The Actor's Revealing Musical Selections: Starting with Childhood Favorites to Peculiar Dislikes
The first song I was captivated by
My first memory is walking into a room at nursery school where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was mesmerized by the audio textures, and Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the refrain, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”
The very first record I acquired
When I was eight years old, I won a contest at school to choose a new record to play at the weekly dance party we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to a local store, and I opted for Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first record I bought with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was number one at the time, and I chose it when my father pointed out that it was by a former member of the Beatles.
The song I perform at sing-along
I candidly do not enjoy public singing and avoid it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d select Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.
The piece I oddly recite all the words to
I recently became aware that I know almost every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The best tune to put on at a party
It depends on what stage of the evening you are at. For the beginning it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the evening progresses, I’d work through the Artist, the Rolling 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 number I can no longer bear
I for some reason detest Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The ideal track to have sex to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The LP that transformed me
When I was twelve and starting to study the guitar, I’d only listen to 1950s rock ’n’roll, and was obsessed with Elvis, Chuck Berry, the killer, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder brought round Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was powerful rock music. As soon as he placed the record on the record player, I was captivated.
The song that motivates me in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.
The piece that makes me cry
All music makes me emotional. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Fab Four all stir my emotions because of the harmony and sheer beauty of the voices. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley hits me hard without fail.
The track I’d like played at my funeral
The King. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.
