The Actor's Honest Musical Selections: Starting with Childhood Loves to Peculiar Dislikes
The first track I became enamored with
My most primal recollection is stepping into a room at nursery school where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the audio textures, and John Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the refrain, I recall believing: “This must be music!”
The first single I purchased
When I was eight, I won a competition at school to select a brand new record to play at the small dance we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I opted for Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I bought with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was topping the charts at the time, and I chose it when my father noted that it was by a former member of the Beatles.
The song I perform at karaoke
I honestly do not enjoy public singing and avoid it at all costs. But under duress, I’d choose Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.
The track I inexplicably recite all the words to
I just discovered that I can recall 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 perfect tune to put on at a gathering
It depends on what stage of the evening you are at. At the start it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the night wears on, I’d work through Prince, the Stones and Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an absolute banger.
The track I can not hear
I for some reason detest Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The best track to make love to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The LP that altered my perspective
When I was twelve and beginning to play the six-string, I’d only listen to early rock ’n’roll, and was consumed by The King, the rock pioneer, the killer, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder brought round Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was electrifying rock music. The moment he put the record on the record player, I was hooked.
The tune that motivates me in the morning
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by The Genius.
The song that brings me to tears
All music makes me emotional. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Fab Four all stir my emotions because of the melody and utter beauty of the voices. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner hits me hard without fail.
The track I’d like performed at my funeral
The King. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.
