The Actor's Candid Playlist: From Early Favorites to Unexplained Aversions
The initial song I was captivated by
My earliest memory is walking into a space at nursery school where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was enthralled by the sonic landscape, and Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the chorus, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”
The first single I bought
When I was eight years old, I won a competition at school to choose a brand new record to play at the small dance we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I picked out Come Back My Love by 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 Colne. It was No 1 at the time, and I chose it when my father mentioned that it was by one of the Beatles.
The tune I perform at sing-along
I candidly do not enjoy public singing and avoid it at all costs. But under duress, I’d choose Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The track I inexplicably remember each line to
I recently discovered that I can recall pretty much every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The perfect song to play at a gathering
It relies on what stage of the party you are at. At the start it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the party deepens, I’d work through Prince, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an undeniable hit.
The track I can not listen to
I strangely detest Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The ultimate track to make love to
Come Together by the Beatles.
The LP that altered my perspective
When I was 12 and just learning to study the guitar, I’d only listen to classic rock and roll, and was consumed by The King, Chuck Berry, the killer, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter introduced me to Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was high voltage rock music. Instantly after he dropped the record on the record player, I was captivated.
The tune that gets me up in the AM
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by The Genius.
The track that gets me emotional
All music makes me emotional. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the melody and utter brilliance of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going without fail.
The song I’d like performed at my funeral
Elvis. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.
