The Actor's Revealing Playlist: From Early Favorites to Unexplained Dislikes
The first tune I fell in love with
My most primal recollection is entering a room at nursery school where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was enthralled by the audio textures, and Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the chorus, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”
The inaugural single I bought
When I was eight, I was victorious in a contest at school to choose a brand new record to play at the mini disco we had on Fridays. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I opted for Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I purchased with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was number one at the time, and I chose it when my father mentioned that it was by one of the Beatles.
The tune I sing at karaoke
I frankly do not enjoy karaoke and avoid it at all costs. But if forced, I’d select Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.
The piece I inexplicably remember every lyric to
I not long ago discovered that I know almost all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The ideal song to play at a soirée
It relies on what stage of the event you are at. For the beginning it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the evening progresses, I’d transition into Prince, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an undeniable hit.
The song I can not listen to
I strangely cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Killers.
The ultimate track to have sex to
Come Together by the Beatles.
The record that transformed me
When I was twelve and beginning to play the six-string, I’d only listen to classic rock and roll, and was consumed by The King, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder brought round Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was powerful rock music. The moment he dropped the record on the record player, I was hooked.
The track that gets me up in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.
The song that brings me to tears
All music makes me emotional. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Beatles all stir my emotions because of the melody and sheer perfection of the vocals. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner hits me hard without fail.
The track I’d like to be played 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.
