The Actor's Revealing Musical Selections: From Early Loves to Unexplained Aversions
The initial song I was captivated by
My first memory is entering a space at preschool where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the audio textures, and Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the chorus, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”
The first single I purchased
When I was eight years old, I was victorious in a competition at school to choose a brand new record to play at the mini disco we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I picked out Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I bought with my own allowance 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 chose it when my dad mentioned that it was by one of the Beatles.
The track I perform at sing-along
I candidly cannot stand public singing and steer clear at all costs. But under duress, I’d select Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.
The track I oddly know every lyric to
I recently discovered 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 ideal track to put on at a gathering
It hinges on which phase of the party you are at. Early doors it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the night wears on, I’d move on to the Artist, the Stones and Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an undeniable hit.
The song I can no longer listen to
I for some reason cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The best piece to get intimate to
Come Together by the Beatles.
The record that altered my perspective
When I was twelve and beginning to play the guitar, I’d only listen to 1950s rock and roll, and was consumed by The King, the rock pioneer, the killer, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder introduced me to Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was high voltage rock music. Instantly after he placed the record on the turntable, I was a fan for life.
The song that gets me up in the morning
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by Ray Charles.
The song that makes me cry
All music leaves me emotional. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the tune and pure beauty of the voices. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going without fail.
The track I’d like performed at my memorial service
Elvis. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.