The Actor's Revealing Playlist: Starting with Childhood Favorites to Peculiar Dislikes
The earliest song I became enamored with
My earliest memory is entering a space at preschool where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was enthralled by the sonic landscape, and John Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the refrain, I recall believing: “This must be music!”
The inaugural record I purchased
When I was eight years old, I won a competition at school to choose a brand new vinyl to play at the mini disco we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I chose Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first record I purchased with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was No 1 at the time, and I selected it when my father noted that it was by one of the Beatles.
The track I sing at karaoke
I frankly do not enjoy karaoke and dodge it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d choose Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The piece I strangely recite every lyric to
I recently realised that I know pretty much every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.
The ideal tune to play at a party
It relies on what stage of the event you are at. At the start it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the evening progresses, I’d work through Prince, the Rolling Stones and Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an massive track.
The song I can never bear
I for some reason loathe Mr Brightside by the Killers.
The ultimate piece to make love to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The LP that transformed me
When I was twelve and beginning to study the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock and roll, and was consumed by The King, Chuck Berry, the killer, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter introduced me to Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock ’n’roll. The moment he placed the vinyl on the turntable, I was captivated.
The song that wakes me in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by Ray Charles.
The piece that makes me cry
Most music makes me moved. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the tune and utter beauty of the singing. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley strikes a chord without fail.
The song I’d like to be played at my final send-off
The King. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.
