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The Soundtrack to My Life
This is the story of Dermot's life so far, from growing up in semi rural Colchester with his Irish born parents, to landing one of the biggets jobs in television. Throughout this journey, music has been a constant a best friend, confidant, a really annoying sibling, and at times a tormentor.Here Dermot shows that really it is the songs that choose you., not the other way round. These are the tracks that have a hold on us because they have become inextricably linked to the most important moments of our lives and spark the memories and stories that shape us.With a wonderful gift for storytelling Dermot describes with humour and brilliant detail, what it was like to grow up a second generation Irishman in 70s England. The Pope, rebel songs and Irish dancing were all part of everyday life, along with the usual brand of chlidhood nostalgia, like endless summers, freshly cut grass and the occasional dead animal found in a ditch. Dermot's homelife was filled with music which was to set the scene for the years ahead.From Irish folk singer Brendan Shine's "Catch Me If You Can" to The Smiths, Elbow and Dermot's hero Bruce Springsteen, in "Now Playing" Dermot shares with us his musical DNA.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 9, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
May 21, 2016
A thoroughly enjoyable romp through 20 or so of the songs that hold the most memories for TV/Radio host Dermot O'Leary. Not necessarily his favourites - but the ones that have those magical time-travel properties, the ones that instantly bring back a memory. If I had one fault with the audiobook it'd be that Dermot can talk quite fast at times, but otherwise this was really enjoyable and full of nostalgia. I hadn't thought about Brittania Music Club for years - but yes, we also had the infamous "Stars" by Simply Red.
I thought I'd give you a little look at some of the songs that hold the most memories for me - here are 6!
Don't Be a Stranger by Dina Carroll
This takes me right back to 1993, when I was 10 years old and in Primary School. A group of us were all sitting at the back of the school bus, all singing this song. Among the group was a boy in my class named Thomas - he loved playing ponies at break, he was quiet, and sadly - he passed away about 8 years later. I wasn't particularly close to him - but he was the first young person I knew who had died. I still think of him regularly - and I think of that day on the bus whenever I hear this song.
The Day We Caught the Train by Ocean Colour Scene
Released in 1996, the year we went on a family holiday to Northampton in the UK. We landed at Luton Airport, and visited family there before continuing on. My cousin must have only been about 9 at the time, and as we were leaving, he handed me a tape and told me to keep it. It was one of those Now That's What I Call Music! compilations (#34), and it had this song on it. I remember listening to it over and over on a walkman that summer - it has instant time machine power. I'm right there again, 13 years old wearing a million friendship bracelets and neon nail polish.
In the Air Tonight by Phil Collins
Phil Collins: Greatest Hits was released in 1998. My Nana was incredibly ill with cancer at the time (she died in 1999) and it was a tough time for us all. I wrote to a radio station (2FM) to ask if there was any way they could send my Mam a copy of the tape as a present to cheer her up (I was nothing if not cheeky) - I'll never forget the letter I received in response, a lovely kind lady explained that they didn't actually have cassettes to give away - so she had recorded the entire album from a CD on to a tape for my Mum. She had also sent keyrings, pens, stickers for my sister and I. I don't even know if my thank you letter was ever posted - but I'll never, ever forget her kindness and I think of her every time I hear this song and hope that life has been good to her.
Slam Dunk the Funk by 5ive
Technically, my first ever CD was one by Lesley Garrett that came free with the RTE Guide. I had that CD for about 6 months before I actually had a CD player - that came for my 15th birthday in June 1998. The day after my birthday, the first album by UK boyband 5ive was released. I spotted it in Mulvey's shop in Carrick-on-Shannon, Leitrim and begged for it. I got it - and held it in my hands the whole way home. When I finally got home, the anticipation was unbelievable - would it work? What would a CD sound like? Would it be clearer than a tape?! As the first song, this one, began - I could have cried with happiness. I played that CD on repeat so many times that I knew every single word by the third day - and still do (yes, even the "secret" song!). Every time I hear it, I'm 15.
