The Actor's Revealing Playlist: Starting with Childhood Favorites to Peculiar Dislikes
The initial tune I became enamored with
My first memory is stepping into a space at kindergarten where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the sound effects, and Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the hook, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”
The inaugural record I acquired
When I was eight years old, I won a contest at school to pick a new vinyl to play at the weekly dance party we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to a local store, and I chose Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single I bought with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was No 1 at the time, and I selected it when my father mentioned that it was by one of the Beatles.
The track I perform at sing-along
I candidly do not enjoy karaoke and dodge it at all costs. But if forced, I’d choose Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.
The piece I inexplicably recite all the words to
I just discovered that I know virtually every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The perfect song to play at a party
It relies on what stage of the party you are at. For the beginning it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the evening progresses, I’d transition into Prince, the Rolling Stones and Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an undeniable hit.
The track I can no longer bear
I strangely loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The best song to have sex to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The LP that changed my life
When I was twelve and starting to play the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock and roll, and was fixated on Elvis, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder brought round Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was high voltage rock music. The moment he put the vinyl on the turntable, I was a fan for life.
The track that motivates me in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by Ray Charles.
The track that makes me cry
All music leaves me emotional. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Beatles all stir my emotions because of the harmony and sheer perfection of the voices. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going consistently.
The track I’d like to be played at my final send-off
Elvis. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.