We all have a tune that makes us want to boogie on down, and the Prince of Wales he’s no different, it seems
Prince Charles, 72, has shared the songs that always put him in the mood for dancing during an interview with the Hospital Broadcasting Association – HBA – ahead of the NHS‘s 73 birthday.
The future king revealed that Don’t Rain On My Parade by Barbra Streisand was one of his all-time favourite songs, and recalled the ‘special meeting’ he had with the actress and signer when he was just 26.
He said he had been fascinated by Barbra’s ‘dazzling’ talent during her performance at Culver City in 1974.
‘I have always been a great admirer of the incredibly versatile American actress and singer Barbra Streisand,’ Charles said.
This was the beginning of a friendship for the star and the heir, with Streisand, now 79, singing at Wembley in 1994 for his Prince’s Trust charity.
A young Prince Charles, 26, meeting with singer and actress Barbra Streisand in Culver City in California in 1974
Prince Charles, 72, has shared the songs that always put him in the mood for dancing during an interview with the Hospital Broadcasting Association – HBA – ahead of the NHS’s 73 birthday (pictured dancing in Zocalo Square in Campeche, Mexico, in 2014)
He also cited Edith Piaf’s La Vie en Rose and Diana Ross’s Upside Down, as some of his favourite songs, The Mirror reported.
The royal said Givin’ Up, Givin’ In, which The Three Degrees played at his 30th birthday party, gave him an ‘irresistible urge’ to get up and dance.
During the interview, Charles paid tribute for the volunteers of the association for keeping patients and staff connected throughout the pandemic.
Always a keen dancer, Charles said Givin’ Up, Givin’ In by The Three Degrees, a disco soul anthem, ‘long ago, used to provide me with an irresistible urge to get up and dance.’
He also recalled his luck at seeing Barbra Streisand perform Don’t Rain on My Parade, from the musical and motion picture Funny Girl, at the Warner Bros Studio during his service as a lieutenant on HMS Jupiter.
Charles pictured dancing on stage with the Three Degrees during a charity fundraiser for the Prince’s Trust in Eastbourne, July 1978
One’s got moves! Charles on stage with The Three Degrees in 1978. The band’s song Givin’ Up, Givin’ In always made him want to dance he said
The future king showing his moves dancing with samba dancers during a visit to Rio de Janeiro in 2002
A young Charles waltzing with prima ballerina Dame Margot Fonteyn at the London Intercontinental Hotel on 4th July 1979
Charles dancing in Rio de Janeiro in 2002. The future sovereign has revealed which tunes made him want to dance
Streisand is believed to have visited the Prince of Wales in Highgrove, Gloucestershire, and even once joked ‘if I had played my cards right I could have been the first Jewish princess’ during a concert in Hyde Park in 2019.
The royal also shared that Diana Ross’s Upside Down, with the catchy opening ‘upside down, boy you turn me,’ was among his favourites as well.
Included in a playlist which will be released by Clarence House after the broadcast today, the list spans a eclectic mix of party tunes and classic songs the first-in-line for the throne enjoyed throughout his life.
Alongside classic works by Edith Piaf’s La Vie en Rose’ and Charles Trenet’ ‘La Mer,’ or You’re A Lady by Peter Skellern, the royal showcased his wide ranging musical taste.
The playlist also included the Click Song by Mariam Makeba, Lulu’s Back In Town by Dick Powell, Bennachie by Old Blind Dogs and They Can’t Take That Away From Me by Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers.
More ethereal picks were also present, like The Voice by Eimear Quinn, harp-centric song Tros Y Garreg/Crossing the Stone by Catrin Finch.
He also cited Tydi a Roddaist by Bryn Terfel.
Speaking of the latter, Charles said: ‘It is a prayer for those divine qualities of beauty, peace and harmony to be reflected in our own lives.
‘That is my prayer for us all, as I close with my warmest possible good wishes to everyone in the hospital radio service, in the National Health Service and to all patients and their loved ones,’ he added.
The future king praised the HBA for its ‘invaluable’ work during the interview.
He especially commanded them for the work they had put in to keep patients, staff and families connected during the pandemic.
The broadcast will air today at noon over the HBA’s 180 stations across the country.
The public is being asked to raise a drink to toast volunteers today at 5pm for their work during the pandemic as part of a national Thank you Day organised by the Together coalition.
Grant McNaughton, chairman of the HBA, shared how thankful he and the association were to Prince Charles for recognising the work of their volunteers.
He said the dedication and entertainment provided to patients is an important part of the path to recovery.
He said that it was amazing to have the volunteers’ work recognised and advertised by Prince Charles.