The Actor's Revealing Musical Selections: Starting with Childhood Favorites to Peculiar Aversions

The initial track I was captivated by
My earliest recollection is walking into a room at kindergarten where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the sonic landscape, and John Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the chorus, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The inaugural 45 I acquired
When I was eight, I won a competition at school to select a brand new vinyl to play at the small dance we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single I purchased with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was topping the charts at the time, and I selected it when my father pointed out that it was by one of the Beatles.

The tune I perform at karaoke
I honestly do not enjoy public singing and avoid it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d go with Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The track I oddly remember all the words to
I recently realised that I can recall virtually the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

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

The song I can never bear
I strangely detest Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The best piece to make love to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The album that changed my life
When I was twelve and starting to play the six-string, I’d only listen to early rock and roll, and was consumed by The King, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter brought round Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was high voltage rock music. Instantly after he dropped the vinyl on the turntable, I was hooked.

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

The track that gets me emotional
Most music makes me touched. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Beatles all make me cry because of the melody and sheer beauty of the vocals. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner gets me going consistently.

The music I’d like performed at my memorial service
The King. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.

Mr. Robert Skinner MD
Mr. Robert Skinner MD

A textile engineer with over a decade of experience in sustainable fabric development and industry consulting.