Just Another Day by Jon Secada
When I look back on the Summers of the early 1990s, I remember them as lazy, hot, glorious days filled with bales of hay and picking wild strawberries. Upon googling, July 1992 had above average levels of rain in Ireland - but in my head, it's a summer filled with the smell of Hawaiian Tropic lotion, the feel of stubby grass on my feet as I ran barefoot through freshly baled fields, and being allowed to bring the big battery-operated cassette radio player outside to listen to Atlantic 252 out in the front garden. We couldn't afford the 6 big giant batteries needed for it, so we ran an extension lead out the kitchen window. This song - and Hazard by Richard Marx - make me miss those Atlantic 252 days, when I was sure I was tapping into a radio station directly from America. Atlantic 252 WAS my childhood.
I Am, I Feel by Alisha's Attic
Released in 1996, the same year we went on the aforementioned holiday to the UK. I had never been to an airport before, nor had I ever had cause to be awake at 4am. This year was different - I was almost 13, and our flight left Dublin airport early in the morning. This meant that we needed to leave Leitrim early - so up we got at 4am. A friend drove us to the airport in a rental car, it was red, it was brand new, and it had plastic covering the seats. I was wearing one of those awful shellsuits, shiny lilac bottoms - and one of those thick plastic alice bands on my hair. Just as dawn was breaking, this song came on the radio - I'll forever associate it with that feeling of pure excitement, the thought of going on a plane for the first time, a first holiday, the bustle of the airport, the nerves, the first view of Ireland from the air, the short journey to the UK and the duty free (where I bought Catatonia's album on tape) - it's a feeling like no other.
Never before has a book prompted me to delve into nostalgia the way this one has - I really recommend it if you are also the type of person who attaches a song to a memory.
I thought I'd give you a little look at some of the songs that hold the most memories for me - here are 6!
Don't Be a Stranger by Dina Carroll
This takes me right back to 1993, when I was 10 years old and in Primary School. A group of us were all sitting at the back of the school bus, all singing this song. Among the group was a boy in my class named Thomas - he loved playing ponies at break, he was quiet, and sadly - he passed away about 8 years later. I wasn't particularly close to him - but he was the first young person I knew who had died. I still think of him regularly - and I think of that day on the bus whenever I hear this song.
The Day We Caught the Train by Ocean Colour Scene
Released in 1996, the year we went on a family holiday to Northampton in the UK. We landed at Luton Airport, and visited family there before continuing on. My cousin must have only been about 9 at the time, and as we were leaving, he handed me a tape and told me to keep it. It was one of those Now That's What I Call Music! compilations (#34), and it had this song on it. I remember listening to it over and over on a walkman that summer - it has instant time machine power. I'm right there again, 13 years old wearing a million friendship bracelets and neon nail polish.
In the Air Tonight by Phil Collins
Phil Collins: Greatest Hits was released in 1998. My Nana was incredibly ill with cancer at the time (she died in 1999) and it was a tough time for us all. I wrote to a radio station (2FM) to ask if there was any way they could send my Mam a copy of the tape as a present to cheer her up (I was nothing if not cheeky) - I'll never forget the letter I received in response, a lovely kind lady explained that they didn't actually have cassettes to give away - so she had recorded the entire album from a CD on to a tape for my Mum. She had also sent keyrings, pens, stickers for my sister and I. I don't even know if my thank you letter was ever posted - but I'll never, ever forget her kindness and I think of her every time I hear this song and hope that life has been good to her.
Slam Dunk the Funk by 5ive
Technically, my first ever CD was one by Lesley Garrett that came free with the RTE Guide. I had that CD for about 6 months before I actually had a CD player - that came for my 15th birthday in June 1998. The day after my birthday, the first album by UK boyband 5ive was released. I spotted it in Mulvey's shop in Carrick-on-Shannon, Leitrim and begged for it. I got it - and held it in my hands the whole way home. When I finally got home, the anticipation was unbelievable - would it work? What would a CD sound like? Would it be clearer than a tape?! As the first song, this one, began - I could have cried with happiness. I played that CD on repeat so many times that I knew every single word by the third day - and still do (yes, even the "secret" song!). Every time I hear it, I'm 15.
