The Actor's Revealing Playlist: Starting with Childhood Loves to Peculiar Aversions

The first track I fell in love with
My earliest memory is stepping into a room at nursery school where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was captivated by the sonic landscape, and Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the chorus, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”

The very first single I bought
When I was eight years old, I was victorious in a competition at school to pick a new vinyl to play at the small dance we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I opted for Come Back My Love by Darts. The first single I purchased with my own pocket money 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 tune I perform at karaoke
I honestly actively avoid karaoke and dodge it at all costs. But if forced, I’d select Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The track I strangely remember each line to
I recently discovered that I know almost every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The best track to put on at a soirée
It hinges on which phase of the evening you are at. For the beginning it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the evening progresses, I’d transition into Prince, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an undeniable hit.

The number I can no longer hear
I inexplicably loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

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

The album that changed my life
When I was 12 and beginning to play the six-string, I’d only listen to classic rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on The King, the rock pioneer, the killer, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter brought round Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was powerful rock ’n’roll. Instantly after he put the vinyl on the record player, I was hooked.

The tune that wakes me in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by Ray Charles.

The track that brings me to tears
Virtually any music makes me emotional. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the tune and pure perfection of the singing. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going without fail.

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

Katherine Weaver
Katherine Weaver

Aria is a fashion stylist and blogger passionate about luxury accessories and sustainable fashion trends.