Share the songs that make up the soundtrack to your life to win a £50 iTUNES VOUCHER!

[UrsulaMumsnet]

From the Sunday Times bestselling author of That Girl From Nowhere comes an emotional and gripping new novel.

Do you ever wonder if you’ve lived the life you were meant to?

In 1988, two eight-year-old girls with almost identical names and the same love of ballet meet for the first time. They seem destined to be best friends for ever and to become professional dancers. Years later, however, they have both been dealt so many cruel blows that they walk away from each other into very different futures – one enters a convent, the other becomes a minor celebrity. Will these new, ‘invisible’ lives be the ones they were meant to live, or will they only find that kind of salvation when they are reunited twenty years later?

While writing When I Was Invisible, Dorothy rediscovered her love for music – especially 80s tunes. Tell us which three songs make up the soundtrack of your life to win £50 iTunes voucher!

Buy the book

This discussion is sponsored by Cornerstone

[pratiaalba]

Oliver's Army by Elvis Costello
It was the first music I heard that wasn't classical, and it blew me away (I was about 10)
Somewhere in my Heart by Aztec Camera
This came out at a time of great change in my life. Hearing it transports me straight back to the long hit summer it came out.
Better Together by Jack Johnson.
I used to dance round the house with my eldest in my arms at 6mo to this. Always such a surprise when it comes on now- she's taller than me!

[EDisFunny]

Who by Fire - Leonard Cohen
Mad World - Gary Jules
Song to the Siren - This Mortal Coil

Many reasons for each song but, overall, I just like them.

[gazzalw]

Wuthering Heights - Kate Bush (oh to be 15 again)
Don't You Want Me Baby - Human League (just started at Uni and anthem of a generation)
Unfinished Sympathy by Massive Attack (it was the only song that would get DC1 to sleep as a baby)

It's an interesting one. Music defined key events in my life until family life kicked in big time - now it is less important to me which is sad.

[notagiraffe]

Manhattan by Ella Fitzgerald. My parents used to play it a lot when I was young and I'd dream of going off and living in a big city, and visiting Manhattan (which I did in my twenties.)

Boy in The Bubble - Paul Simon - DH and I took Graceland on our first holiday together and played it in the car. I associate it with falling in love with him. Then DC discovered it and love it and play it all the time so it's been on in our house for twenty years!

Yoshimi - The Flaming Lips - this is our family song. I associate it with DC being tiny and discovering the seaside for the first time. It makes me so happy every time I hear it. Another one that DC love too so it's on all the time.

[jellycake]

Rhinestone Cowboy by Glenn Campbell! My dad played the drums in a small group that used to play clubs on a Friday and Saturday night. My mum and I used to go and watch and I'd have pop and crisps for a couple of hours on a Saturday and this one really sticks in my mind for some reason. It's really the song I recall for when I was about 6.
Where do broken hearts go by Whitney Houston this song came out just as I got my heart broken for the first time when I was 16. I played it so often that my mum threatened to break the record. I hear the opening notes and am immediately transported to my teenage bedroom.
I don't want to miss a thing by Aerosmith. The film came out on cable at about the time my son was born and many sleepless nights were spent watching this and the music reminds me of when my baby boy (now nearly 17) was tiny.

[AnneEyhtMeyer]

Brown Girl In the Ring - the first record I ever bought aged about 7 and I discovered the joy of singing my heart out into a hairbrush.

Why Can't I Be You - takes me back to seeing the Cure at Crystal Palace Bowl when I was just about to leave home. Everyone was dancing and I felt an immense sense of freedom.

History - One Direction - The first song to really capture the attention of my DD who is 7 (of her own choice rather than one I am listening to). Now she sings her heart out to it in the car with me, and I can see her growing up and experiencing the exhilaration of music just like I did at her age.

[GiveMyHeadPeaceffs]

Shiny happy people by The B52's because it always reminds me of finally finishing my A levels and the whole summer stretching ahead of me.

Born in the USA by Bruce Springsteen. I was pretty young and it got blasted out of the car the whole way from NI to the south of France on our first family holiday abroad.

Pretend that we're dead by L7, always reminds me of being at uni.

Jagged little pill by Alannis Morisette just because it's a great album of it's time and summed up every aspect of my life when I first played it.

[foxessocks]

Ellie Goulding - your song - my first dance at my wedding
Five - everybody get up - my teenage favourite
Eva cassidy - autumn leaves - because it is beautiful but u could have picked any of hers. My dad was and is a huge fan of her music too.

[VilootShesCute]

Brown eyed girl-Van Morrison (was born with brown eyes ).

Drama Queen-Green Day.

Footprints in the sand-Leona Lewis.

[purplepandas]

James - Sit Down - never did feel that I quite fitted/fit in.

[FaithAscending]

Summer of 69 - Bryan Adams - reminds me of being abroad as a teenager.

You only get what you give - New radicals. Reminds me of sixth form college and the fun summer after A-levels.

[BatmanLovesMarmite]

Runaway Train (Soul Asylum) - loved this as a teen and it perfectly encapsulates teen feelings. I've since learned that some of the teens who were found through the video regretted it as there were reasons they had run away

Mr Brightside (the Killers) - had just had my first baby when this came out. I know it's about jealousy but I can't help associating it with a happy time.

I Still Remember (Bloc Party) - so much fun to sing along to and feel nostalgic. I listen to it a lot at the moment because I'm in a happy place

[starlight36]

Sunday Girl - Blondie. The first song I can remember dancing to as a little girl around the living room.

Groove is in the Heart - Dee-lite. Ba favourite during sixth form and at Uni. Guaranteed to get me on the dance floor.

Feeling Good - Muse. First dance at our wedding.

[starlight36]

Not sure why the Ba sneaked into my Deelite entry!

