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

The first track I fell in love with
My earliest memory is entering a room at kindergarten where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was enthralled by the sonic landscape, and Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the refrain, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The inaugural single I acquired
When I was eight, I was victorious in a competition at school to select a new vinyl 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 Darts. The first single I bought 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 noted that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The song I sing at karaoke
I candidly actively avoid karaoke and steer clear at all costs. But if forced, I’d select Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The song I oddly remember every lyric to
I just became aware that I know pretty much every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The ideal tune to play at a party
It relies on the point of the evening you are at. For the beginning it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the evening progresses, I’d move on to Prince, the Rolling Stones and Bowie, and when it gets lively, 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 detest 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 twelve and starting to play the guitar, I’d only listen to classic rock and roll, and was obsessed with The King, the rock pioneer, the killer, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter introduced me to Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock music. The moment he placed the vinyl on the turntable, I was hooked.

The track that gets me up in the AM
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by Ray Charles.

The track that gets me emotional
Virtually any music leaves me emotional. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Fab Four all bring a tear to my eye because of the harmony and utter brilliance of the voices. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner gets me going consistently.

The track I’d like performed at my funeral
Elvis. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.

Ruth Davis
Ruth Davis

A digital artist and designer with over 8 years of experience specializing in vector graphics and creative visual storytelling.