The Actor's Honest Musical Selections: Starting with Childhood Favorites to Unexplained Aversions
The earliest tune I was captivated by
My most primal recollection is entering a room at nursery school where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was enthralled by the sound effects, and Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the hook, I recall believing: “This must be music!”
The first 45 I purchased
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 chose Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I bought with my own allowance 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 mentioned that it was by one of the Beatles.
The song I do at sing-along
I frankly actively avoid karaoke and avoid it at all costs. But if forced, I’d choose Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The track I oddly know every lyric to
I recently realised that I have memorized pretty much the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.
The perfect song to blast at a soirée
It hinges on what stage of the event 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 Stones and Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an massive track.
The track I can not listen to
I strangely detest Mr Brightside by the Killers.
The ultimate track to get intimate to
Come Together by the Beatles.
The record that altered my perspective
When I was 12 and starting to study the six-string, I’d only listen to early rock and roll, and was fixated on Elvis, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder played Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was powerful rock ’n’roll. As soon as he dropped the vinyl on the record player, I was captivated.
The tune that wakes me in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.
The track that brings me to tears
Virtually any music makes me touched. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Fab Four all bring a tear to my eye because of the melody and pure perfection of the singing. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going without fail.
The song I’d like played at my final send-off
The King. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.
