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

The first tune I fell in love with
My earliest memory is stepping into a room at preschool where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was enthralled by the sonic landscape, and Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the hook, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”

The first 45 I acquired
When I was eight years old, I won a competition at school to choose a new record to play at the small dance we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to Woolworths, 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 Lancashire. It was number one at the time, and I selected it when my dad mentioned that it was by one of the Beatles.

The tune I perform at sing-along
I frankly actively avoid public singing and steer clear at all costs. But if forced, I’d choose Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The track I inexplicably remember every lyric to
I just became aware that I know virtually the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The ideal tune to play at a party
It relies on which phase of the event you are at. Early doors it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the night wears on, I’d work through the Artist, the Stones and Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an undeniable hit.

The song I can never listen to
I strangely cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The ideal song to make love to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The album that transformed me
When I was 12 and beginning to study the six-string, I’d only listen to classic rock ’n’roll, and was consumed by The King, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder played Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was electrifying rock music. Instantly after he placed the record on the record player, I was a fan for life.

The track that wakes me in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by Ray Charles.

The piece that makes me cry
All music makes me touched. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the tune and pure brilliance of the singing. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley hits me hard every time.

The music I’d like performed at my memorial service
Elvis. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.