Eddie Marsan, the actor known for his roles in Happy-Go-Lucky and Ray Donovan, reveals the songs that have shaped his life, from childhood memories to the tracks that move him to tears.
The First Song I Fell in Love With
Marsan recalls hearing George Harrison's My Sweet Lord as a little boy while on holiday in a caravan on the Isle of Sheppey. 'It’s about searching for God,' he says, 'and I’ve always thought the way it moves from Hallelujah to Hare Krishna is really beautiful.'
The First Single I Bought
His first purchase was Rick James' Big Time from Paul's Music on London's Cambridge Heath Road. 'Even at a young age, I liked my funk,' he admits. 'I’ve only been addicted to two things in life – funk and praise.'
The Song I Can No Longer Listen To
Marsan harbours a strong aversion to Les Misérables, which was popular at drama school. 'I’d come from being an apprentice printer, and there were all these blokes with rollnecks, hair tied back, singing about Javert. I thought: I can’t stand it. Out of everything, Les Mis pisses me off the most.'
The Best Song to Play at a Party
For parties, he chooses Candy by Cameo because 'it’s a funky line dance. Even if you can’t dance, you can just follow the person next to you.'
The Song I Do at Karaoke
His karaoke go-to is Etta James' I Just Want to Make Love to You. 'You’re probably pissed by that time of night, so you can sing or shout it and you’ll be all right.'
The Song I Secretly Like But Tell Everyone I Hate
Despite trying to avoid being a 'caricatured cockney', Marsan confesses a love for Chas & Dave's Ain’t No Pleasing You, calling it 'one of the best British songs of the last 50 years.'
The Song I Inexplicably Know Every Lyric To
He has known every word of Elvis Presley's Guitar Man since childhood, even though 'the syntax is really fast.'
The Best Song to Have Sex To
Marsan suggests anything by Billie Holiday, but warns: 'If my wife starts playing Strange Fruit, I’ve got something to worry about.'
The Song That Changed My Life
James Brown's Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine helped him overcome insecurity. 'I could escape my own insecurities by dancing,' he says.
The Song That Gets Me Up in the Morning
Charles Aznavour's For Me… Formidable makes him 'feel cultured while making morning coffee.'
The Song That Makes Me Cry
After the birth of his first child, Eric Clapton's Tears in Heaven—written after the death of Clapton's son—took on new meaning. 'When you have a new baby, you’re filled with all these new emotions. I never realised the significance of that song until that moment.'
The Song I’d Like Played at My Funeral
Marsan chooses Tony Bennett and the Count Basie Orchestra's Are You Havin’ Any Fun?
Marsan's new film No Ordinary Heist is on Now and Sky Cinema on 27 June.
