The Actor's Revealing Playlist: Starting with Childhood Loves to Peculiar Dislikes

The initial track I fell in love with
My first recollection is entering a room at nursery school where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the audio textures, and Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the chorus, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The inaugural 45 I acquired
When I was eight years old, I won a contest at school to select a new vinyl to play at the weekly dance party we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to a local store, and I opted for Come Back My Love by Darts. The first single I bought with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was number one at the time, and I chose it when my dad pointed out that it was by one of the Beatles.

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

The piece I strangely remember every lyric to
I not long ago realised that I have memorized almost the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The perfect song to put on at a soirée
It hinges on the point 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 evening progresses, I’d work through Prince, 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 number I can no longer hear
I for some reason loathe Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The ideal track to have sex to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The record that changed my life
When I was 12 and just learning to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to 1950s rock ’n’roll, and was consumed by Elvis, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder played Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock ’n’roll. As soon as he placed the vinyl on the record player, I was a fan for life.

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

The song that gets me emotional
All music leaves me moved. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Beatles all stir my emotions because of the harmony and sheer beauty of the singing. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going without fail.

The song I’d like played at my memorial service
The King. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.