National Playlist Day is a UK-wide celebration of the power of meaningful music for people living with dementia.
National Playlist Day asks: what’s on your personalised playlist? What music makes up the soundtrack of your life? It’s a chance to celebrate the music that shapes us.
Everyone has a soundtrack to their life, and National Playlist Day seeks to uncover these special and unique playlists, all while raising awareness of a simple but effective intervention already benefitting thousands of people living with dementia throughout the UK.
The football legend Sir Alex Ferguson has become an official ambassador for Playlist for Life and this National Playlist Day 2025 is adding songs to his own personal playlist.
In his new role of ambassador, Sir Alex will champion our work and help us reach more families affected by dementia through awareness raising, fundraising and influencing. We will work together to ensure everyone living with dementia has access to a unique, personalised playlist and that everyone who loves or cares from them knows how to use it.
Sir Alex Ferguson said:
I want to share a few words that reflect my appreciation and support for the work of Playlist for Life and all its partners. I’m beyond proud to be an ambassador for this charity that is leading the way not just in Scotland, but across the UK using personal music to improve the lives of people affected by dementia. I’ve seen this first hand.
We all know someone affected by dementia, but music is truly a special thing. I have shared songs from my playlist and encourage you to do the same. I visited the team behind this incredible work and let me tell you, they work harder than a midfielder chasing a one goal lead in stoppage time.
You’re in the hands of people who care deeply and give everything to this fantastic cause. So please, listen to what they have to say, and I strongly encourage you to take action and support their mission.
Moon River – Henry Mancini (music), Johnny Mercer (lyrics)
This is the song that when I’m with my longest and dearest friends from Govan, I always sing. Only they would have the patience to listen to me!
It’s All in the Game- Nat King Cole
This song has a particularly strong memory for me. When I was 17 and playing for Queen’s Park, they used to have an annual snooker competition, which I won. But when I went to receive the prize at the Annual Christmas Dance, they wouldn’t give me it unless I sang. And this was the song I sang.
My Own True Love – Tara’s Theme from Gone with the Wind
The theme song from one of the greatest movies of all time. Cathy and I visited Atlanta some years ago when I was studying the American Civil War and visited the house of Margaret Mitchell, author of Gone with the Wind, which is part of the museum tours.
Dirty Old Town – The Pogues
Written by a Glasgow-born man, Ewan MacColl, whose daughter was part of the duet in the famous Christmas song Fairy-tale of New York – Kirsty MacColl & Shane McGowan.
Danny Boy
Danny Boy is one of the most sung songs in the world. There is a host of famous singers who have sung it and of course there are many different perspectives on the meaning of the song. One quite sad version is of a father taking his son to catch a train as he was heading off for war and his father was so worried for him that he forgot to give him a hug. The son never returned.
The Way We Were – Gladys Knight and the Pips
Also sung by Barbra Streisand, it was the theme song for the movie of the same name, which starred Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford.
And many more including songs from The Shirelles, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and Sam Cooke and more.
