FIRST IMPRESSIONS:SANDIE SHAW
What are you working on?
My ‘Best Of’ album. It is out at the beginning of May. If you like music from that era, you will love it.
When are you at your happiest?
At lots of moments every day. I went to Midnight Tango for my birthday and I was ecstatic – it’s brilliant.
What is your greatest fear?
Stage fright, but I went on a retreat to see if I could overcome it and I did. I was crippled by anxiety when I was young, but it’s gone now. It’s wonderful. Anything that happens is fine, because I can handle it.
What is your earliest memory?
People used to put their children out in the front garden for some fresh air. I don’t think they do that any more in case somebody steals them.
Who has been your greatest influence?
Daisaku Ikeda. He’s the president of a Buddhist organisation, and an influence on me because I am a Buddhist. He doesn’t just say it, he does it.
What do you most dislike about yourself?
When I’m incredibly focused, I’m incredibly single-minded and that can make me lose compassion. I try to expand my life so that I can, through my Buddhist practice, embrace the hopes, ideas and feelings of everybody else around me so that we can share whatever dream I have to make it come true.
What is your most treasured possession?
My gohonzon, a Buddhist object of devotion that I use every morning and evening. It’s the only thing I would grab in a fire.
What trait do you most deplore in others?
Injustice, bigotry, hypocrisy, but mostly injustice – I try to channel that. I’m a chair on the Featured Artists Coalition, which campaigns for the protection of UK performers’ and musicians’ rights.
Do you have a fantasy address?
Grenada, in the West Indies, which I am making into a reality. I’m moving there – we’ve had land there for 10 years, and every year we go and sit on the land and fantasise about the house we’re going to build. This year we started doing the plans. At the end of this year, we should start getting the foundations in.
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
Absolutely nothing! It serves me very well.
What is your all-time favourite book?
It’s always the one I’m reading at the moment. I’m reading Winter Of The World by Ken Follett – I like to read thrillers that are page-turners or I like to read historical novels, because I love history. It’s set in the 1940s, during the Second World War.
What is your favourite film?
I liked Lincoln – that was fantastic. It’s my current favourite, but my forever favourites are Spartacus and Ben-Hur, which my dad used to take me to see.
What is your favourite record or piece of music?
I don’t have one.
What is your favourite meal?
I would say breakfast; breakfast in Grenada – mango and papaya and fresh grapefruit off a tree and bread from the bread man.
Who would you most like to come to dinner?
I’d like to have Adele and Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, and some old-timers, like Madonna and Kim Wilde. There would be no eating done, just talking, talking, talking.
Which historical character do you most admire?
All women who have made a difference, whether it’s big or small.
What is the nastiest thing anyone has said to you?
I’ve been in the popular press all my life, so I can’t remember – loads of stuff. I’ve been denounced and banned all my life. I’m used to it now.
Do you believe in aliens?
Oh, don’t be daft!
What is your secret vice?
I don’t have any secret vices – I am quite happy for them all to hang out publicly. My favourite vice would be… telling fibs.
Do you write thank-you notes?
No, but I always email or text a thank you. Flowers are even better, though.
Which phrase do you most overuse?
‘That’s brilliant!’
What single thing would improve your quality of life?
Better health – that’s a horrible old person’s thing, isn’t it? I just hope that I stay flexible and bendy – that’s all.
What would you like your epitaph to be?
I really don’t care – because I won’t be seeing it!
Sandie Shaw’s album, The Very Best Of Sandie Shaw, is released on Monday 6 May.
My ‘Best Of’ album. It is out at the beginning of May. If you like music from that era, you will love it.
When are you at your happiest?
At lots of moments every day. I went to Midnight Tango for my birthday and I was ecstatic – it’s brilliant.
What is your greatest fear?
Stage fright, but I went on a retreat to see if I could overcome it and I did. I was crippled by anxiety when I was young, but it’s gone now. It’s wonderful. Anything that happens is fine, because I can handle it.
What is your earliest memory?
People used to put their children out in the front garden for some fresh air. I don’t think they do that any more in case somebody steals them.
Who has been your greatest influence?
Daisaku Ikeda. He’s the president of a Buddhist organisation, and an influence on me because I am a Buddhist. He doesn’t just say it, he does it.
What do you most dislike about yourself?
When I’m incredibly focused, I’m incredibly single-minded and that can make me lose compassion. I try to expand my life so that I can, through my Buddhist practice, embrace the hopes, ideas and feelings of everybody else around me so that we can share whatever dream I have to make it come true.
What is your most treasured possession?
My gohonzon, a Buddhist object of devotion that I use every morning and evening. It’s the only thing I would grab in a fire.
What trait do you most deplore in others?
Injustice, bigotry, hypocrisy, but mostly injustice – I try to channel that. I’m a chair on the Featured Artists Coalition, which campaigns for the protection of UK performers’ and musicians’ rights.
Do you have a fantasy address?
Grenada, in the West Indies, which I am making into a reality. I’m moving there – we’ve had land there for 10 years, and every year we go and sit on the land and fantasise about the house we’re going to build. This year we started doing the plans. At the end of this year, we should start getting the foundations in.
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
Absolutely nothing! It serves me very well.
What is your all-time favourite book?
It’s always the one I’m reading at the moment. I’m reading Winter Of The World by Ken Follett – I like to read thrillers that are page-turners or I like to read historical novels, because I love history. It’s set in the 1940s, during the Second World War.
What is your favourite film?
I liked Lincoln – that was fantastic. It’s my current favourite, but my forever favourites are Spartacus and Ben-Hur, which my dad used to take me to see.
What is your favourite record or piece of music?
I don’t have one.
What is your favourite meal?
I would say breakfast; breakfast in Grenada – mango and papaya and fresh grapefruit off a tree and bread from the bread man.
Who would you most like to come to dinner?
I’d like to have Adele and Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, and some old-timers, like Madonna and Kim Wilde. There would be no eating done, just talking, talking, talking.
Which historical character do you most admire?
All women who have made a difference, whether it’s big or small.
What is the nastiest thing anyone has said to you?
I’ve been in the popular press all my life, so I can’t remember – loads of stuff. I’ve been denounced and banned all my life. I’m used to it now.
Do you believe in aliens?
Oh, don’t be daft!
What is your secret vice?
I don’t have any secret vices – I am quite happy for them all to hang out publicly. My favourite vice would be… telling fibs.
Do you write thank-you notes?
No, but I always email or text a thank you. Flowers are even better, though.
Which phrase do you most overuse?
‘That’s brilliant!’
What single thing would improve your quality of life?
Better health – that’s a horrible old person’s thing, isn’t it? I just hope that I stay flexible and bendy – that’s all.
What would you like your epitaph to be?
I really don’t care – because I won’t be seeing it!
Sandie Shaw’s album, The Very Best Of Sandie Shaw, is released on Monday 6 May.