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

The first song I fell in love with
My earliest memory is entering a space at kindergarten where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was captivated by the sound effects, and Lennon yelling: ā€œFull speed ahead!ā€ When it arrived at the hook, I recall believing: ā€œThis must be music!ā€

The inaugural 45 I bought
When I was eight, I was victorious in a competition at school to choose a new record to play at the small dance we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I opted for Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single I bought with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a music store in Colne. It was topping the charts at the time, and I selected it when my dad mentioned that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The track I do at sing-along
I honestly actively avoid public singing and avoid it at all costs. But if forced, I’d choose Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The piece I inexplicably know all the words to
I recently realised that I have memorized pretty much every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The perfect song to blast at a gathering
It relies on the point 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 Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an absolute banger.

The number I can never listen to
I inexplicably cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The ideal piece to make love to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The LP that altered my perspective
When I was twelve and just learning to play the six-string, I’d only listen to classic rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on Elvis, the rock pioneer, the killer, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder introduced me to Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock ’n’roll. Instantly after he put the record on the turntable, I was hooked.

The track that wakes me in the morning
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by The Genius.

The piece that makes me cry
Virtually any music makes me touched. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Beatles all stir my emotions because of the melody and sheer brilliance of the vocals. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner gets me going consistently.

The song I’d like performed at my final send-off
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.

Shawna Stewart
Shawna Stewart

A seasoned lifestyle journalist with over a decade of experience covering luxury trends and exclusive events across Europe.

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