Karina Smirnoff: My Music

MY KARAOKE SONG
One of my favorites is [Nat King Cole's] "Unforgettable." I don't know why I love to do that song. The other one is, I forget the name. [To Mark] Mark, who sings the, Lionel Richie and Diana Ross … What's the famous one?
Mark: Umm … "Endless Love"?
Karina (continues): "Endless Love"! That's my other favorite.

SONG I WANT PLAYED AT MY WEDDING
Oh, wow. I never actually thought about it that deep. But I always loved ['80s pop act Yazoo's] "Only You." It's the song I started dancing to. Mark likes it, too. So Mark and I will probably get married, and that's the song that will be at our wedding. Mark just said "Karina Ballas." But I think it's better sounding as "Mark Smirnoff." Karina Smirnoff-Ballas. I like that, too. It's cute. Mark and I go way back. I remember when he was 10 years old, full of pimples. Oh, and he had braces.

THE SONG THAT MAKES ME CRY
You know, actually I don't listen to songs that make me cry. If I'm really, really depressed, I put on something happy. But honestly, the song that makes me think and maybe get into that emotional level is Argentinean Tango. Astor Piazzolla pieces like "Oblivion." He has a lot of musical compilations that are amazing.

SONG I LOST MY VIRGINITY TO
I don't think we had music playing. It was weird. Like, I was a really late bloomer, to be honest. I was 18. My first French kiss was when I was 16, so I was totally afraid of boys when I was younger. So it was romantic and everything, but it was kind of awkward.

SONG THAT PSYCHES ME UP FOR A NIGHT OUT WITH THE STARS
If I go out and party on the town, I like to listen to Beyoncé, or any kind of modern song. I love Alicia Keys, Chris Brown. But when I'm actually getting ready to do a performance, and go onstage and perform, I listen to Queen's "The Show Must Go On" , or "Friends Will Be Friends" , or "It's a Miracle" , or any of those old songs. I think they're very inspiring, and they have that energy that makes you want to do better.

FAVORITE SONG TO SLOW DANCE TO
[Frankie Valli's] "Can't Take My Eyes Off You." And the version that I love is by Sofia Pettersson. It's just the piano version, and it's almost like a cabaret style, but it's beautiful.

FAVORITE SONG TO MAKE LOVE TO
Oh, I think making love is beautiful to Mario's music … I love Ginuwine, I looove R. Kelly ... "Your Body's Callin'," "Bump N' Grind," "Sex Me (Parts I & II)." There are a lot of R. Kelly songs that are amazing.