[artlessflirt]

Do You Really Like It by DJ Pied Piper - First single I ever bought on CD so holds a certain nostalgia.

Welcome to the Black Parade by My Chemical Romance - In my eyes, from one of the best albums in recent times.

Wasn't Expecting That by Jamie Lawson - Was on in the hospital just before I was taken down for my emergency c-section, and stuck on a loop in my head for ages afterwards.

[rightmywrongs]

Every day of my life has some sort of theme tune as I listen to music or the radio almost 24/7.

Was having a crap day today & smiled to myself as the radio was playing in the DR surgery.
Ob la di ob la da life goes on,
Lalalala life goes on.

As its Mumsnet I'll be topical..

When I got pregnant, to someone a lot younger than me. I was on a self destruct mission.

The song that haunted me all the way through & I used to sing to myself ..

The Ballad of John & Yoko by The Beatles.

I don't really like blasphemy & never say it myself but ..

"Christ, you know it ain't easy, they're gonna crucify me"

Still makes me smile - they kinda did too but it's all good now !

[NoMudNoLotus]

Tracey Chapman - The Promise ( as I walked down the aisle )

Elton John - How Wonderful Like Is Now Is Now You're In My World ( walking back down the aisle ).

"The First Time I Ever Did See Your Face" - sums up the feelings I have for my daughter.

Leona Lewis' cover of Snow Patrol "Light up light up" she was singing this live on TV whilst I laid knowingly miscarrying my baby - I still had a twin with a heartbeat and the words still resound with me "even if you cannot hear my voice I"ll be right beside you dear" I thought that if I internalised them enough that my surviving baby would hold on and survive the massive bleed.
He did.

[Baconyum]

Was raised listening to an odd mix of classical German composers, Italian opera, Beatles and Motown!

The first song that had a big impression on me as an individual though was "true" Spandau ballet, it was the first song that wasn't introduced to me by adults but by peers/charts, it flowed so well lyrically (and contained lyrics I was embarrassed to sing in front of my parents so my first 'grown up' interest in a song.)

George Michael/wham careless whisper, started a love for all George's work that's lasted over 30 years now, songs for every occasion.

All saints pure shores - was a big hit when I had dd and appealed to my free spirit side, lovely song to sing to a baby too. Rarely hear it now (lost the CD must add to Spotify list) but whenever I hear it I am RIGHT back to being a new mum (following the loss of 3 angel babies too, the ethereal quality of the composition made me feel they were with us too).

[Baconyum]

Supplementary/cheat addition - titanium David guetta/sia following my divorce and experiencing ill health gives me a wee boost when I feel like giving up would be sooo much easier.

[mailfuckoff]

Mr blue sky by elo. Just my favourite song of all time
Head over feet by Alanis Morrisette. I was in a bad place when I met my now husband and this song always makes me think of him

[IfYoureHappyAndYouKnowIt]

Early memories of my mum's faves. Nana Mouskouri and Tijuana Brass.

Eventually obsessed by my older brothers' albums playing Hunky Dory and Joni Mitchell repeatedly.

Many afternoons in the six form common room with Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark.

Two tone obsessed at uni in Coventry. Too Much Too Young (Specials). A year abroad during this time following Vienna from country to country.

Memories of sailing in Greece blasting out Van Morrison.

Dancing in the kitchen to Burning Down The House and Soul to Soul.

House parties full of disco times. Lost in Music, Upside Down, Rapture.

Learning the piano again. Hey Jude. Life on Mars.

Playing at gigs. Rock the Casbah.

Days chatting with a close friend. Lovely Day. Easy Lover.

I enjoyed that.

[RoastieToastieReastie]

Hmm, the ones that come to mind (I make no excuses for my poor taste in music) are
Looking in, and through the rain - Mariah Carey. Both helped me when I was struggling and the former was my soundtrack to my teens and the mental place I was in,
I wish it could be Christmas every day (I do love Christmas, although in fairness everyday may be a bit OTT)
Eskimo - Damien rice. For the dark times I've been through.
Blackbird - the Beatles. A beautiful song to which DD was born to.
Anything by the wiggles . Nuff said!
Bohemian rhapsody - queen. Fantastic song.
You've got the love - can't remember who sings this but it's a fab uplifting song that cheers me up.
No more drama -Mary j blige. For when there is too much drama going on! So emotionally sung

[heavenlypink]

Difficult to choose three ....

Toyah "I Want To Be Free" That was one of the first albums I bought. I loved her style of music especially the lyrics.

James "Sit Down" - Takes me back to my 'clubbing' days and is where I met my OH

Bob Marley "Three Little Birds" (Don't worry about a thing) is a song I often play now. Life has given me a few knocks over the last several years and when I'm feeling down this reminds me that I will be okay again.

[booked83]

Don't rain on my parade by Barbara Streisand (or the glee version as well!) my bump liked this song too!

[MrsGaryKemp]

So hard to narrow it down to just three.......

First one has to be from the 80s, Spandau Ballet were the soundtrack to my tweens and early teens..... So, really, it has to be 'True'

I've always been prone to having a musical obsession, and my next one began in the late 90s. I give you : Shania Twain! With the advent of the internet I made loads of friends, travelled the UK, USA and Canada and had the most amazing times through Shania. So it's got to be 'Man, I Feel like a Woman!'

And number three, well my daughter is now 6 and has a musical obsession of her own. Enter Olly Murs! My daughter has found Olly without input from me, but it is now something we share (am well aware when she is older she will hate it if I like her music!) We were lucky enough to meet Olly this week and he was gorgeous, charming, lovely! I am definitely hooked. So the soundtrack to these mother daughter years is 'Did you miss me?'

These are not necessarily my favourite songs of all time, but they are the soundtrack to my life!