The Actor's Candid Musical Selections: From Early Favorites to Peculiar Dislikes
The first song I fell in love with
My most primal memory is entering a space at nursery school where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the sonic landscape, and Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the hook, I recall believing: “This must be music!”
The very first single I bought
When I was eight, I was victorious in a competition at school to pick a brand new vinyl to play at the mini disco we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I purchased with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Colne. It was No 1 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 sing-along
I candidly actively avoid karaoke and dodge it at all costs. But under duress, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The piece I inexplicably know each line to
I just discovered that I know pretty much every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The ideal track to play at a soirée
It depends on what stage of the event you are at. At the start it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the evening progresses, I’d work through the Artist, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an massive track.
The track I can not listen to
I strangely cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The best track to have sex to
Come Together by the Beatles.
The album that altered my perspective
When I was twelve and just learning to study the six-string, I’d only listen to early rock ’n’roll, and was obsessed with Elvis, the rock pioneer, the killer, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder played Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was high voltage rock music. The moment he dropped the vinyl on the record player, I was a fan for life.
The tune that gets me up in the AM
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by The Genius.
The song that brings me to tears
Virtually any music leaves me touched. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Fab Four all bring a tear to my eye because of the harmony and pure brilliance of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going without fail.
The music I’d like played at my funeral
The King. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.
