The Actor's Revealing Musical Selections: From Early Loves to Peculiar Aversions

The first tune I fell in love with
My earliest recollection is stepping into a room at kindergarten where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the sonic landscape, and Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the chorus, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The very first single I acquired
When I was eight years old, I won a contest at school to pick a brand new vinyl to play at the weekly dance party we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by Darts. The first single I bought with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Colne. It was topping the charts at the time, and I chose it when my father noted that it was by one of the Beatles.

The song I do at karaoke
I honestly do not enjoy public singing and steer clear at all costs. But under duress, I’d go with Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The piece I strangely know every lyric to
I not long ago discovered that I know almost all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The ideal tune to play at a gathering
It relies on which phase of the evening you are at. For the beginning it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the party deepens, I’d move on to Prince, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an undeniable hit.

The track I can not listen to
I inexplicably detest Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The best track to have sex to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The album that changed my life
When I was twelve and beginning to play the guitar, I’d only listen to classic rock and roll, and was obsessed with Elvis, Chuck Berry, the killer, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter played Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was electrifying rock ’n’roll. The moment he placed the vinyl on the turntable, I was captivated.

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

The track that makes me cry
Virtually any music makes me emotional. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Fab Four all bring a tear to my eye because of the melody and pure brilliance of the singing. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner strikes a chord every time.

The track I’d like played at my funeral
Elvis. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.