The Actor's Revealing Musical Selections: From Early Favorites to Unexplained Aversions
The earliest track I was captivated by
My first memory is entering a room at kindergarten where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was enthralled by the audio textures, and John Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the refrain, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”
The very first record I bought
When I was eight, I was victorious in a contest at school to select a new vinyl to play at the mini disco we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I opted for Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I purchased with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a music store in Colne. It was topping the charts at the time, and I selected it when my father noted that it was by a former member of the Beatles.
The tune I perform at sing-along
I honestly do not enjoy karaoke and avoid it at all costs. But if forced, I’d go with Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.
The song I oddly know each line to
I not long ago realised that I can recall pretty much every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The perfect song to blast at a soirée
It depends on which phase 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 night wears on, I’d work through the Artist, the Rolling Stones and Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an massive track.
The song I can no longer hear
I strangely detest Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The ideal song to get intimate to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The LP that transformed me
When I was twelve and beginning to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to 1950s rock ’n’roll, and was obsessed with The King, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder brought round Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was powerful rock music. Instantly after he placed the vinyl on the turntable, I was captivated.
The song that motivates me in the AM
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by Ray Charles.
The track that makes me cry
Virtually any music makes me emotional. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the tune and sheer brilliance of the vocals. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner gets me going every time.
The music I’d like performed at my final send-off
The King. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.