The Actor's Candid Musical Selections: Starting with Childhood Favorites to Unexplained Aversions
The first tune I fell in love with
My earliest recollection is entering a room at kindergarten where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was enthralled by the sonic landscape, and Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the refrain, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”
The first record I acquired
When I was eight, I won a competition at school to pick a brand new record to play at the weekly dance party we had on Fridays. My teacher took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I bought with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Colne. 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 tune I do at karaoke
I frankly cannot stand karaoke and avoid it at all costs. But under duress, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The piece I oddly recite all the words to
I not long ago discovered that I know pretty much the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.
The best track to put on at a soirée
It hinges on which phase of the evening you are at. Early doors it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the party deepens, I’d work through Prince, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an massive track.
The number I can never bear
I for some reason loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The ideal song to make love to
Come Together by the Beatles.
The LP that transformed me
When I was 12 and beginning to study the six-string, I’d only listen to early rock ’n’roll, and was consumed by Elvis, Chuck Berry, the killer, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder brought round Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was powerful rock ’n’roll. Instantly after he put the record on the turntable, I was a fan for life.
The song that wakes me in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by Ray Charles.
The song that makes me cry
Virtually any music leaves me emotional. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Beatles all stir my emotions because of the harmony and utter beauty of the singing. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley hits me hard consistently.
The music I’d like played at my funeral
Elvis. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.
