The Actor's Honest Musical Selections: Starting with Childhood Favorites to Unexplained Dislikes
The first tune I was captivated by
My most primal memory is entering a room at nursery school where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was enthralled by the sound effects, and John Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the chorus, I recall believing: “This must be music!”
The inaugural record I purchased
When I was eight, I won a competition at school to select a brand new vinyl 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 purchased with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was No 1 at the time, and I selected it when my father mentioned that it was by one of the Beatles.
The tune I sing at karaoke
I honestly cannot stand karaoke and dodge it at all costs. But if forced, I’d choose Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The song I inexplicably remember every lyric to
I not long ago realised that I have memorized virtually the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The ideal song to blast at a soirée
It relies on what stage 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 night wears on, I’d work through Prince, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an absolute banger.
The track I can not listen to
I strangely cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Killers.
The best song to make love to
Come Together by the Beatles.
The album that altered my perspective
When I was twelve and just learning to play the six-string, I’d only listen to 1950s rock and roll, and was fixated on Elvis, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter brought round Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was powerful rock music. As soon as he dropped the record on the turntable, I was a fan for life.
The track that motivates me in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.
The track that brings me to tears
Virtually any music makes me touched. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Beatles all stir my emotions because of the tune and utter beauty of the voices. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley hits me hard without fail.
The song I’d like to be played at my memorial service
Elvis. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.
