The Actor's Candid Musical Selections: Starting with Childhood Favorites to Unexplained Dislikes
The first tune I was captivated by
My most primal memory is walking into a space at nursery school where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was captivated by the audio textures, and Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the hook, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”
The inaugural record I acquired
When I was eight, I was victorious in a competition at school to choose a brand new record to play at the weekly dance party we had on Fridays. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I picked out Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first record I bought with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a music store in Colne. It was topping the charts at the time, and I chose it when my dad noted that it was by a former member of the Beatles.
The track I sing at karaoke
I honestly actively avoid karaoke and dodge it at all costs. But if forced, I’d choose Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.
The song I strangely recite all the words to
I recently discovered that I have memorized pretty much the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.
The perfect track to blast at a party
It hinges on which phase of the evening you are at. For the beginning it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the evening progresses, I’d transition into the Artist, the Rolling Stones and Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an absolute banger.
The song I can no longer listen to
I inexplicably loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The ultimate song to make love to
Come Together by the Beatles.
The record that transformed me
When I was 12 and beginning to study the guitar, I’d only listen to classic rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on The King, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter brought round Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was electrifying rock music. As soon as he dropped the record on the turntable, I was captivated.
The song that wakes me in the morning
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by The Genius.
The track that gets me emotional
Most music makes me emotional. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Beatles all make me cry because of the harmony and utter beauty of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley hits me hard consistently.
The track I’d like to be played at my final send-off
The King. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.