Just Another Day by Jon Secada
When I look back on the Summers of the early 1990s, I remember them as lazy, hot, glorious days filled with bales of hay and picking wild strawberries. Upon googling, July 1992 had above average levels of rain in Ireland - but in my head, it's a summer filled with the smell of Hawaiian Tropic lotion, the feel of stubby grass on my feet as I ran barefoot through freshly baled fields, and being allowed to bring the big battery-operated cassette radio player outside to listen to Atlantic 252 out in the front garden. We couldn't afford the 6 big giant batteries needed for it, so we ran an extension lead out the kitchen window. This song - and Hazard by Richard Marx - make me miss those Atlantic 252 days, when I was sure I was tapping into a radio station directly from America. Atlantic 252 WAS my childhood.
I Am, I Feel by Alisha's Attic
Released in 1996, the same year we went on the aforementioned holiday to the UK. I had never been to an airport before, nor had I ever had cause to be awake at 4am. This year was different - I was almost 13, and our flight left Dublin airport early in the morning. This meant that we needed to leave Leitrim early - so up we got at 4am. A friend drove us to the airport in a rental car, it was red, it was brand new, and it had plastic covering the seats. I was wearing one of those awful shellsuits, shiny lilac bottoms - and one of those thick plastic alice bands on my hair. Just as dawn was breaking, this song came on the radio - I'll forever associate it with that feeling of pure excitement, the thought of going on a plane for the first time, a first holiday, the bustle of the airport, the nerves, the first view of Ireland from the air, the short journey to the UK and the duty free (where I bought Catatonia's album on tape) - it's a feeling like no other.
Never before has a book prompted me to delve into nostalgia the way this one has - I really recommend it if you are also the type of person who attaches a song to a memory.
March 13, 2015
Who doesn't love, or at least like, Dermot O'Leary?
I was drawn to read this partly due to liking Dermot and enjoying his work from T4 and BBLB days (though I don't now watch or listen to most things he does for various reasons, none of which are to do with him). I also read it because of the way he wrote it, relating it to various significant songs at various points of his life, which I had enjoyed when Nick Hornby did the same thing in 31 Songs. It's a good way to tell a story. It's definitely more about his life than any of the songs he chooses, yet it's not a true autobiography either. Nick Hornby wrote more about the music with a few insights into his life. Both books work well.
The only thing I didn't enjoy about this book were the 'tributes' to celebrities he encountered who have since died. Especially Jade Goody's. I appreciate that he had some connection with her through his work, and it's not that I'm accusing him of namedropping when he works with celebrities and couldn't tell his story without them. Besides, Jade was hardly in the same league as Michael Jackson and she got a much longer tribute. I think my issue was that I either wanted to read about Dermot or the music, and Jade was unrelated to music yet he basically retold her whole life story. It felt like padding.
I was drawn to read this partly due to liking Dermot and enjoying his work from T4 and BBLB days (though I don't now watch or listen to most things he does for various reasons, none of which are to do with him). I also read it because of the way he wrote it, relating it to various significant songs at various points of his life, which I had enjoyed when Nick Hornby did the same thing in 31 Songs. It's a good way to tell a story. It's definitely more about his life than any of the songs he chooses, yet it's not a true autobiography either. Nick Hornby wrote more about the music with a few insights into his life. Both books work well.
The only thing I didn't enjoy about this book were the 'tributes' to celebrities he encountered who have since died. Especially Jade Goody's. I appreciate that he had some connection with her through his work, and it's not that I'm accusing him of namedropping when he works with celebrities and couldn't tell his story without them. Besides, Jade was hardly in the same league as Michael Jackson and she got a much longer tribute. I think my issue was that I either wanted to read about Dermot or the music, and Jade was unrelated to music yet he basically retold her whole life story. It felt like padding.
January 2, 2015
Read as part of the 2015 Reading Challenge - A Memoir.
Loved this book!
What's not to like about Dermot? Loved him on BBLB,and X Factor of course,but most of all I love listening to his Saturday show on R2.
This memoir see's Dermot picking songs which mean something to him for particular stages in his life. We all have songs that,when you hear them,immediately transport you back to a certain place in time. Well this is a book detailing those times in his life and how the song falls into that time.
Being of a similar age,I could connect with a lot of the memories he had about growing up. The songs he picked,though quite an eclectic mix,were great,and the book also gives the reader a good insight as to the mechanics of television and radio.
Recommended!!!
My one irk about this book was the amount of brackets he uses,3 or 4 times per page,but after a while I managed to zone out of noticing them.
