The Actor's Honest Playlist: Starting with Childhood Favorites to Unexplained Aversions
The earliest song I fell in love with
My earliest recollection is walking into a space at preschool where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the audio textures, and Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the refrain, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”
The inaugural record I purchased
When I was eight years old, I was victorious in a contest at school to pick a brand new vinyl to play at the weekly dance party we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I chose Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I purchased with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Colne. It was No 1 at the time, and I chose it when my father pointed out that it was by one of the Beatles.
The track I perform at sing-along
I honestly do not enjoy public singing and steer clear at all costs. But under duress, I’d select Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The piece I oddly know all the words to
I recently discovered that I can recall pretty much all the lyrics 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 soirée
It relies on the point of the event you are at. For the beginning it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the party deepens, I’d move on to 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 the virtual band, which is an undeniable hit.
The song I can never listen to
I inexplicably loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The ultimate song to get intimate to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The album that transformed me
When I was 12 and beginning to play the guitar, I’d only listen to 1950s rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on The King, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, 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 powerful rock ’n’roll. The moment he dropped the record on the turntable, I was a fan for life.
The tune that gets me up in the AM
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by The Genius.
The piece that brings me to tears
All music makes me emotional. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Beatles all bring a tear to my eye because of the tune and sheer brilliance of the voices. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner strikes a chord without fail.
The song I’d like performed at my final send-off
The King. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.
