The Actor's Revealing Musical Selections: From Early Favorites to Unexplained Aversions

The initial song I was captivated by
My most primal recollection is entering a space at kindergarten where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was captivated by the sonic landscape, and Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the refrain, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The first 45 I acquired
When I was eight, I was victorious in a contest at school to pick a new vinyl to play at the small dance we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I bought with my own savings was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was No 1 at the time, and I selected it when my father noted that it was by one of the Beatles.

The tune I do at sing-along
I candidly actively avoid karaoke and steer clear at all costs. But if I had to, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The piece I inexplicably remember every lyric to
I recently realised that I have memorized virtually the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The ideal song to blast at a party
It depends on which phase of the event 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 Prince, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an massive track.

The track I can not bear
I strangely cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The best piece to get intimate to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The album that changed my life
When I was 12 and just learning to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock and roll, and was obsessed with Elvis, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder introduced me to Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was powerful rock ’n’roll. The moment he placed the record on the record player, I was hooked.

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

The piece that makes me cry
All music makes me moved. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Beatles all make me cry because of the tune and utter perfection of the singing. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley strikes a chord consistently.

The song 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.

Luis Mathis
Luis Mathis

A tech-savvy writer passionate about workplace innovation and digital transformation, with over a decade of experience in corporate consulting.