The Actor's Honest Musical Selections: Starting with Childhood Loves to Peculiar Aversions
The first tune I fell in love with
My first memory is stepping into a room at kindergarten where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the sonic landscape, and John Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the hook, I recall believing: “This must be music!”
The first single I bought
When I was eight years old, I was victorious in a competition at school to choose a new vinyl to play at the weekly dance party we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I picked out Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first record I purchased with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was topping the charts at the time, and I selected it when my dad pointed out that it was by a former member of the Beatles.
The track I do at sing-along
I candidly actively avoid karaoke and avoid it at all costs. But under duress, I’d choose Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The track I strangely recite every lyric to
I recently realised that I know almost all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.
The best track to blast at a soirée
It hinges on what stage of the event you are at. At the start it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the night wears on, I’d transition into the Artist, the Stones and Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an absolute banger.
The number I can not listen to
I inexplicably detest Mr Brightside by the Killers.
The ideal song to get intimate to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The album that transformed me
When I was twelve and beginning to play the guitar, I’d only listen to classic rock and roll, and was consumed by Elvis, the rock pioneer, the killer, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder 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 vinyl on the turntable, I was captivated.
The song that motivates me in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.
The song that brings me to tears
Most music leaves me touched. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Fab Four all bring a tear to my eye because of the harmony and sheer brilliance of the vocals. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner hits me hard without fail.
The music I’d like 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.
