Biduanita Negara, Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza once again made Malaysia proud when her song Anta Permana was chosen by King Charles III to be included in his personal playlist.
The song is part of The King's Music Room program on Apple Music, which brings together works from Commonwealth countries to celebrate the diversity of world music.
Even more proud, Siti, or her real name is Siti Nurhaliza Tarudin, 46, is listed alongside big names such as Beyonce, Bob Marley, Kylie Minogue and Grace Jones, thus proving that the uniqueness of Nusantara music is also recognised internationally.
Anta Permana is a song created by Ezra Kong and Hael Husaini that was released in 2018.
The selected song list reflects his broad musical tastes, encompassing various eras and genres such as Afrobeats, reggae and contemporary pop.
Below are the 17 Songs Chosen by King Charles III
1. Bob Marley & The Wailers — “Could You Be Loved”
In the intro, Charles includes a rendition of the song played by the King’s Guard at Buckingham Palace, before playing the actual tune by late singer himself.
Charles praises Marley's “marvelous, infectious energy, but also his deep sincerity, and his profound concern for his community."
"I always recall his words: ‘The people have a voice inside of them, ' " he adds.
2. Millie Small – "My Boy Lollipop"
The Jamaican-born singer was one of those who came to the U.K. as part of the Windrush Generation of the late 1940s, and “whose gifts have so greatly enriched our country,” the King says.
3. Kylie Minogue’s version of "The Loco-Motion"
This song, Charles says, “is music for dancing."
"Again, it has that infectious energy which makes it, I find, incredibly hard to sit still," he adds. "There is such an irresistibly joyous feeling to that song.”
This song, Charles says, “is music for dancing."
"Again, it has that infectious energy which makes it, I find, incredibly hard to sit still," he adds. "There is such an irresistibly joyous feeling to that song.”
4. Al Bowlly – "The Very Thought Of You"
The track is a song from the 1920s-1930s era that "reminds" Charles "of my much-loved grandmother, because she used to play these sorts of music a lot."
The royal adds that the tune "also never fails to lift my spirits.”
The track is a song from the 1920s-1930s era that "reminds" Charles "of my much-loved grandmother, because she used to play these sorts of music a lot."
The royal adds that the tune "also never fails to lift my spirits.”
5. Grace Jones – "La Vie En Rose"
Charles says he and his wife, Queen Camilla, have known Jones "for some time."
"I had the great pleasure of seeing recently at a reception at the St. James’s Palace," he continues, then asking: "Is it possible to improve on such a classic song?"
6. "Love Me Again" — Raye
“She is a great ambassador for British music,” Charles says of the artist.
Charles says he and his wife, Queen Camilla, have known Jones "for some time."
"I had the great pleasure of seeing recently at a reception at the St. James’s Palace," he continues, then asking: "Is it possible to improve on such a classic song?"
6. "Love Me Again" — Raye
“She is a great ambassador for British music,” Charles says of the artist.
7.Daddy Lumba – "Mpempem Do Me"
With a connection to Ghana, which Charles last visited in 2018, he says, “I found myself dancing along” to this track.
With a connection to Ghana, which Charles last visited in 2018, he says, “I found myself dancing along” to this track.
8. Davido – "KANTE" (feat. Fave)
The King points out that this song “features lyrics in pidgin, which I love in all its forms, and in which I attempted to make a speech when I last visited Nigeria."
He adds, “I understand that, thanks to Afrobeats, it is becoming ever more popular around the world.”
9. Miriam Makeba – "The Click Song"
Highlighting how the track is in the Xhosa language, Charles quips, “I shan’t try too much to pronounce the title, as it requires a great deal of practice!”
Highlighting how the track is in the Xhosa language, Charles quips, “I shan’t try too much to pronounce the title, as it requires a great deal of practice!”
10. Jools Holland & Ruby Turner – "My Country Man"
Holland is another British musician the royal has known for years, alongside the “unstoppable phenomenon” of soul singer Turner.
Holland is another British musician the royal has known for years, alongside the “unstoppable phenomenon” of soul singer Turner.
11. Anoushka Shankar – "Indian Summer"
Charles says he likes the sitar playing in the song for being “deeply redolent of the ancient culture of India.”
Charles says he likes the sitar playing in the song for being “deeply redolent of the ancient culture of India.”
12. Siti Nurhaliza – "Anta Permana"
The royal celebrates how the Malaysian artist sings “about love that is stronger than time.”
The royal celebrates how the Malaysian artist sings “about love that is stronger than time.”
13. Dame Kiri Te Kanawa – "E Te Iwi E (Call To The People)"
The song holds special meaning to Charles, as the New Zealand opera great performed it at his wedding to the late Princess Diana.
The song holds special meaning to Charles, as the New Zealand opera great performed it at his wedding to the late Princess Diana.
14. Michael Bublé – "Haven't Met You Yet"
Bublé — who recently dined with Charles' son Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Vancouver — is Charles’ pick to represent Commonwealth country Canada on the list.
Bublé — who recently dined with Charles' son Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Vancouver — is Charles’ pick to represent Commonwealth country Canada on the list.
15. Arrow – "Hot, Hot, Hot"
From Monserrat, the King says of the title: “When I last visited the island, it certainly was."
16. Beyoncé – "Crazy In Love" (feat. Jay-Z)
Charles thanks the musician for her work helping support the Prince’s, and now, the King’s Trust, before congratulating Beyoncé for winning her first album of the year award at the 2025 Grammys last month.
17. Diana Ross – "Upside Down"
The song, Charles says, is one of his “particular favorites."
The song, Charles says, is one of his “particular favorites."
“When I was much younger, it was absolutely impossible not to get up and dance when it was played," he further explains. "So, I wonder if I can still just manage it?"
King Charles is head of the Commonwealth, a loose coalition of 56 countries — including Australia, Canada, India and Malaysia— that have strong ties to the U.K. and span much of the world.
“This seemed such an interesting and innovative way to celebrate this year’s Commonwealth Day,” Charles says in the show.
The King’s Music Room is now available to watch for free, or view anytime on demand with an Apple Music subscription, on Apple Music 1.
