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

The initial track I became enamored with
My first memory is stepping into a space at preschool where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was mesmerized by the audio textures, and Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the chorus, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The very first 45 I purchased
When I was eight years old, I won a competition at school to select a brand new record to play at the weekly dance party we had on Fridays. My teacher took me to a local store, and I chose Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single I purchased with my own pocket money 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 chose it when my father mentioned that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The track I do at karaoke
I candidly cannot stand public singing and avoid it at all costs. But under duress, I’d choose Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The piece I strangely know all the words to
I just realised that I can recall virtually all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The ideal tune to put on at a gathering
It depends on what stage of the party you are at. For the beginning it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the evening progresses, 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 Gorillaz, which is an undeniable hit.

The song I can no longer bear
I strangely loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The best piece to make love to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The record that transformed me
When I was 12 and starting to learn the six-string, I’d only listen to early rock ’n’roll, and was obsessed with The King, the rock pioneer, the killer, 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 rock’n’roll, but it was electrifying rock ’n’roll. Instantly after he placed the vinyl on the record player, I was a fan for life.

The tune that motivates me in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.

The track that makes me cry
All music makes me emotional. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Beatles all stir my emotions because of the tune and pure brilliance of the singing. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner hits me hard without fail.

The music I’d like played at my final send-off
Elvis. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.