Loved this book!
What's not to like about Dermot? Loved him on BBLB,and X Factor of course,but most of all I love listening to his Saturday show on R2.
This memoir see's Dermot picking songs which mean something to him for particular stages in his life. We all have songs that,when you hear them,immediately transport you back to a certain place in time. Well this is a book detailing those times in his life and how the song falls into that time.
Being of a similar age,I could connect with a lot of the memories he had about growing up. The songs he picked,though quite an eclectic mix,were great,and the book also gives the reader a good insight as to the mechanics of television and radio.
Recommended!!!
My one irk about this book was the amount of brackets he uses,3 or 4 times per page,but after a while I managed to zone out of noticing them.
August 2, 2023
An entertaining look at Dermot's life. I read it in one sitting during my 9 hour flight.
December 30, 2017
Not really my sort of book.
December 23, 2014
Very enjoyable! The glory that was Colchester in the 70s and 80s fondly remembered...
March 7, 2021
I bought this book about 5/6 years ago when it first came out and have only now got around to reading it but I actually have no idea why I bought it in the first place! 😅 I think it might be because Dermot has always come across as a thoroughly decent person and I’m a big music fan so it seemed a natural interest to me!
This is another book where I’d have happily given 3.5 stars if I could and that it realistically is the true rating, it’s worth more than the 3 I’ve rated here.
I love the idea of using music and individual songs as a way of telling your story in an autobiography but with quite a lot of the chapters, the songs themselves seemed to be a bit of an afterthought with only a half page or page at the end about them. That doesn’t however detract from the enjoyment of Dermot’s story itself though. As an aside, I also think if I was to write an autobiography (god forbid), my writing style would be very similar to Dermot’s - going off on many tangents! 🙃
This has been my 3rd book of the year and by far has taken the longest to get through (at 5 weeks). I’m putting this down to looking up so many old YouTube clips via the many links provided in the book haha! I really need to up my reading pace though!
This is another book where I’d have happily given 3.5 stars if I could and that it realistically is the true rating, it’s worth more than the 3 I’ve rated here.
I love the idea of using music and individual songs as a way of telling your story in an autobiography but with quite a lot of the chapters, the songs themselves seemed to be a bit of an afterthought with only a half page or page at the end about them. That doesn’t however detract from the enjoyment of Dermot’s story itself though. As an aside, I also think if I was to write an autobiography (god forbid), my writing style would be very similar to Dermot’s - going off on many tangents! 🙃
This has been my 3rd book of the year and by far has taken the longest to get through (at 5 weeks). I’m putting this down to looking up so many old YouTube clips via the many links provided in the book haha! I really need to up my reading pace though!
April 7, 2019
Ok so i maybe a little bit bias of this autobiography from Dermot o Leary due to the fact that i have adored this man since his T4 days !
However put that to one side for a moment this book is wonderfully written and i completed this book in one day as it was so relaxing to read.
I always think that a autobiography for me is where you really can hear their voices speaking to you through the book. I love how he speaks foundly of the late Sir Terry Wogan, and how he tells you of his journey through music, tv and radio and he has some pretty good taste in music as well.
However put that to one side for a moment this book is wonderfully written and i completed this book in one day as it was so relaxing to read.
I always think that a autobiography for me is where you really can hear their voices speaking to you through the book. I love how he speaks foundly of the late Sir Terry Wogan, and how he tells you of his journey through music, tv and radio and he has some pretty good taste in music as well.
August 12, 2020
Just like his radio personality, Dermot is warm, engaging and full of passion for life and music. His McCartney anecdote is wonderful.
July 12, 2022
What a great book, totally enjoyed the Soundtrack To My Life.
June 6, 2016
Let’s face it, we all love Dermot O’Leary and if you don’t then a) you’re in the minority and b) what the heck is wrong with you?
In his brilliant memoir The Soundtrack to My Life, Dermot tells tales of his growing up and associates them with songs (some good, some downright awful) that have shaped his existence. Now some might say, why has this fresh faced presenter of TV and Radio wrote a memoir, he only, like, 12 (I’m possibly being a tad hyperbolic here) but believe it or not but Dermot is in fact in his forties. Furthermore, his career – which makes up a large portion of his memoir – took years of hard graft, perfecting a craft that we, as audience members, take for granted. I know for one I couldn’t present live TV….that doesn’t mean that I don’t pretend to…at home…to my audience of no one….anyway…awkward.
