The Actor's Candid Playlist: Starting with Childhood Loves to Peculiar Aversions
The first song I fell in love with
My earliest memory is walking into a space at preschool where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the sonic landscape, and Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the chorus, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”
The first 45 I acquired
When I was eight, I won a competition at school to pick a brand new record to play at the small dance we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I picked out Come Back My Love by Darts. The first single I bought with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Colne. It was No 1 at the time, and I chose it when my dad noted that it was by one of the Beatles.
The song I do at sing-along
I frankly cannot stand karaoke and avoid it at all costs. But if forced, I’d choose Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.
The piece I inexplicably know all the words to
I not long ago realised that I know virtually the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.
The best song to blast at a party
It relies on which phase 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 evening progresses, I’d work through the Artist, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an massive track.
The song I can never hear
I for some reason detest Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The ideal song to have sex to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The LP that changed my life
When I was twelve and just learning to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock ’n’roll, and was consumed by Elvis, Chuck Berry, the killer, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter introduced me to Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was electrifying rock ’n’roll. Instantly after he put the vinyl on the record player, I was a fan for life.
The tune that gets me up in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.
The piece that gets me emotional
Virtually any music leaves me touched. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the harmony and pure perfection of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley strikes a chord consistently.
The song I’d like performed at my memorial service
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.
