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

The initial track I fell in love with
My first recollection is walking into a space at nursery school where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was enthralled by the sonic landscape, and John Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the chorus, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The inaugural 45 I acquired
When I was eight, I was victorious in a competition at school to select 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 Darts. The first record I bought with my own savings was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was topping the charts at the time, and I selected it when my dad noted that it was by one of the Beatles.

The song I do at karaoke
I candidly cannot stand karaoke and dodge it at all costs. But if forced, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The piece I oddly recite every lyric to
I not long ago realised that I have memorized almost every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The best song to put on at a gathering
It relies on the point of the event you are at. At the start it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the night wears on, I’d work through the Artist, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an absolute banger.

The number I can never listen to
I inexplicably cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The ultimate track to get intimate to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The album that changed my life
When I was twelve and starting to play the six-string, I’d only listen to 1950s rock and roll, and was consumed by The King, 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 the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was high voltage rock music. Instantly after he put the vinyl on the record player, I was captivated.

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

The track that makes me cry
Most music makes me moved. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Beatles all bring a tear to my eye because of the tune and utter brilliance of the singing. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner hits me hard without fail.

The music I’d like played at my final send-off
Elvis. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.

Bradley Lee
Bradley Lee

A tech enthusiast and cybersecurity analyst with over a decade of experience in digital innovation and web development.