The Actor's Honest Musical Selections: From Early Loves to Unexplained Aversions
The first track I was captivated by
My earliest memory is entering a space at preschool where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was enthralled by the audio textures, and Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the refrain, I recall believing: “This must be music!”
The inaugural single I acquired
When I was eight years old, I was victorious in a contest at school to select a brand new record to play at the small dance we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single I purchased with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a record shop in Colne. It was number one at the time, and I selected it when my dad mentioned that it was by one of the Beatles.
The tune I perform at karaoke
I candidly actively avoid karaoke and steer clear at all costs. But if forced, I’d select Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The piece I oddly recite each line to
I recently became aware that I can recall almost every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The best track to put on at a soirée
It hinges on the point of the evening you are at. At the start it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the evening progresses, I’d move on to the Artist, the Stones and Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an undeniable hit.
The song I can never hear
I strangely 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 starting 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, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter played Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was powerful rock ’n’roll. Instantly after he put the record on the record player, I was a fan for life.
The track that gets me up in the AM
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by The Genius.
The track that gets me emotional
Most music leaves me emotional. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the melody and utter perfection of the singing. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley hits me hard without fail.
The track I’d like performed at my final send-off
The King. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.