The Actor's Honest Musical Selections: Starting with Childhood Loves to Peculiar Dislikes
The first song I became enamored with
My earliest recollection is stepping into a room at kindergarten where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was enthralled by the audio textures, and Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the hook, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”
The very first single I acquired
When I was eight years old, I was victorious in a competition at school to pick a brand new vinyl to play at the weekly dance party we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to a local store, and I opted for Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I purchased 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 mentioned that it was by a former member of the Beatles.
The tune I perform at sing-along
I frankly actively avoid karaoke and steer clear at all costs. But under duress, I’d choose Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.
The track I oddly know every lyric to
I not long ago realised that I have memorized pretty much every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.
The perfect track to blast at a soirée
It relies on the point of the evening you are at. For the beginning it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the evening progresses, I’d work through Prince, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an massive track.
The track I can no longer listen to
I inexplicably loathe Mr Brightside by the Killers.
The best piece to have sex to
Come Together by the Beatles.
The LP that altered my perspective
When I was twelve and starting to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to classic rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on 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 the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock music. The moment he put the record on the record player, I was a fan for life.
The track that gets me up in the morning
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by The Genius.
The piece that brings me to tears
All music leaves me emotional. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Fab Four all stir my emotions because of the harmony and utter beauty of the vocals. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner gets me going every time.
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 laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.