The Actor's Honest Musical Selections: From Early Loves to Unexplained Aversions

The earliest song I became enamored with
My first memory is entering a space at preschool where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was captivated by the sonic landscape, and Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the chorus, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The inaugural single I bought
When I was eight, I won a competition at school to pick a brand new record to play at the weekly dance party we had on Fridays. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I picked out Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first record I bought with my own savings was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a music store in Colne. It was number one at the time, and I selected it when my father mentioned that it was by one of the Beatles.

The track I do at karaoke
I candidly cannot stand public singing and steer clear at all costs. But if I had to, I’d select Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The song I strangely recite every lyric to
I recently realised that I know 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 ideal song to blast at a gathering
It hinges on which phase 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 party deepens, I’d transition into Prince, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an absolute banger.

The number I can no longer hear
I strangely loathe Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The ideal track to make love to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The album that altered my perspective
When I was twelve and beginning to play the six-string, I’d only listen to 1950s rock and roll, and was fixated on The King, the rock pioneer, the killer, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder brought round Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was powerful rock ’n’roll. The moment he put the vinyl on the turntable, I was a fan for life.

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

The track that brings me to tears
All music leaves me emotional. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Fab Four all bring a tear to my eye because of the harmony and utter brilliance of the vocals. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner strikes a chord without fail.

The music I’d like played at my funeral
The King. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.

Cassidy Miller
Cassidy Miller

A tech enthusiast and reviewer with over a decade of experience, specializing in consumer electronics and emerging technologies.