The Actor's Honest Musical Selections: Starting with Childhood Favorites to Unexplained Aversions
The earliest song I fell in love with
My earliest recollection is stepping into a room at nursery school where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the sonic landscape, and Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the refrain, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”
The inaugural 45 I bought
When I was eight years old, I won a contest at school to choose a new vinyl to play at the weekly dance party 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 savings was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was topping the charts at the time, and I selected it when my dad pointed out that it was by a former member of the Beatles.
The tune I sing at karaoke
I candidly actively avoid karaoke and avoid it at all costs. But if forced, I’d choose Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.
The song I strangely remember each line to
I just became aware that I have memorized virtually every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The best song to play at a soirée
It depends on the point of the evening you are at. At the start it would 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 the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an massive track.
The track I can not hear
I strangely detest Mr Brightside by the Killers.
The ideal track to get intimate to
Come Together by the Beatles.
The LP that changed my life
When I was twelve and starting to study the six-string, I’d only listen to early rock ’n’roll, and was consumed by Elvis, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter played Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was powerful rock music. The moment he placed the vinyl on the record player, I was a fan for life.
The song that wakes me in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by Ray Charles.
The track that gets me emotional
Most music makes me moved. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Fab Four all stir my emotions because of the melody and utter brilliance of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley strikes a chord consistently.
The music I’d like played at my final send-off
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.
