The Actor's Revealing Musical Selections: Starting with Childhood Loves to Unexplained Dislikes
The earliest song I was captivated by
My most primal recollection is walking into a space at nursery school where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was enthralled by the sonic landscape, and Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the hook, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”
The first record I bought
When I was eight, I won a competition at school to select a new vinyl to play at the weekly dance party we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I opted for Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first record I purchased with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was No 1 at the time, and I chose it when my father pointed out that it was by a former member of the Beatles.
The song I sing at karaoke
I candidly do not enjoy public singing and steer clear at all costs. But if forced, I’d choose Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The piece I inexplicably remember all the words to
I not long ago realised that I have memorized almost all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.
The ideal song to blast at a party
It hinges 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 work through Prince, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an absolute banger.
The track I can never bear
I for some reason cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Killers.
The best song to get intimate to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The record that altered my perspective
When I was 12 and beginning to learn the six-string, I’d only listen to classic rock and roll, and was fixated on Elvis, Chuck Berry, the killer, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter brought round Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was high voltage rock ’n’roll. As soon as he put the record on the turntable, I was captivated.
The track that wakes me in the AM
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by The Genius.
The song that gets me emotional
Most music leaves me moved. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Beatles all make me cry because of the melody and pure beauty of the voices. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner hits me hard without fail.
The song I’d like played at my final send-off
The King. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.
