here we go with the third instalment of the 30-Day Song Challenge that I’m currently playing along with.

• 13. A song you like from the 70s: ‘Pretty Vacant’

”And we don’t care”

My only problem with choosing a song that I like from the 70s is deciding which one to go for of what must be hundreds. Punk came a few years too late for me, which is probably just as well: I really wouldn’t suit a mohican. However, I wasn’t (and am still not) too old to enjoy this chaotic musical ‘fuck-the-lot-of-you’ little number

• 14 A song you”d love to be played at your wedding: ‘I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)’

“I’m gonna be the man who wakes up next to you”

For reasons too lost in time (it was more than 44 years ago), we didn’t have any music at our wedding reception. However, both our children were married in Scotland, where the law requires that this Proclaimers song is played to bring the evening reception to a suitably raucous conclusion.

• 15 A song you like that’s a cover by another artist: ‘Goin’ Back’

“And live my days instead of counting my years”

This beautiful song written by Carole King has been covered many times. However, I don’t quite understand why anyone bothered after Dusty Springfield produced this definitive version.

• 16 A song that’s a classic favourite: ‘Everybody Wants To Rule The World’

“Help me make the most of freedom and of pleasure’

Hmmm. Define ‘classic’. This is ‘only’ from the 80s, but I think it can reasonably be described as a classic. I certainly find it irresistibly catchy.

• 17 A song you’d sing a duet with someone on karaoke: ‘You’re All I Need To Get By’

“I know you can make a man out of a soul that didn’t have a goal”

First of all, I would like to make it perfectly clear that I would never do karaoke, whether solo or in a duet. Believe me, you should be grateful; my voice was only ever any good diluted with 50,000 others at Anfield. So, here’s a proper duet by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell – a much more attractive proposition.

• 18 A song from the year you were born: ‘Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darlin’

“I only know I must be brave”

I was born in 1952 and obviously have no direct memory of any songs from that year. However, the classic Western ‘High Noon’ was released in that year and this is its well-known theme tune, performed by Frankie Laine