Stephen Gethins: Eurovision is a crash course in European politics

Re-elected to Westminster in 2024, the SNP politician has resigned that seat after becoming the new MSP for Dundee City East. A former professor of international practice at the University of St Andrews, he has also been appointed minister for culture, Europe and international development. Here he opens his music collection for Holyrood

What was the first record you ever bought?
It was Raintown by Deacon Blue on cassette, and I played it on my Walkman. I still know all the words to all the songs. I bought it from the Our Price in St John’s Shopping Centre in Perth. I really liked Deacon Blue and I knew Ricky Ross was a Dundee United fan, which wasn’t unhelpful.

What music do you associate with your childhood?
My dad was a big Elvis fan and we would have stuff like James Taylor on. I was also really lucky at school, where we had a really fantastic music teacher, and I went to youth theatre, which introduced us to a lot of music. It was at Perth Theatre, the same as Ewan McGregor – he was a few years above me. Colin McCreadie, who I knew, also went through there as did Michelle Duncan, who was in Bohemian Rhapsody. Lots of them went on to great things, but my skillset took me elsewhere. There was absolutely no chance of me becoming Obi-Wan Kenobi. 

What was the first gig you ever went to?
It would have been a local band at the Twa Tams in Perth. I turned 18 at school and I remember turning up there in my school uniform with my passport. For my friend group, music was all we talked about. That was and still is a brilliant bar for live music – Ocean Colour Scene and Longpigs played there – and Fat Sam’s in Dundee is the same. Live music was there, it was accessible and it was affordable.

I was lucky to be going through my youth when there was endless good music going around. My first big stadium gig was REM at Murrayfield with The Cranberries and Belly. That must have been in about 1995.

Which track takes you back to those days?
There She Goes by The La’s. I bought it on seven inch from Goldrush Records in Perth and gave it to my pal for his birthday. That and anything by Suede, who I saw recently in Edinburgh and they were just fantastic. Brett Anderson’s voice has held up really well. Their first album just blew our minds at the time. It was like opening the door to an adult world you just didn’t understand. We’d been listening to music like The Smiths already, and with Suede suddenly everyone was listening to that kind of thing. 

What will always get you on the dancefloor?
I’m hopeless at dancing and because I’m a dad now I’m mindful that I’m not as good as I think I am, but it would be something by Pulp. I so love Jarvis Cocker, but I’d do myself a disservice and an injury if I did his moves. I’d be off to A&E. 

And what’s your go-to karaoke song?
I don’t sing, but if I really had to it might be Pulp, Do You Remember the First Time? His & Hers is a great album.

Which current artists are in your collection?
Taylor Swift – I got my daughter into her, which is the only cool thing she thinks I’ve ever done – and I’m loving Chappell Roan. I’ve been trying to teach my daughter the value of an album and The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess is a great one. 

What do you want played at your funeral?
It’s the final opportunity to say to friends and family, ‘this is something you really need to listen to’, so a playlist with things like 10,000 Maniacs, stuff I’ve really enjoyed.

What song do you really hate?
Wonderwall by Oasis. I like them in general, but that’s just horrendous. 

Which tracks do you associate with your political wins?
None really – you tend to celebrate those in soulless sports halls. They could do with more music.

Normally elections are in May and Eurovision is a week and a half later, so that’s always nice. It’s domestically apolitical but if you want a crash course in European politics, that’s it. I love the Will Ferrell film about it, I’ve seen it three times and had the song Husavik on in the house. It’s so good, although for Scottish viewers you have to suspend disbelief at the idea that the Hydro is at the end of the Royal Mile.