Music Monday: The Soundtrack To Elliot Compton’s Life
Music played a huge role in Elliot “The Dragon” Compton’s upbringing, and his memories are littered with influential songs that have been the soundtrack to the formative times in his life.
The Australian-based martial artist was a punk-loving skater in his youth, influenced by his parents’ love for reggae and ska.
Now, as an adult, it is still a key part of his day-to-day routine as his wife, Beth, is a professional musician.
Compton has an eclectic taste in music, and that is clear when he reflects on the recordings that have made a big impact on him.
Here are five songs that hold a special place in the Muay Thai warrior’s heart.
The Soundtrack To My Youth
“There are so many songs that remind me of my youth, but one that really comes to mind is Suicidal Tendencies’ ‘You Can’t Bring Me Down.’
“It reminds me of hanging around at the skate park when I was younger and even at the gym, living my life the way I want to live it and living a positive lifestyle.
“We live in a world now where there is a lot of tall poppy syndrome, and there’s always something or someone that is trying to drag you down to their level.
“This song says there is always a way to prevail. No matter what life hands you, there is always a way to climb to the top.”
The Song That Always Makes Me Smile
“My mum and dad have such a great taste in music – soul, Motown, and funk, along with ska and reggae. ‘Lovely Day’ by Bill Withers is a song that my mum used to sing to me and my sister as kids.
“Whenever I hear it, I think of her. It inspires me to do good for the day, and to do good with my life because that is what she wants from us.
“Every time I hear it, I can’t help but smile, and now that I’ve got my little girl, I can understand it even more.”
The Song That Makes Me Think Of My Wife
“This was a hard one, the hardest of them all. There are so many, but I’ll go with A Loss For Words, and the song is called ‘Distance.’
“There are a number of reasons for it. The band is friends of ours and they are based in the US. One time when we were over there, they were playing in Manhattan in New York.
“This song has a guest vocal by a female vocalist, and they asked my wife to sing it. She is a musician and they have collaborated together before, so she got up and sang this verse.
“The crowd went nuts and the energy was so inspiring. It was such a cool moment in our lives, to see her on the other side of the world doing what she loves. We ended up having it as one of our wedding songs, too. So whenever I hear it, all it does is bring back good memories.”
The Song That Helped Me Through A Hard Time
“This one was hard, too, as it depends on what I’m going through at the time. But a song that always mellows me is Pink Floyd’s ‘Wish You Were Here.’
“When I’m going through a tough time, it reminds me of the people who aren’t here with us anymore, people who have come and gone in my life, and my family back in the UK.
“It just centers my energy a bit and makes me think about the people I wish could be here to share my life with. It makes me feel closer to them.”
My Favorite Walkout Song
“I’ve got an eclectic music taste, but for my walkout song, I like ’Shutdown’ by Skepta. It takes me back to where all of my family are in the UK, but it is also a good energy song. It gets the crowd up and moving.
“The lyrics can be a big thing for me in my walkout songs, but a lot of it is if it gets me fired up to put on a show. If it does, then it will make the list.
“I like to walk out to songs that inspire the crowd, not just me. People are there to have a good time, so when it gets the crowd buzzing, then that’s what it is about. I think the louder the crowd and the more engaged they are, the more I want to put on an exciting fight.
“Walking out to this, I’m feeling ready to put on a show for the fans. This is something that is uplifting with a strong beat that puts me in the zone ready to fight. That is how I’m feeling at that point.”
