The Actor's Honest Musical Selections: Starting with Childhood Favorites to Peculiar Dislikes

The earliest track I was captivated by
My earliest memory is stepping into a room at nursery school where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was mesmerized by the sound effects, and Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the refrain, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”

The first record I acquired
When I was eight, I was victorious in a contest at school to choose a new vinyl to play at the mini disco we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I bought with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was number one at the time, and I selected it when my father mentioned that it was by one of the Beatles.

The tune I do at karaoke
I honestly cannot stand public singing and avoid it at all costs. But if forced, I’d select Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The piece I oddly know each line to
I recently realised that I have memorized virtually every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The perfect song to play at a soirée
It hinges on which phase of the evening you are at. Early doors it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the night wears on, I’d move on to Prince, the Stones and 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 track I can no longer hear
I strangely cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The ultimate track to get intimate to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The record that transformed me
When I was twelve and beginning to play the guitar, I’d only listen to classic rock and roll, and was consumed by Elvis, Chuck Berry, the killer, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly 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 music. As soon as he put the record on the turntable, I was a fan for life.

The tune that wakes me in the morning
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by Ray Charles.

The track that gets me emotional
Most music leaves me emotional. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Fab Four all stir my emotions because of the tune and utter brilliance of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going without fail.

The track I’d like to be played at my funeral
Elvis. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.