The Actor's Candid Musical Selections: From Early Favorites to Peculiar Aversions
The initial tune I was captivated by
My most primal recollection is stepping into a space at kindergarten where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was captivated by the sound effects, and John Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the chorus, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”
The first single I bought
When I was eight years old, I won a competition at school to pick a new record to play at the mini disco 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 allowance 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 pointed out that it was by a former member of the Beatles.
The track I do 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 Ol' Blue Eyes.
The piece I strangely recite each line to
I not long ago became aware that I know 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 perfect track to play at a soirée
It hinges on the point of the party you are at. Early doors it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the evening progresses, I’d move on to Prince, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an massive track.
The track I can never bear
I inexplicably loathe Mr Brightside by the Killers.
The ultimate song to have sex to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The album that altered my perspective
When I was twelve and starting to play the six-string, I’d only listen to 1950s rock and roll, and was consumed by The King, Chuck Berry, the killer, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder played Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was powerful rock music. The moment he dropped the record on the record player, I was captivated.
The tune that wakes me in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.
The track that brings me to tears
Virtually any music makes me emotional. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Beatles all make me cry because of the melody and sheer perfection of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going without fail.
The music 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.
