The Actor's Candid Playlist: Starting with Childhood Favorites to Peculiar Dislikes
The earliest song I was captivated by
My first recollection is walking into a room at nursery school where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the audio textures, and Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the chorus, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”
The first single I bought
When I was eight, I was victorious in a competition at school to choose a new record to play at the weekly dance party we had on Fridays. My teacher took me to a local store, and I opted for Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I bought with my own savings was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Colne. It was topping the charts at the time, and I chose it when my father pointed out that it was by a former member of the Beatles.
The tune I do at sing-along
I candidly actively avoid karaoke and dodge it at all costs. But if forced, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The track I oddly know all the words to
I just discovered that I have memorized almost all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The best tune to blast at a party
It depends on what stage 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 night wears on, I’d move on to Prince, the Stones and 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 track I can not bear
I for some reason detest Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The ideal piece to make love to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The LP that altered my perspective
When I was twelve and beginning to study the six-string, I’d only listen to 1950s rock and roll, and was consumed by Elvis, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter brought round Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was high voltage rock music. As soon as he dropped the vinyl on the record player, I was a fan for life.
The track that wakes me in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.
The track that brings me to tears
All music makes me emotional. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Beatles all make me cry because of the harmony and utter brilliance of the voices. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner gets me going every time.
The music I’d like played at my final send-off
Elvis. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.
