The Actor's Candid Playlist: From Early Loves to Unexplained Aversions
The first tune I was captivated by
My first memory is walking into a space at nursery school where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was enthralled by the audio textures, and John Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the hook, I recall believing: “This must be music!”
The first record I bought
When I was eight, I won a competition at school to pick a brand new record to play at the weekly dance party we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first record I bought with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was number one at the time, and I chose it when my dad noted that it was by a former member of the Beatles.
The song I do at sing-along
I candidly do not enjoy public singing and avoid it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d select Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.
The piece I inexplicably remember every lyric to
I just realised that I know almost the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The perfect tune to blast at a gathering
It hinges on which phase 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 night wears on, I’d work through Prince, 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 the virtual band, which is an absolute banger.
The number I can not listen to
I for some reason cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The ultimate track to have sex to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The record that altered my perspective
When I was 12 and starting to learn the six-string, I’d only listen to early rock and roll, and was obsessed with Elvis, the rock pioneer, the killer, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder brought round Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was electrifying rock ’n’roll. As soon as 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 song that brings me to tears
All music makes me touched. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Fab Four all stir my emotions because of the harmony and utter beauty of the vocals. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner strikes a chord consistently.
The song I’d like to be played at my memorial service
The King. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.
