Shirley Ballas has revealed that her favourite song of all time isn’t a golden oldie or a global chart hit – but a heartfelt track by members of her family.
The Strictly Come Dancing head judge made the admission during her 2023 appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, when she was asked to select the eight songs she’d take with her to a desert island.
Among the more recognisable picks – from Frank Sinatra to Nirvana – was one lesser-known title that she picked as her ultimate choice: ‘Highs and Lows’ by Alexander Jean.
“Alexander Jean is my daughter-in-law, BC Jean, and my son, Mark Ballas”, she explained during the show. “I actually think the lyrics resonate with anybody who has a loved one – boyfriend, girlfriend, partner, married. If you really listen to the lyrics, I think it will resonate with many, many women, maybe even gentlemen too.”
The song was released in 2021 by the American duo, who’ve built a loyal following thanks to their emotional songwriting and tightly produced acoustic-pop sound.
‘Highs and Lows’ came out under their own label, Head Bitch Music, and while it didn’t make the official charts, it’s become a fan favourite for its honest depiction of enduring love through difficult times.
Alexander Jean is made up of singer-songwriter BC Jean – best known for writing Beyoncé’s If I Were a Boy – and musician and dancer Mark Ballas, who found fame as a pro on Dancing with the Stars. The pair first met in 2012 and formed the band in 2015, and got married the following year in a ceremony attended by fellow Dancing with the Stars cast members.
Their debut single, ‘Roses and Violets’, made a splash by reaching the top 20 on Billboard’s Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.
The duo were later spotlighted as Elvis Duran’s Artist of the Month in 2018, leading to a live performance of their song ‘Waiting for You’ on NBC’s Today show with Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford. Despite staying independent, they’ve built a dedicated audience through a series of EPs and online releases.
Ballas’s other song selections revealed a varied te in music – from 1960s pop classics to grunge. She chose ‘Get Lucky’ by Daft Punk, ‘Ring of Fire’ by Johnny Cash, Frank Sinatra’s version of ‘Moon River’, and ‘Sherry’ by The Four Seasons.
Ballas also picked Nirvana’s ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’, ‘You to Me Are Everything’ by The Real Thing and ‘We’ve Only Just Begun’ by Carpenters.