The Actor's Honest Playlist: Starting with Childhood Favorites to Peculiar Aversions

The earliest song I fell in love with
My first recollection is stepping into a space at nursery school where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the sound effects, and Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the hook, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The very first 45 I bought
When I was eight, I was victorious in a contest at school to select a brand new record to play at the mini disco we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I opted for Come Back My Love by the group 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 pointed out that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The tune I sing at karaoke
I honestly cannot stand public singing and avoid it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The track I inexplicably remember every lyric to
I not long ago realised that I can recall almost all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The ideal tune to play at a gathering
It depends on which phase of the party you are at. For the beginning it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the party deepens, I’d work through the Artist, the Rolling Stones and Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an absolute banger.

The number I can no longer listen to
I strangely detest Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The ideal track to get intimate to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The LP that changed my life
When I was twelve and starting to study the six-string, I’d only listen to early rock and roll, and was obsessed with The King, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter played Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was high voltage rock music. As soon as he dropped the vinyl on the turntable, I was captivated.

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

The piece that brings me to tears
Virtually any music makes me touched. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Beatles all stir my emotions because of the harmony and sheer perfection of the vocals. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner strikes a chord without fail.

The music I’d like performed at my memorial service
Elvis. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.

Connor Chapman
Connor Chapman

A passionate gaming journalist with over a decade of experience covering slot machines and casino trends across the UK.