by Johnny Depp is known as one of the most versatile and chameleonic actors in Hollywood, effortlessly transforming into a wide array of eccentric and magnetic characters on screen. But beyond his acting talents, Depp is also revered for his bold and unexpected fashion sense and his incredibly diverse musical tastes. An avid music lover since childhood, Depp has cultivated a collection of favorite songs spanning genres from classic rock, to vintage R&B, to British indie. His playlists reveal an old soul with an appreciation for raw emotion, poetic lyricism, and music crafted with care.
While Depp’s personal playlists likely run vast and deep, here are 5 key tracks that provide a glimpse into the musical sensibilities of Johnny Depp:
- “Heartbreaker” by Led Zeppelin
As a bonafide rock music fan, it’s no surprise that Johnny Depp counts the mighty Led Zeppelin among his favorite bands. Depp especially adores Zeppelin’s 1969 masterpiece “Heartbreaker,” the hard-driving opener off their iconic second album. Built on a killer Jimmy Page guitar riff, “Heartbreaker” encapsulates everything that makes Zeppelin great – ferocious energy, ace musicianship, and Robert Plant’s spellbinding vocals. Depp has called the song “one of the greatest rock and roll tunes ever written” and with its heavy blues influence and proto-metal sound, it’s a touchstone track for guitar music. The song’s raw power speaks directly to Depp’s primal love of loud guitars and rock ‘n roll abandon.
- “Strangers in the Night” by Frank Sinatra
While he built his career on playing outsiders and rebels, Johnny Depp has an appreciation for timeless crooners like Ol’ Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra. Depp included Sinatra’s silky 1966 classic “Strangers in the Night” on a playlist of his “desert island discs,” calling Sinatra “one of the great legends.” Penned by renowned songwriter Charles Singleton, “Strangers in the Night” possesses an indelible melody line and sinuous string arrangement, anchored by Sinatra’s buttery vocals. The song encapsulates Sinatra’s romantic charm and ability to infuse emotion into every lyric. Depp likely connects with the poignant loneliness expressed in the song, as well as Sinatra’s cool persona as an old-school Hollywood insider.
- “The Ballad of Lucy Jordan” by Marianne Faithfull
Beyond rock and pop standards, Johnny Depp also has a taste for haunting folk ballads and poetry put to music. One such favorite is Marianne Faithfull’s aching rendition of “The Ballad of Lucy Jordan,” originally written by poet Shel Silverstein. The song tells the tragic tale of a dissatisfied housewife who dreams of returning to her glory days as a young starlet. Faithfull’s cracked, knowing vocals imbue the song with great pathos and intimacy, conveying the sadness and isolation of the story’s protagonist. Depp has praised Faithfull’s version of the ballad, saying it packs a harrowing emotional punch. The character study and quiet melancholy of “Lucy Jordan” resonates with the dark and sensitive aspects of Depp’s persona.
- “Cosmic Dancer” by T. Rex
As a child of the 70s, Johnny Depp holds affection for the music and larger-than-life personalities that defined the glam rock era. One such favored artist is T. Rex frontman Marc Bolan, whose flamboyant persona and proto-punk guitar riffs helped pioneer the glam style. Depp is particularly fond of T. Rex’s hit “Cosmic Dancer” off the Electric Warrior album, calling it “one of the greatest songs ever written.” The song’s catchy acoustic guitar and strings bring lightness to Bolan’s poetic lyrics musing on self-discovery. For Depp, “Cosmic Dancer” taps into glam’s ethos of reveling in your identity and creative self-expression – a mantra that has defined his artistic career.
- “I Wanna Be Adored” by The Stone Roses
Rounding out Depp’s musical interests is his affinity for alternative rock and UK indie bands. A seminal group that Depp admires is Manchester’s The Stone Roses, named for his daughter Lily-Rose. He’s called their landmark eponymous debut “close to perfect,” and has said the swaggering opener “I Wanna Be Adored” is his favorite track. With churning bass, acid house-inspired drums, and Ian Brown’s cool vocals, “I Wanna Be Adored” became an indie-dancefloor anthem and the rallying cry for The Stone Roses’ generation. Depp likely connects with the youthful cockiness and anti-establishment attitude encoded in this indie classic.
There you have it – a survey of Johnny Depp’s multifaceted musical tastes, spanning classic rock gods, vintage crooners, poetic folk ballads, glam rock eccentrics, and seminal indie bands. His personal playlists shine a light on both his rebellious spirit and his old soul romanticism. Depp appreciates music crafted with raw passion and off-the-beaten-path artistic vision – qualities that he similarly brings to his unconventional acting roles. Musical legends like Zeppelin, Sinatra, Marianne Faithfull, T. Rex, and The Stone Roses have soundtracked Depp’s artistic sensibilities and left an indelible influence on one of Hollywood’s true originals.
