abroad again & my vocal chords have been damaged so my karaoke days are over so it will always have fond memories for me

rainbowvalley Sat 17-Mar-18 13:37:48

Once Twice Three Times A Lady Lionel Richie this was played at my wedding and also Schools Out Forever which was in the charts when I left school!

Humph Sat 17-Mar-18 13:46:24

You're the one that I want from Grease - fond memories of courting

sophie56 Sat 17-Mar-18 14:06:41

Picture if you will a flea pit cinema in Brussels in the 1970s, the film showing was 'Harold and Maude' and I, a young teen was there with my brother and friends. I loved the film, partly because as a Brit abroad we didn't often get to see English films. The film was somewhat quirky but I loved it and still do ad the music was perfect especially Cat Steven's "If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out".

The other piece of music is Handel's Messiah 'For unto Us a Son is Born', which I played in the final stages of my pregnancy with my son when I lay awake night after night and I have barely slept since.

maryandbuzz1 Sat 17-Mar-18 14:21:24

That would be Albatross by Fleetwood Mac ...it reminds me of trips to the seaside. Sunny days and lapping waves

jacquesbrel Sat 17-Mar-18 14:59:31

"Forbidden Colours" by David Sylvian, which featured on the soundtrack of Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence, our first cinematic date

cjb135 Sat 17-Mar-18 15:20:15

The wind beneath my wings to remind me how luck I am to be married to my husband David.

Lscott01 Sat 17-Mar-18 15:26:57

Karma police by Radiohead. Sang this song with a new friend on a night out. That new friend is now my husband of 6 years and we have 2 children together. Got to see Radiohead perform this last year and it brought back feelings of young love!

splodge Sat 17-Mar-18 15:28:38

Three Steps To Heaven by Eddie Cochcrane is a hit that my mum and dad liked. It was played at my dad's funeral , and will always, have a place in my heart . When I hear it now , I like to think that my mum and dad are both indeed in heaven .