King Charles III reveals his favorite songs on Apple Music show: Raye, Beyoncé and more

USA Today

11-03-2025

King Charles III reveals his favorite songs on Apple Music show: Raye, Beyoncé and more
Show Caption
Hide Caption
King Charles III resumes public duties following treatment for cancer
King Charles III resumed public duties after doctors say they were pleased with King's response to cancer treatment.
King Charles III is taking on an unexpected new role: radio DJ.
Charles hosted an Apple Music broadcast released Monday called "The King's Music Room," in which he played a selection of favorite songs and spoke about each one. Charles described this as an "interesting and innovative" way to celebrate Commonwealth Day, as the tracks "originated from across the Commonwealth family and other parts of the world."
On the show, Charles reflected that music "has that remarkable ability to bring happy memories flooding back from the deepest recesses of our memory" and said he would highlight "songs which have brought me joy." According to Apple Music, the show was recorded in Charles' office at Buckingham Palace.
The king's first pick was "Could You Be Loved" by Bob Marley and the Wailers. Charles noted that he once met Marley, who had a "marvelous, infectious energy," "deep sincerity" and "profound concern for his community." He transitioned into "My Boy Lollipop" from another Jamaican singer, Millie Small.
Next up was Kylie Minogue's "The Loco-Motion," which Charles described as "music for dancing" that has "that infectious energy" that makes it "incredibly hard to sit still." Moving back to the 1920s, Charles said Al Bowlly's "The Very Thought of You" is a tune that his "much-loved grandmother" used to play.
"This was an era of songs made memorable by brilliant lyrics, incredible bands and unstoppable rhythm," he said.
Before next playing "the superb" Grace Jones' version of "La Vie En Rose," Charles asked, "Is it possible to improve on such a classic song? See what you think."
The king subsequently praised Raye, who was nominated for best new artist at the 2025 Grammys, as "one of our most exciting and acclaimed contemporary singer-songwriters" and played her song "Love Me Again."
"Anyone who saw Raye perform at the Grammy Awards will know that she is a great ambassador for British music," he said.
King Charles III celebrates 76th birthday amid cancer battle, opens food hubs
After remembering his visits to Ghana over the years, Charles played "Mpempem Do Me" by Daddy Lumba, "who is regarded by some as the greatest musician Ghana has ever produced," and also selected "KANTE" by Davido and "The Click Song" by Miriam Makeba.
Charles also said he has been "more than fortunate to know the incredibly talented" Jools Holland and played his and Ruby Turner's song "My Country Man," calling Turner "another unstoppable phenomenon." He followed this up with "Indian Summer" by Anoushka Shankar, "Anta Permana" by Siti Nurhaliza and "E Te Iwi E (Call to the People)" by Kiri Te Kanawa.
Charles closed the show with "Haven't Met You Yet" by Michael Bublé, "Hot Hot Hot" by Arrow, "Crazy in Love" by Beyoncé and finally "Upside Down" by Diana Ross. He said Beyoncé is "so exceptional" that he "just could not resist including her music," and he also congratulated her for winning album of the year for the first time at the Grammys last month.
Who is Raye? Meet the Grammy nominated British singer who performed at the Oscars
Charles added that Ross' "Upside Down" is "one of my particular favorites" and recalled that when he was younger, "it was absolutely impossible not to get up and dance when it was played."
"I wonder if I can still just manage it," he joked.
Near the end of the show, Charles said that he hopes listeners discovered some "new and interesting" songs from "the wonderfully diverse tapestry that makes up the modern Commonwealth, with its rich pattern of cultures that it continues to share with peoples across the entire world."
King Charles' full Apple Music playlist
Here are all the songs Charles highlighted on his Apple Music show: