The Actor's Revealing Playlist: Starting with Childhood Favorites to Unexplained Aversions
The earliest track I fell in love with
My first recollection is entering a space at kindergarten where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was enthralled by the sonic landscape, and Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the refrain, I recall believing: “This must be music!”
The inaugural record I purchased
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 Fridays. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I opted for Come Back My Love by Darts. The first single I bought with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was topping the charts at the time, and I selected it when my father pointed out that it was by a former member of the Beatles.
The track I perform at sing-along
I candidly cannot stand karaoke and dodge it at all costs. But under duress, I’d choose Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The song I oddly remember all the words to
I recently became aware that I can recall almost all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The ideal track to play at a gathering
It hinges on the point of the event you are at. At the start it would most likely 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 hits its peak, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an undeniable hit.
The track I can no longer bear
I inexplicably cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The best song to have sex to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The LP that changed my life
When I was twelve and just learning to play the six-string, I’d only listen to 1950s rock and roll, and was obsessed with Elvis, the rock pioneer, the killer, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter brought round Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was electrifying rock music. Instantly after he dropped the record on the turntable, I was captivated.
The tune that gets me up in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.
The song that brings me to tears
Most music makes me moved. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Beatles all stir my emotions because of the harmony and sheer beauty of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley strikes a chord consistently.
The music I’d like performed at my funeral
The King. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.
