The Actor's Honest Playlist: From Early Favorites to Peculiar Dislikes
The initial song I became enamored with
My first recollection is stepping into a space at preschool where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the sonic landscape, and Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the hook, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”
The first single I acquired
When I was eight years old, I was victorious in a competition at school to pick a new record to play at the small dance we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to a local store, and I chose Come Back My Love by Darts. The first single I purchased with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was topping the charts at the time, and I chose it when my father noted that it was by one of the Beatles.
The tune I do at sing-along
I frankly do not enjoy karaoke and dodge it at all costs. But under duress, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The song I oddly recite all the words to
I recently discovered that I can recall virtually the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The best song to put on at a gathering
It depends on what stage of the event you are at. At the start it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the party deepens, I’d move on to Prince, the Rolling Stones and Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an massive track.
The track I can not listen to
I for some reason detest Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The ideal piece to have sex to
Come Together by the Beatles.
The album that changed my life
When I was 12 and beginning to study the guitar, I’d only listen to 1950s rock and roll, and was fixated on Elvis, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. 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 placed the record on the record player, I was a fan for life.
The tune that gets me up in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.
The song that gets me emotional
All music makes me moved. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Beatles all bring a tear to my eye because of the harmony and sheer beauty of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley hits me hard consistently.
The track I’d like to be 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.
