Local personalities share the top three songs on their summer playlist — and the stories behind them.

Central Otago district councillor and former New Zealand music scene promoter Martin McPherson once starred in a music video for The Exponents.

“Look for the guy in the white jacket playing a sleazy door man,” he said about his few minutes of fame in the ‘Victoria’ video.

Dance Exponents - Victoria (Music Video) HD

Victoria has always been a big hit right back to the 1980s when it first came out - Martin said his daughter laughed about how much hair he had back then.

“The 80s was a fantastic decade for Kiwi music,” he said.

The Exponents have headlined the Alexandra Blossom Festival on two occasions - in 2016 and again in 2021, and Martin in his event organiser role has been good friends with lead singer Jordan Luck for many years.

In the 1980s he was living it up having champagne lunches in his silk pants in Christchurch, and schmoozing with some of the big names of the music industry.

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Away from the New Zealand music scene, Martin’s other two favourite songs are The Piano Has Been Drinking, by Tom Waits, which he describes as the “ultimate anthem to over indulgence.”

Hallelujah, by Leonard Cohen is his third choice,

“and if I ever had the courage to do Stars in your Eyes this is the song I would cover.” 

“I do sing along to it at home - much to my neighbours distress.”