The Actor's Revealing Playlist: Starting with Childhood Favorites to Unexplained Dislikes
The earliest tune I was captivated by
My first recollection is walking into a space at nursery school where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was enthralled by the audio textures, and John Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the chorus, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”
The inaugural record I purchased
When I was eight years old, I won a contest at school to pick a new record to play at the weekly dance party we had on Fridays. My teacher took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I purchased 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 chose it when my father mentioned that it was by one of the Beatles.
The track I sing at sing-along
I honestly actively avoid 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 every lyric to
I not long ago discovered that I know almost the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.
The ideal track to put on at a gathering
It hinges on the point of the evening 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 Stones and Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an undeniable hit.
The number I can no longer hear
I inexplicably cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The ideal track to make love to
Come Together by the Beatles.
The LP that changed my life
When I was twelve and just learning to learn the six-string, I’d only listen to 1950s rock ’n’roll, and was consumed by The King, the rock pioneer, the killer, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter played Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock ’n’roll. As soon as he put the record on the turntable, I was captivated.
The song that gets me up in the morning
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by The Genius.
The song that gets me emotional
Most music leaves me touched. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Fab Four all stir my emotions because of the tune and pure perfection of the singing. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner strikes a chord every time.
The music I’d like played at my memorial service
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.
