The Actor's Honest Musical Selections: Starting with Childhood Favorites to Unexplained Aversions
The initial track I became enamored with
My first recollection is walking into a space at nursery school where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was enthralled by the audio textures, and Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the chorus, I recall believing: “This must be music!”
The first record I acquired
When I was eight years old, I won a contest at school to pick a brand new vinyl to play at the mini disco we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to a local store, and I opted for Come Back My Love by Darts. The first single I purchased with my own savings was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was number one at the time, and I chose it when my father pointed out that it was by one of the Beatles.
The song I perform at karaoke
I candidly cannot stand karaoke and dodge it at all costs. But under duress, I’d select Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.
The track I oddly remember every lyric to
I recently realised that I have memorized virtually the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The perfect song to put on at a soirée
It depends on the point of the evening you are at. At the start it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the evening progresses, I’d transition into Prince, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an absolute banger.
The track I can no longer hear
I strangely cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The ideal track to have sex to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The LP that transformed me
When I was 12 and starting to learn the six-string, I’d only listen to 1950s rock ’n’roll, and was consumed by Elvis, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder played Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock ’n’roll. Instantly after he placed the record on the turntable, I was a fan for life.
The tune that gets me up in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by Ray Charles.
The song that brings me to tears
Most music leaves me emotional. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Beatles all stir my emotions because of the tune and sheer beauty of the voices. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner gets me going consistently.
The music I’d like performed at my memorial service
Elvis. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.
