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Who's up for Ten to the Top?

Award-winning classical tenor Russell Watson reveals the songs that shaped his life in Tracks of My Years. Plus Vernon's got the music quiz Ten to the Top.

Award-winning tenor Russell Watson reveals the songs that shaped his life in Tracks of My Years.

Widely known as 'The People’s Tenor', Russell first caught a break after winning a local radio station’s talent contest , and his first record The Voice became the fastest-selling classical record in British history.

Russell has collaborated with artists as varied as Meatloaf, Robin Gibb, Alexandra Burke and Luciano Pavarotti, and has sung all over the world for presidents and popes. He's also performed at major sports events such as the Champions League and FA Cup Final.

To date Russell has released thirteen studio albums - his most recent a collaboration with Aled Jones - and he's currently touring his 'Magnificent Buildings Concert series'. In this special tour Russell is performing at some of Britain's amazing cathedrals accompanied by his arranger and pianist Mike Moran.

In recent years Russell gained a new generation of fans when he appeared in the 2020 series of 'I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!' The cast of the acclaimed 20th series also included eventual winner Giovanna Fletcher, Shane Richie, Mo Farah...and Vernon Kay!

Russell's next two choices this week are by The Jam and The Style Council.

Plus there's audio nuggets from the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Archive in Vernon's Vault and more of the mid-morning music quiz, Ten To The Top.

Whatever you're up to, Vern wants to hear from you - email vernon@bbc.co.uk - and if you’d like to apply to take part in Ten To The Top, the address you need is tentothetop@bbc.co.uk

2 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Tue 13 Jun 2023 09:30
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2

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Russell Watson chooses his Tracks of My Years

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Music Played

  • Queen

    Don't Stop Me Now

    • Jazz.
    • Island.
    • 12.

  • Nina Simone

    Ain't Got No, I Got Life

    • (CD Single).
    • Sony BMG.

  • P!nk

    Runaway

    • TRUSTFALL.
    • RCA.

  • George Michael

    Outside

    • George Michael - Ladies & Gentlemen.
    • Epic.

  • Blondie

    Maria

    • The Female Touch 2 (Various Artists).
    • Global Television.

  • Tom Grennan

    How Does It Feel

    • What Ifs & Maybes.
    • Sony.

  • Kool & the Gang

    Straight Ahead

    • In The Heart.
    • BBR.
    • 006.

  • Record of The Week

    • KAMILLE

      Muscle Memory (feat. Nile Rodgers)

      • (CD Single).
      • Believe.
      • 1.

  • Captain Sensible

    Happy Talk

    • Sensible Singles.
    • A&M.
    • 5.

  • Loreen

    Tattoo

    • Eurovision Song Contest Liverpool 2023.
    • Universal Music A/S.
    • 34.

  • Stardust

    Music Sounds Better With You

    • Now 41 (Various Artists).
    • Now.

  • Gerry Rafferty

    Baker Street

    • Songs Of The Century (Disc 2).
    • Global Records & Tapes.

  • Toploader

    Dancing In The Moonlight

    • Onka's Big Moka - Toploader.
    • Sony Soho Square.

  • Niall Horan

    Meltdown

    • The Show.
    • Capitol Records.

  • MKTO

    Classic

    • Now That's What I Call Music! 88 (Various Artists).
    • NOW.

  • Stevie Wonder

    Sir Duke

    • Stevie Wonder - Song Review.
    • Motown.

  • Louise

    High Hopes

    • Greatest Hits.
    • Tag8.

  • Vernon's Vault

    • David Gray

      Sail Away (Radio 2 Session, 16 Jan 2023)

  • Album of The Week

    • Jake Shears

      Too Much Music

      • Last Man Dancing.
      • Mute.

  • Bananarama & Fun Boy Three

    Really Saying Something

    • Bananarama - Deep Sea Skiving.
    • London.

  • Jason Mraz

    You Might Like It

    • Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride.
    • BMG Rights Management.

  • Alison Limerick

    Make It On My Own

    • The Divas Of Dance (Various Artists).
    • Telstar.

  • Tracks of My Years

    • The Jam

      That's Entertainment

      • The Jam: The Singles 1980-1982.
      • Polydor.

    • The Jam

      That's Entertainment

      • The Jam: The Singles 1980-1982.
      • Polydor.

    • The Beatles

      Day Tripper

      • The Beatles - 1.
      • Apple.
      • 012.

    • Russell Watson

      Nessun Dorma

      • The Voice.
      • Decca.
      • 14.

  • The Style Council

    Long Hot Summer

    • The Best Summer Ever (Various Artists.
    • Virgin.
    • 4.

  • Blur

    The Narcissist

    • The Ballad Of Darren.
    • Parlophone.

Broadcast

  • Tue 13 Jun 2023 09:30
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2

Ten To The Top

Ten To The Top

Get all the details of how to enter and listen to Vernon's daily music quiz.