Jane Birkin

AKA MELODY NELSON.

What music are you currently grooving to?

Etienne Daho’s album Surf, with bijoux like Moon River and My Girl Is Gone. Also John Barry’s We Have All The Time In The World and Dylan’s He Was A Friend Of Mine – schmaltzy and sexy, to dance a slow dance with yourself.

What, if push comes to shove, is your all-time favourite album? Gainsbourg’s Melody Nelson. It hasn’t dated at all. It’s original, bold and beautiful, Jean-Claude Vannier’s arrangements, the sheer poetry of it… class.

What was the first record you ever bought? And where did you buy it? Exodus, from the film, a little 45 from Woolworths… but Little Sister by Elvis is what [her brother] Andrew and I got as a prize for singing in a hotel.

Which musician, other than yourself, have you ever wanted to be? Dylan.

What do you sing in the shower? I never do, but should I, it would be songs from West Side Story – America, or I Feel Pretty.

What is your favourite Saturday night record?

Mahler’s Symphony No. 10, the Adagio, by [Leonard] Bernstein. Gustav M’s last unfinished marvel… just tears your heart out. I was listening to this in my car and I was so elated, uplifted that I ran into a police van, I got all the policemen to get into my car and put the volume up, and this I thought explained all… it did.

And your Sunday morning record? Billie Holiday’s Gloomy Sunday. Serge’s version, Sombre Dimanche is even more miserable. Perfect to listen to en route for Sunday market shopping. Or Miserere (Allegri), the King’s College Choir. A little boy sings just so high it uplifts any spirit.

Jane Birkin’s new album Oh! Pardon Tu Dormais… is out now.