Shakira calls from Barcelona
Shakira joined the programme from her home in Barcelona to discuss “Can’t Remember to Forget You”, her new collaboration with Rihanna. She had never worked with Rihanna before and had not assumed that one of the world’s busiest pop stars would agree, but sent the track anyway and was delighted when Rihanna loved it.
Their vocals were recorded remotely because Rihanna was finishing a tour while Shakira travelled between London and work on her album. They eventually met in Los Angeles for the video shoot, which Shakira described as a blast. If Rihanna had declined, Shakira thought she would probably have released the song alone rather than approach an obvious second choice.
The forthcoming album was in its final mixing and arrangement stage ahead of a 24 March release. Shakira remained open to future collaborations, explaining that the song mattered more than the name attached to it. Chris then solemnly informed her that “She Wolf” belonged beside “Bohemian Rhapsody” among the greatest records ever made. Shakira sounded genuinely touched, while Scott could not resist saying “Shakira, Shakira” whenever he addressed her.
A pop star is put on hold
Scott had spent time waiting on Shakira’s telephone line before the interview. Once she answered, he unexpectedly asked her to hold and played the same music back to her. He lasted about six seconds before losing his nerve, fearing that one of Radio 1’s biggest interviews of the week might end with Shakira simply hanging up.
The reversal suggested a new game. Major stars rarely had to ring utility companies or wait for ordinary customer services, so the show would test how long different celebrities tolerated hold music. Scott predicted that an established A-lister might disappear in seconds, while a new artist keen for an interview could remain indefinitely.
Shakira’s willingness to consider almost any good collaboration also supplied material for a trick on Chris’s friend S-Dosser. Scott edited her general answer into a clip which appeared to say she knew his music and wanted to work with him. S-Dosser initially accepted it, immediately began imagining a female vocal on his latest track and said Shakira would suit the chorus. Even after learning how the clip had been constructed, he asked Scott to approach her properly. Shakira then joined the joke herself by tweeting Radio 1 to ask for S-Dosser’s number.
Nicknames with unexpected histories
Listeners challenged Scott and Chris to explain their nicknames. Pingu had a penguin tattoo on her bottom, while Fatnav was a large friend who constantly shouted directions from the car. Heidi was known as Donkey because her smile resembled the Shrek character so strongly that some friends no longer used her real name.
Matt acquired “Twinkle Toes” after secretly missing football matches to perform in a dance show organised by a teacher. He might have concealed the clash from his manager had a photograph not appeared in the local newspaper. Another Matt became “Banger” after returning repeatedly to a primary-school buffet and eating between ten and 15 sausages before football. The name had followed him for 11 years and was now used by teachers and family members as well as friends.
Further examples included Corgi, created when somebody misinterpreted the clue “the Queen has lots of them”, and a man called Big Toe because his head supposedly resembled one. Scott preferred names with a complete story rather than an obvious physical description.
Blue Monday, full moons and cinema security
Scott rejected attempts to tell listeners that they ought to feel miserable on “Blue Monday”. He was in a good mood and could find little scientific basis for declaring one January date the year’s most depressing. Chris compared it with the belief that full moons produced more trouble in pubs and clubs. Door staff and police officers contacted the programme to say they really did prepare for busier nights, although nobody could provide a convincing explanation beyond brighter evenings, tides or human beings containing a lot of water.
A packed screening of The Wolf of Wall Street had exposed Scott to stricter cinema rules. A woman was challenged for bringing her own sweets, staff repeatedly checked tickets and infrared observers watched for illegal filming. Producer Cara admitted taking wine, glasses, ice cream and spoons into screenings, while another listener claimed to have carried in a 16-inch pizza. Scott thought a discreet packet of sweets was defensible, but a full picnic had crossed into bad etiquette.
Real or No Real
Greg James learned that Prince Charles genuinely joined the Magic Circle after performing a cup-and-ball routine for his 1975 examination. Robin Thicke had not played keyboards for Bryan Adams at Live Aid, not least because he was only eight at the time, and the claimed relaxation of Olympic divers’ clothing rules was false.
Everything Everything really had described their previous album as too whiny and miserable and promised something happier next time. Scott disagreed with the apology, arguing that the band’s distinctive sound was precisely what listeners wanted. He won the round 20–0, a rare positive result on a day supposedly devoted to misery.
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