The Actor's Candid Musical Selections: Starting with Childhood Favorites to Unexplained Dislikes
The earliest tune I became enamored with
My first recollection is walking into a space at nursery school where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the sonic landscape, and Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the chorus, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”
The inaugural record I acquired
When I was eight years old, I won a contest at school to choose a new record to play at the small dance we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single I purchased with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was topping the charts at the time, and I selected it when my father noted that it was by a former member of the Beatles.
The song I do at karaoke
I frankly cannot stand karaoke and avoid it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d select Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The piece I strangely know every lyric to
I recently discovered that I can recall pretty much all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The best tune to put on at a soirée
It depends on the point of the event you are at. Early doors it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the night wears on, I’d transition into Prince, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an absolute banger.
The song I can never listen to
I for some reason loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The ideal track to make love to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The record that altered my perspective
When I was 12 and starting to study the six-string, I’d only listen to classic rock ’n’roll, and was obsessed with The King, the rock pioneer, the killer, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter brought round Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock ’n’roll. The moment he put the vinyl on the record player, I was a fan for life.
The song that motivates me in the morning
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by The Genius.
The song that gets me emotional
All music makes me moved. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Fab Four all bring a tear to my eye because of the melody and sheer beauty of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley strikes a chord every time.
The music I’d like performed at my final send-off
Elvis. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.
