The Actor's Honest Playlist: From Early Favorites to Peculiar Aversions
The first tune I became enamored with
My first recollection is walking into a room at kindergarten where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the sonic landscape, and Lennon shouting: āFull speed ahead!ā When it arrived at the chorus, I remember thinking: āThis must be music!ā
The inaugural record I bought
When I was eight, I was victorious in a contest at school to choose a brand new record to play at the mini disco we had on Fridays. My teacher took me to a local store, and I chose Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I purchased with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was number one at the time, and I selected it when my father mentioned that it was by a former member of the Beatles.
The song I sing at sing-along
I honestly cannot stand karaoke and dodge it at all costs. But under duress, Iād go with Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.
The track I oddly know every lyric to
I just became aware that I can recall almost all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.
The best tune to blast at a soirƩe
It depends 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 evening progresses, Iād work through the Artist, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an massive track.
The song I can no longer bear
I for some reason cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The ideal track to have sex to
Come Together by the Beatles.
The record that changed my life
When I was twelve and just learning to play the guitar, Iād only listen to early rock and roll, and was fixated on Elvis, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder introduced me to Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still rockānāroll, but it was powerful rock ānāroll. Instantly after he dropped the vinyl on the turntable, I was captivated.
The song that gets me up in the AM
Whatād I Say in its full glory by The Genius.
The track that gets me emotional
Virtually any music leaves me moved. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Beatles all stir my emotions because of the melody and sheer perfection of the singing. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley hits me hard without fail.
The track Iād like performed at my memorial service
Elvis. If Iām given a cremation, Iāll have Burning Love. If Iām laid to rest in the ground, Iāll have Way Down.