The Actor's Honest Musical Selections: Starting with Childhood Loves to Unexplained Dislikes
The first tune I became enamored with
My first recollection is walking into a room at preschool where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the sonic landscape, and John Lennon shouting: āFull speed ahead!ā When it reached the hook, I distinctly thought: āThis must be music!ā
The inaugural single I acquired
When I was eight, I was victorious in a competition at school to choose a new record to play at the weekly dance party we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to a local store, and I chose Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single 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 selected it when my dad mentioned that it was by one of the Beatles.
The track I perform at sing-along
I frankly do not enjoy public singing and dodge it at all costs. But under duress, Iād go with Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.
The track I inexplicably know every lyric to
I recently realised that I have memorized virtually every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.
The perfect tune to play at a party
It relies on the point of the event you are at. At the start it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the evening progresses, Iād move on to Prince, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an absolute banger.
The track I can not hear
I for some reason loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The ideal track to make love to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The album that altered my perspective
When I was 12 and starting to play the guitar, Iād only listen to classic rock ānāroll, and was fixated on 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 high voltage rock music. Instantly after he put the record on the turntable, I was captivated.
The song that wakes me in the morning
Whatād I Say in its full glory by Ray Charles.
The track that brings me to tears
Most music leaves me touched. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Fab Four all stir my emotions because of the melody and utter perfection of the singing. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going every time.
The music Iād like to be played at my funeral
Elvis. If Iām given a cremation, Iāll have Burning Love. If Iām buried, Iāll have Way Down.