Brian Leishman: Every night out, I’m up for it

What was the first record that you bought? 

It was a CD as I’m 43. I’m guessing it was around 1996, and it was Expecting to Fly by The Bluetones. I like my 90s indie and Britpop. I think it’s fair to say I wore out the CD because it was always on.  

I’ve never seen them in the flesh but I’ve seen quite a lot of that era of bands. I saw Oasis the first time around. But I’ll be honest, I thought they were mince live. But others that I have spoken to who saw them in the summer said they were brilliant.  

What record will always get you on the dance floor? 

This is probably embarrassing, the songs that are guaranteed to get me up are Saturday Night and Sexy Eyes by Whigfield.   

I love dancing. However, I compare my dancing to my darts and my snooker ability – I have that optimum amount of Guinness where I think I’m brilliant, but I am actually pretty embarrassing. I would describe it as full of effort and lacking in ability.  

What is your go-to karaoke song? 

Anything you want, I love singing. I would categorise that as the same as my dancing, though. There’s an extensive back catalogue, but Just Like Fred Astaire by James or Only You by Yazoo. 
Every night out, I’m up for it. There are a couple of locals that I go into and give my stage name – I’m not going to tell you what that is. 

What song would be/was your first dance at your wedding and why? 

It was Ho Hey by The Lumineers. It’s a nice song, an easy one for all the guests to shuffle along to.  

What songs do you want at your funeral? 

It’s honestly something I have never thought of. But I do go to church, so I would have a few religious hymns in there. Each to their own, and respect to the people that do it but I am not one of these people who will get lowered into the ground or into the crematorium to a football song. That’s just not for me.  

What songs are guaranteed to make you cry? 

I can honestly say that there has never been anything that’s made me cry. But there are some songs that are poignant. When I’m sitting in the chamber and I’m listening to MPs from pretty much all corners talking about militarism, and the passion for it that we see across Europe and across the world, that alarms me. So, I’ll pick an anti-war song, Greenfields of France by The Furies.  

What would you associate with childhood? 

I really started to get massively into football in 1990, so it’s Pavarotti’s Nessun Dorma from the World Cup.  

I remember rushing home from school to my granny’s flat right opposite my primary school at half three to see the afternoon game. I have good memories of sitting there, legs crossed, eating my dinner and hearing Pavarotti on the TV.  

What record do you absolutely hate but can’t get out of your head? 

I was round seeing a friend not too long ago who’s got two young children and the youngest was just relentless with Baby Shark. He’s my best friend and I love him dearly, but it was so exhausting it cut the visit short. 

What record would you be embarrassed to own up to having in your collection? 

I’ll double down and say I’ll never be embarrassed by it, but I probably should be – anything by Steps: Tragedy; 5, 6, 7, 8; Deeper Shade of Blue... I’m going to take ownership of them. I think they are songs to be proud of, but I’m sure they will be some eyebrows raised at me saying that. 

What was the last band you went to see?

It was Pulp, last summer at the O2. I went to them first time around. I love them and James; they are probably my two favourite bands. After 20-odd years of having not seen them, Jarvis has still got it. It was absolutely brilliant.