The Actor's Revealing Musical Selections: Starting with Childhood Favorites to Peculiar Aversions
The initial track I was captivated by
My first recollection is stepping into a space at preschool where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was captivated by the sound effects, and Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the chorus, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”
The first single I purchased
When I was eight years old, I won a competition at school to pick a new record to play at the weekly dance party we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to a local store, and I opted for Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record 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 noted that it was by one of the Beatles.
The track I perform at sing-along
I candidly cannot stand public singing and dodge it at all costs. But if forced, I’d select Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.
The piece I oddly know all the words to
I not long ago discovered that I know pretty much every word 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 play at a gathering
It depends on which phase of the event you are at. For the beginning it would probably 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 David 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 massive track.
The number I can never listen to
I for some reason cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The ultimate song to make love to
Come Together by the Beatles.
The record that transformed me
When I was twelve and just learning to play the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock and roll, and was obsessed with The King, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter brought round 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 placed the vinyl on the record player, I was hooked.
The song that wakes me in the AM
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by The Genius.
The song that makes me cry
All music leaves me touched. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Beatles all stir my emotions because of the tune and pure brilliance of the voices. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner hits me hard every time.
The track I’d like performed at my memorial service
Elvis. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.
