A lot of athletes listen to music just before they compete. I used to do that but I don't anymore. I felt I would get very pumped up and then you turn the music off and your adrenalin levels could go down – it would almost make me lose focus.
What I use music for is training: as an athlete, you do a lot of rehab work which is literally a case of stretching for half an hour or walking over hurdles and that can get quite monotonous. I listen to music to allow the time to pass more quickly. At the moment, I've got the Disco 2000 compilation album on my iPod.
I also like Kings of Leon and Oasis.There's even some Andrea Bocelli on there; my music taste varies massively. I've spent a great deal of time in the car over the last few years, driving to competitions and training sessions, so I've been listening to commercial radio quite a bit. I'm quite against chart music. I can't stand all that Lady Gaga or Rihanna stuff. It's mass produced; they're more like puppets than artists. I'm not really into that. I'd rather listen to someone who can really sing, like Beyoncé.
I started competing at the age of 10. Back then, my sister was quite a fan of Michael Jackson and I think the first ever tape I bought was Bad. I grew up with him and he's one of my all-time favourite musicians. I was one of those people who got to buy tickets to his O2 tour but unfortunately, he died before I was able to watch him.
One song that always brings back good memories when I hear it is Spiller's Groovejet . It means a lot to me and my wife Lucia. It was playing a lot when we were first going out.
I do know a fair few words of the national anthem but, no, I don't listen to it while I'm training. Obviously I'm a pretty patriotic northern bloke and I always stand up when I hear it and make sure no one's talking around me.
CHRIS'S PLAYLIST
■ Spiller Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)
■ Michael Jackson Dirty Diana
■ Kings of Leon Sex on Fire
■ Oasis Roll With It
■ Gipsy Kings Djobi, Djoba
■ Nat King Cole If I Give My Heart to You
