The Actor's Revealing Musical Selections: Starting with Childhood Favorites to Unexplained Dislikes
The first song I became enamored with
My earliest memory is walking into a room at kindergarten where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was captivated by the sound effects, and Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the chorus, I recall believing: “This must be music!”
The very first record I bought
When I was eight years old, I was victorious in a competition at school to choose a new vinyl to play at the mini disco we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I chose Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single I purchased with my own savings was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was No 1 at the time, and I chose it when my dad noted that it was by a former member of the Beatles.
The song I do at karaoke
I candidly actively avoid public singing and steer clear at all costs. But if I had to, I’d select Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.
The piece I oddly recite every lyric to
I recently became aware that I have memorized almost the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The perfect song to play at a party
It relies on the point of the event you are at. At the start it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the evening progresses, I’d work through Prince, the Stones and Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an undeniable hit.
The song I can no longer hear
I strangely detest Mr Brightside by the Killers.
The ideal song to have sex to
Come Together by the Beatles.
The album that changed my life
When I was twelve and starting to learn the six-string, I’d only listen to 1950s rock ’n’roll, and was obsessed with The King, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter played Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was powerful rock music. The moment he placed the record on the turntable, I was a fan for life.
The track that gets me up in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.
The song that makes me cry
All music makes me emotional. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Beatles all stir my emotions because of the tune and utter beauty of the voices. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner gets me going without fail.
The song I’d like played at my memorial service
The King. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.
