Jason Sudeikis Reveals His Top Five All-Time Favourite Tracks
Jason Sudeikis has unveiled his five all-time favourite songs, offering a surprising blend of genres that have brought him the most joy throughout his life.
Fans of Ted Lasso will be well aware that the series is not only celebrated for its sharp comedic performances from Jason Sudeikis, Brett Goldstein, and Hannah Waddingham, but also for its carefully curated soundtrack. The musical choices throughout the show’s three series are a cut above the usual, with selections ranging from George Harrison’s ‘Beware of Darkness’ to tracks by Nick Cave, Michael Kiwanuka, Primal Scream, and Spiritualized. The person responsible for this musical flair is likely Marcus Mumford, who not only composed the show’s theme but also oversees its musical direction. Yet, with Sudeikis at the helm of the production company Ruby’s Tuna Inc., it’s tempting to think he’s had a hand in shaping the show’s distinctive sound.
Sudeikis, known for his role as the moustachioed coach and for his stint on Saturday Night Live, has openly discussed how music has influenced his creative process. He has cited the Foo Fighters’ ‘My Hero’ as a source of inspiration for the second series of Ted Lasso, and has even appeared in music videos for both Dave Grohl’s band and Mumford and Sons’ ‘Hopeless Wanderer’.
Eclectic Choices: From Country to Musical Theatre
When asked by US radio station KCRW to name his favourite songs of all time, Sudeikis offered a list that spans a variety of genres. He began with Steve Earle’s ‘Guitar Town’, describing it as a karaoke staple:
“This is a song that I will, on occasion and have recently, sing at karaoke, it’s just a good two and a half minute karaoke song… When you hear a good song and you don’t know it but then someone sings it well at karaoke, it’s as good as anything because you’re actually in the room.”
He then shifted gears entirely, selecting ‘Heaven On Their Minds’ from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar, performed by Murray Head. Sudeikis explained:
“This is my favourite version, this is from the concept album (Jesus Christ Superstar) from 1970 and it’s sung by Murray Head. This is also, again, another song I would do at karaoke and mean every word from it in an attempt to be as tortured as Judas is during this song.”
Hip-Hop and Jazz: Unexpected Influences
Third on his list was ‘Gangsta Gangsta’ by N.W.A., a track from their 1989 album Straight Outta Compton. Sudeikis recalled:
“This album, one of my dear friends Terry, his older brother Brian had it, and the language and content was so foreign to us, that we just fell in love with it, so I wrote out all the lyrics.”
He followed this with Harry Connick Jr’s rendition of ‘The Bare Necessities’, noting:
“It’s got a sense of humour, it’s got the swagger that I still love about Harry Connick Jr. The song’s just got a lot of soul to begin with, and he just puts a little more on it.”
Personal Reflections and Musical Milestones
To round off his selection, Sudeikis chose ‘Evaporated’ by Ben Folds Five. He shared:
“I feel like Ben Folds, I’ve referred to him in the past few years as like being a musical older brother. This song, this was right before I moved to Chicago before I decided to become an actor. It represents a culmination of all these other four songs to me.”
Jason Sudeikis’ five favourite songs are: ‘Guitar Town’ by Steve Earle, ‘Heaven On Their Minds’ by Andrew Lloyd Webber (sung by Murray Head), ‘Gangsta Gangsta’ by N.W.A., ‘The Bare Necessities’ by Harry Connick Jr, and ‘Evaporated’ by Ben Folds Five.