In 1999 Beth Hart rose to fame with the release of her single LA Song from her second album Screamin’ for my Supper. It’s all about the music for this sultry woman of song.
What is the one song that reminds you of growing up and why?
Two songs: first is Moonlight Sontata – was the song that freaked me out and made me gravitate towards the piano in the first place. The second song is Carol King’s You’ve Got A Friend – that was the very first song I ever sang when I was age five.
What is the song/s that get you on the dance floor every time?
Nothing gets me on the dance floor (ha ha). Scott (my husband) and I have a song – if we wanted be romantic and be close, we put on Danke Schön.
What is the song/s that’s always busted out when no-one is around – why?
It’s not a song, but a CD I got when I was walking around the streets in Milan with Scott. There were these street musicians, and they were playing this Native American music, so I brought the CD, and to this day I play it – it’s called Indians and it is amazing. In fact I just listen to it today – I light candles, intense and put it on in my private piano room. And I chill out.
What is the song/s on high rotation in your car at the moment?
Two stations I love – one is on the AM band and it plays a lot of music from the 30s and 40s, kinda jazz and pop, what was happening then, and that America songbook stuff and also the classical station. But it depends. Sometimes I like to put on Motorhead or something crazy that I can just rock out to.
What was your wedding song (or what would it be)?
We took off to Vegas and got married at a little chapel. They played some country song as I walked down the aisle. After I called my parents and they said they got married at the same place and we didn’t even know that – isn’t that crazy?
But what would the wedding song be…
I like the song You Are My Sunshine.
Your favourite song/s to cover at the moment?
I love I’d Rather Go Blind because people like it. Beautiful melody and great groove. Or Close To My Fire.
If you could sing a duet with anyone dead or alive who would it be and what would be the song?
I love this question! I want to so much work with Tom Waits. Even if he wants me to just get his coffee when he’s in the studio working, I just want to be able to observe the genius Tom Waits. Love the album Mule Variations.
And also Leonard Cohen. Anything. I love Popular Problems – so anything off that.
Your all-time blues hero is… why?
Really hard to chose one, but if I had to it would be Big Joe Turner. Because that’s whom I was listening to before everyone else. It’s just so BAD ASS!
Beth Hart performs exclusively at Bluesfest on Saturday 15 April and Easter Monday 17 April.
For ticket and program information go to bluesfest.com.au.
