The Actor's Revealing Musical Selections: From Early Favorites to Peculiar Aversions
The first song I was captivated by
My first memory is stepping into a space at kindergarten where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the audio textures, and John Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the hook, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”
The first single I purchased
When I was eight, I won a competition at school to pick a new vinyl to play at the weekly dance party we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first record I bought with my own savings was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a record shop in Colne. It was topping the charts at the time, and I selected it when my father mentioned that it was by one of the Beatles.
The song I do at sing-along
I frankly do not enjoy public singing and dodge it at all costs. But under duress, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The song I inexplicably know each line to
I not long ago became aware that I know pretty much all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.
The best tune to put on at a party
It relies on what stage of the party you are at. At the start it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the evening progresses, I’d work through 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 the virtual band, which is an massive track.
The track I can not bear
I strangely detest Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The best piece to get intimate to
Come Together by the Beatles.
The LP that changed my life
When I was twelve and starting to play the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on The King, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, 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. The moment he placed the record on the turntable, I was a fan for life.
The tune that gets me up in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.
The piece that brings me to tears
Most music leaves me moved. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the harmony and pure brilliance of the voices. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley strikes a chord without fail.
The song I’d like played at my funeral
Elvis. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.
