The Actor's Candid Playlist: From Early Loves to Peculiar Dislikes

The first song I became enamored with
My earliest memory is stepping into a room at preschool where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was enthralled by the audio textures, and Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the chorus, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The very first 45 I purchased
When I was eight years old, I was victorious in a contest at school to select a new record to play at the mini disco we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I bought with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was No 1 at the time, and I chose it when my father mentioned that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The tune I perform at sing-along
I candidly cannot stand karaoke and dodge it at all costs. But under duress, I’d select Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The piece I inexplicably know all the words to
I not long ago realised that I can recall almost all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The perfect tune to blast at a soirée
It hinges on what stage of the party you are at. Early doors it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the evening progresses, I’d move on to the Artist, the Rolling Stones and Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an massive track.

The song I can no longer bear
I inexplicably cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

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

The record that altered my perspective
When I was 12 and starting to play the six-string, I’d only listen to classic rock and roll, and was obsessed with 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 guitar music, but it was electrifying rock ’n’roll. Instantly after he dropped the vinyl on the record player, I was captivated.

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

The song that gets me emotional
Virtually any music leaves me emotional. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Fab Four all stir my emotions because of the tune and utter brilliance of the vocals. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner hits me hard consistently.

The song I’d like played at my funeral
Elvis. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.

Christine Hess
Christine Hess

Elara Vance is a tech journalist and digital strategist with over a decade of experience covering emerging technologies and their impact on society.

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