The Actor's Revealing Playlist: From Early Favorites to Peculiar Dislikes
The first song I fell in love with
My most primal memory is walking into a space at preschool where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the audio textures, and Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the refrain, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”
The first 45 I purchased
When I was eight years old, I won a competition at school to select a brand new vinyl to play at the mini disco we had on Fridays. My teacher took me to a local store, and I opted for Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single I purchased with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a music store in Colne. It was No 1 at the time, and I selected it when my father mentioned that it was by a former member of the Beatles.
The tune I sing at sing-along
I honestly do not enjoy karaoke and steer clear at all costs. But if forced, I’d select Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.
The piece I inexplicably remember all the words to
I recently discovered that I know almost 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 blast at a gathering
It depends on which phase of the party you are at. At the start it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the party deepens, I’d work through Prince, the Rolling Stones and Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an absolute banger.
The track I can never bear
I inexplicably cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The ultimate track to have sex to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
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 Elvis, Chuck Berry, the killer, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder introduced me to Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was high voltage rock ’n’roll. As soon as he placed the record on the record player, I was captivated.
The tune that gets me up in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by Ray Charles.
The track that makes me cry
Virtually any music makes me moved. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the melody and sheer brilliance of the voices. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going without fail.
The song I’d like performed at my funeral
The King. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.
