The Actor's Revealing Musical Selections: From Early Loves to Peculiar Aversions
The first track I became enamored with
My first memory is entering a room at kindergarten where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the audio textures, and John Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the refrain, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”
The very first single I purchased
When I was eight, I was victorious in a contest at school to select 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 picked out Come Back My Love by 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 Colne. It was number one at the time, and I chose it when my dad noted that it was by one of the Beatles.
The track I perform at karaoke
I frankly do not enjoy public singing and dodge it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The song I oddly recite every lyric to
I just discovered that I know pretty much every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The best tune to blast at a gathering
It relies on the point of the event you are at. For the beginning it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the party deepens, I’d transition into the Artist, the 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 absolute banger.
The number I can no longer listen to
I strangely loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The best piece to have sex to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The album that transformed me
When I was 12 and beginning to play the six-string, I’d only listen to 1950s rock and roll, and was fixated on The King, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter played Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was high voltage rock ’n’roll. As soon as he dropped the record on the record player, I was hooked.
The tune that motivates me in the morning
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by The Genius.
The song that gets me emotional
Most music makes me touched. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Beatles all stir my emotions because of the harmony and sheer brilliance of the singing. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going without fail.
The music I’d like played at my memorial service
The King. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.
