Sharleen at 2-TEN

Radio 2-TEN - hosted by John Darin

Sharleen Spiteri of Texas was in the studio, and John Darin put your questions and comments to her.

Read on, or click on the links below to hear what she had to say.

John Darin: You're back with a new single and a new album - the album's called The Red Book, and Get Away is the single. Now, is there a red book?

Sharleen Spiteri: I do have a red book. The red book is my lyric book that everything was written in. Some people asked me if it was to do with This is Your Life [the TV programme], but I'd never even thought of that. In fact, I was freaking out going: "I hope people don't think it's that whole Chairman Mao thing. I hope they don't think it's political." But that passed everyone by and they were going on about Michael Aspel. In a way maybe that was lying under the surface, because your lyric book is your life. If I lose it when we're making an album, it's kind of: "Uh-oh, what do we do now?" All the lyrical ideas and mad stuff that inspires songs are in there. Every album has a lyric book. Number one - I have to be given the book by someone else, so I'd never go out and buy a notebook. The first thing I do is turn it on its side and write down: "Texas number... whatever number of album it is", so there's like a big row of books. Some albums have got two books, some albums have got one book. Some albums have even got three books.

JD: You've been going since 1989, pretty much on the go all the time. How do you keep remaining successful?

SS: As far as method is concerned, I really don't have any. It's kind of like: "Ooh, let's hope it happens all over again." Sometimes you write on piano, sometimes guitar, sometimes bass. Sometimes even a drumbeat will inspire a song. It's all over the shop.

JD: Lots of listeners have emailed in asking where the name Texas comes from.

SS: It was taken from the Wim Wenders movie Paris, Texas. You can still get this movie, if you have any interest in it. The soundtrack was done by a musician called Ry Cooder, who is just the most amazing musician. He has made amazing records and written great songs, and the soundtrack to Paris, Texas was just the complete and utter inspiration for this band. Jonnie and I both loved the movie and it inspired the first song we wrote together - I Don't Want a Lover. When you see the movie and hear the soundtrack it will all be very clear to you.

JD: You do a very good job of keeping your private life private...

SS: It's hard.

JD: ...so this is a very quick-fire get-to-know-Sharleen section, so... Celtic or Rangers?

SS: Celtic... actually Arsenal, to be honest with you.

JD: Orange juice or vodka?

SS: Vodka.

JD: Red wine or white wine?

SS: Red wine.

JD: Coronation Street or Eastenders?

SS: Eastenders

JD: Hogmanay or Christmas?

SS: Christmas

JD: Sean Connery or Roger Moore?

SS: I hate Roger Moore. Please - the man with the eyebrow. Sean Connery all the way.

JD: It's Scottish bias, surely.

SS: Listen we've got the best. We've had 007, Obi-Wan Kenobi... we could go on for days.

JD: Letters or emails?

SS: Letters.

JD: Ewan McGregor or Brad Pitt?

SS: Ewan every time. He is only the sexiest man on the planet. He's a mate and I love him. He's such a laugh, he's a such a good person, he's always there for you. How can I compare that to some sexy Californian bit of ass?

JD: Live 8 at Murrayfield next Wednesday - is it important that it's in Scotland?

SS: It's got nothing to do with Scotland. It could have been anywhere, but that's where the world leaders are meeting. The important thing is that people are there to show that they want things to change. It's got nothing to do with popstars, it's got nothing to do with where it is. It's about making a change and being part of it.

JD: Hope that goes well for you. So, new single, new album - when are they out?

SS: The single is out the first of August, and the album comes out on Hallowe'en - that's an easy one to remember.

JD: Thanks for coming in, it's been really nice to talk to you.

SS: It's good to be back.


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