The works are among a playlist of 17 songs chosen by the British monarch titled “The King’s Music Room”, which is being aired on Monday and Tuesday on Apple Music’s global radio stations to celebrate Commonwealth Day.
“Throughout my life, music has meant a great deal to me,” Charles says in a trailer for the broadcast, filmed at Buckingham Palace.
“It has that remarkable ability to bring happy memories flooding back from the deepest recesses of our memory, to comfort us in times of sadness, and to take us to distant places.”
As well as sharing his playlist, Charles, 76, also relays anecdotes about his encounters with some of the artists and why the songs have been important to him.
Featuring artists from around the Commonwealth, the diverse playlist included 1930s crooners, Afrobeats stars and newer artists as well as Marley and Minogue.
Charles said the idea seemed an interesting and innovative way to mark Commonwealth Day, the annual celebration of the voluntary association of 56 nations which evolved out of the British empire and which he now heads.
“So this is what I particularly wanted to share with you, songs which have brought me joy,” the king says. “Thank you for listening. I wish you all every possible blessing.”
Here’s the full list of songs on the King’s personal playlist:
- Could You Be Loved – Bob Marley & The Wailers
- My Boy Lollipop – Millie Small
- The Loco-Motion – Kylie Minogue
- The Very Thought of You – Al Bowlly
- La Vie En Rose – Grace Jones
- Love Me Again – Raye
- Mpempem Do Me – Daddy Lumba
- Kante – Davido (feat Fave)
- The Click Song – Miriam Makeba
- My Country Man – Jools Holland & Ruby Turner
- Indian Summer – Anoushka Shankar
- Anta Permana – Siti Nurhaliza
- E Te Iwi E (Call to the People) – Dame Kiri Te Kanawa
- Haven’t Met You Yet – Michael Bublé
- Hot Hot Hot – Arrow
- Crazy in Love (feat Jay-Z) – Beyonce
- Upside Down – Diana Ross
Listen to The King’s Music Room here.