What is really good about this memoir is that you can hear Dermot O’Leary throughout. I know that sounds a little obvious but I have read memoirs that have been written by ghost writers and you get the sense that the subject of the memoir hasn’t really had much input. Not The Soundtrack to My Life. It screams Dermot O’Leary. His little asides seem natural and truly make you smile. Dermot comes across as self-effacing, humble and most importantly (to me, anyway) a true lover of music.
This is a brilliant memoir, even if Dermot is not your favourite person The Soundtrack to My Life makes you think of your own personal soundtrack. Keep your eyes peeled for my soundtrack post coming soon on LisaTalksAbout.com.
The Soundtrack to My Life by Dermot O’Leary is available now.
Follow Dermot O’Leary (@radioleary) on Twitter.
In his brilliant memoir The Soundtrack to My Life, Dermot tells tales of his growing up and associates them with songs (some good, some downright awful) that have shaped his existence. Now some might say, why has this fresh faced presenter of TV and Radio wrote a memoir, he only, like, 12 (I’m possibly being a tad hyperbolic here) but believe it or not but Dermot is in fact in his forties. Furthermore, his career – which makes up a large portion of his memoir – took years of hard graft, perfecting a craft that we, as audience members, take for granted. I know for one I couldn’t present live TV….that doesn’t mean that I don’t pretend to…at home…to my audience of no one….anyway…awkward.
What is really good about this memoir is that you can hear Dermot O’Leary throughout. I know that sounds a little obvious but I have read memoirs that have been written by ghost writers and you get the sense that the subject of the memoir hasn’t really had much input. Not The Soundtrack to My Life. It screams Dermot O’Leary. His little asides seem natural and truly make you smile. Dermot comes across as self-effacing, humble and most importantly (to me, anyway) a true lover of music.
This is a brilliant memoir, even if Dermot is not your favourite person The Soundtrack to My Life makes you think of your own personal soundtrack. Keep your eyes peeled for my soundtrack post coming soon on LisaTalksAbout.com.
The Soundtrack to My Life by Dermot O’Leary is available now.
Follow Dermot O’Leary (@radioleary) on Twitter.
January 2, 2015
So ok my love for Dermot has always been just that since he first started on BBLB so you can imagine how happy I was to receive this book under the Christmas tree. It's a good book & what I love about it & I'm not being bias about this but it's not your usual oh look at me, look at my poor life & how I turned things around autobiography. His story is written through his love for music & at time you can actually catch yourself humming the tunes to his soundtrack in your head whilst reading the book. Dermot doesn't come across in his autobiography as some big headed famous person off the Tv. In fact it's quite the opposite & that's what I liked about this book. Open, honest, funny & enduring. Very much enjoyed this book & it will be defiantly staying put pride of place on my beloved bookcase.
February 18, 2015
A sunny kind of read...interesting and upbeat stories of how Dermot O'Leary got to where he is. Being about 10 years younger than he is, I remember T4 starting, I remember the first series of Big Brother and what life was like pre-XFactor. So, the later half of the book brought back many memories of music and TV from my teens and being at uni. He has an open, easy going writing style. The only thing that bugged me was the amount of brackets used, sometimes 4-6 times a page, often with little quips that didn't really need to be there. Needed further editing in my opinion. Found myself skimming over these bracketed statements after a while so wasn't fully into the book. Great concept though.
March 2, 2015
I listened to the audio book version of this so read by Dermot himself. His charming personality and witty writing were the perfect combo for some fun, easy listening. Talking you through his memorable childhood memories and momentous occasions in his career Dermot is as adorable on his book as he is on TV. Music has always played a pretty major role in both Dermot's professional and personal life and he has some strong nostalgic links to important life moments and the music of the time. I would have like some clips of the songs discussed played in the audio version as I couldn't be bothered stopping the book to Google them. This is part 1... part 2 to come in another 40 years!
September 13, 2015
First I have to say that I love Dermot, I think he is the best thing about the X Factor and he is robbed at every award ceremony. He is much better than Ant and Dec. I listened to this on audio, and he reads it very well and very fast.
