The Actor's Candid Musical Selections: From Early Favorites to Peculiar Aversions
The first song I fell in love with
My most primal recollection is walking into a room at kindergarten where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the audio textures, and Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the hook, I recall believing: “This must be music!”
The inaugural 45 I purchased
When I was eight years old, I won a contest at school to choose a new record to play at the small dance we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by Darts. The first single I bought with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a record shop in Colne. 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 perform at sing-along
I frankly actively avoid karaoke and avoid it at all costs. But under duress, I’d choose Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The piece I inexplicably know all the words to
I recently became aware that I know pretty much the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The best song to put on at a soirée
It hinges on what stage of the party you are at. At the start it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the party deepens, I’d transition into the Artist, the Stones and Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an massive track.
The number I can not bear
I for some reason loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The ideal track to get intimate to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The album that changed my life
When I was twelve and starting to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock ’n’roll, and was obsessed with Elvis, Chuck Berry, the killer, Fats Domino, 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 ’n’roll. As soon as he dropped the vinyl on the turntable, I was hooked.
The track that wakes me in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by Ray Charles.
The piece that makes me cry
Virtually any music makes me touched. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Beatles all stir my emotions because of the tune and utter brilliance of the voices. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley hits me hard every time.
The song I’d like to be played at my memorial service
Elvis. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.