The Actor's Honest Musical Selections: Starting with Childhood Loves to Unexplained Aversions
The first song I was captivated by
My first recollection is walking into a space at kindergarten where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was mesmerized by the sonic landscape, and Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the hook, I recall believing: “This must be music!”
The first 45 I acquired
When I was eight, I won a contest at school to pick a new vinyl to play at the small dance we had on Fridays. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I picked out 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 topping the charts at the time, and I selected it when my father mentioned that it was by one of the Beatles.
The song I do at sing-along
I frankly cannot stand karaoke and dodge it at all costs. But under duress, I’d go with Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.
The piece I oddly know all the words to
I recently realised that I can recall almost 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 soirée
It hinges on what stage of the event you are at. For the beginning it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the party deepens, I’d work through Prince, the Stones and Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an massive track.
The track I can no longer bear
I inexplicably detest Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The ultimate piece to get intimate to
Come Together by the Beatles.
The album that altered my perspective
When I was twelve and just learning to learn the six-string, I’d only listen to early rock ’n’roll, and was consumed by Elvis, the rock pioneer, the killer, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter played Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock ’n’roll. As soon as he put the vinyl on the turntable, I was hooked.
The song that gets me up in the AM
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by Ray Charles.
The track that makes me cry
Virtually any music leaves me touched. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Fab Four all stir my emotions because of the melody and sheer beauty of the voices. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner gets me going every time.
The track I’d like to be played at my funeral
Elvis. 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.