If you expect a 'dish the dirt' book with the obligatory three in a bed, sex, drugs and booze tales like most of the celebrity books I have read you will be sorely disappointed, Dermot is far too kind for that. A clean-living catholic boy who loves his family and never has a bad word to say about anyone. A refreshing and up-lifting book.
If you expect a 'dish the dirt' book with the obligatory three in a bed, sex, drugs and booze tales like most of the celebrity books I have read you will be sorely disappointed, Dermot is far too kind for that. A clean-living catholic boy who loves his family and never has a bad word to say about anyone. A refreshing and up-lifting book.
March 6, 2015
A lovely easy read.
Dermot is exactly how I pictured him to be, nice, friendly and the kind of guy you would want to have a nice old drink with. He has worked hard at his career and does not seem to have got to where he is by climbing over the bodies of those around him, so fair play.
The book itself is not filled with revelations of celeb behaviour or behind the scenes scandals, more just an overview of his life through some of the songs that filled it, so a light breezy walk in his entertainment world.
I liked it
Dermot is exactly how I pictured him to be, nice, friendly and the kind of guy you would want to have a nice old drink with. He has worked hard at his career and does not seem to have got to where he is by climbing over the bodies of those around him, so fair play.
The book itself is not filled with revelations of celeb behaviour or behind the scenes scandals, more just an overview of his life through some of the songs that filled it, so a light breezy walk in his entertainment world.
I liked it
November 16, 2015
An autobiography of sorts, this book chronicles the life so far of Radio 2 DJ and X Factor host, Dermot O'Leary via the music that is the most significant in his life. Some he loves, some he doesn't but they all represent and remind him of the key moments of his career, memories of childhood and events that have shaped him. Its a good format and there are some very interesting stories. A great insight into the world of radio production and behind the scenes of such huge TV shows as The X Factor and Big Brother.
April 24, 2015
Really enjoyed listening to this audiobook!!! Dermot comes across as a thoroughly nice, funny, down-to-earth guy who has worked hard to achieve his success but who hasn't forgotten where he came from. My only slight complaint is that Dermot's narration is rather quick (rapid fire speech something of an Irish thing) and sometimes it is hard to catch what he has said....but otherwise a very entertaining and enjoyable read.
May 6, 2015
Enjoyable for he most part, he does come across as a really nice guy, but there are sections that seem little more than long lists of celebs he has met, which I found less interesting.
Listened to the audio version and he talks SO fast at the beginning that I almost abandoned it. However, I tuned into his voice after a while.
Listened to the audio version and he talks SO fast at the beginning that I almost abandoned it. However, I tuned into his voice after a while.
April 16, 2017
I liked Dermot's approach to this book. He uses songs which have defined moments in time for him and take him back to those memories whenever he hears those songs. Witty and chatty and full of funny anecdotes. Admittedly some of the songs that have chosen him are not the coolest but that is life - a mixed bag.
November 16, 2014
Interesting insight into Dermot's life, growing up in Essex in the 70s/80s with a great dollop of unexpected (at times) music in between. I've really enjoyed Dermot's radio show on BBC Radio 2 but had no idea how he had gotten into it! Read it in a day or so on holiday, it was entertaining!
January 10, 2015
A very enjoyable autobiography set the back ground of music throughout the years. Written with wit fun and honesty. Containing some fascinating insights into the tv industry in particular detailed description of the craft of TV Presenting... Loved it!!
May 25, 2015
Just finished, and I loved every second. Full of both music and tv moments and memories that I and am sure many will also remember fondly. All told in his usual pleasant and humourous way, good job by a top bloke, well done Dermot!
February 4, 2017
A really good read as he uses music to remember iconic moments in his life. Loved playing the tracks or the you tube videos he describes while reading it. A refreshing autobiography that didn't spend too long on x factor (which I'm pleased!)
April 25, 2015
You can read my full review here.
January 2, 2015
Really enjoyed reading this and finding out more about Dermot's life against a backdrop of an eclectic playlist!
January 18, 2015
No controversy from Dermot, remains loyal to his co workers
July 7, 2015
Liked the structure
January 10, 2016
amazing book. loved reading it
November 22, 2015
This book was very boring. I couldn't finish it! Sorry Dermot.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews