The Actor's Candid Playlist: Starting with Childhood Loves to Unexplained Aversions
The first tune I became enamored with
My most primal memory is walking into a space at kindergarten where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the sound effects, and John Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the refrain, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”
The first record I acquired
When I was eight, I won a competition at school to pick a brand new vinyl to play at the small dance we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first record I bought with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a record shop in Colne. It was topping the charts at the time, and I selected it when my dad pointed out that it was by one of the Beatles.
The tune I do at karaoke
I candidly do not enjoy public singing and steer clear at all costs. But under duress, I’d choose Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The piece I oddly know each line to
I just realised that I can recall almost all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.
The ideal track to play at a party
It hinges on what stage of the party you are at. At the start it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the party deepens, I’d move on to Prince, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an massive track.
The number I can no longer hear
I strangely cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The ideal piece to get intimate to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The LP that changed my life
When I was 12 and just learning to study the six-string, I’d only listen to 1950s rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on Elvis, the rock pioneer, the killer, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder played Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was high voltage rock music. As soon as he dropped the record on the record player, I was a fan for life.
The tune that motivates me in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.
The piece that gets me emotional
Most music leaves me moved. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Fab Four all stir my emotions because of the tune and utter perfection of the voices. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner strikes a chord every time.
The music I’d like performed at my final send-off
Elvis. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.
