Neil Patrick Harris: My Music
The album that Doogie wouldn’t likePropellerheads, Decksanddrumsandrockandroll
Dreamworks, 1998
I don’t even know where I first heard this album, but I was entranced by it. It makes me feel like I’m in a James Bond movie. I listen to it a lot when I’m driving. It’s hard to imagine Doogie Howser listening to the Propellerheads. He’d probably be a pretentious, Philip Glass–y kind of guy. He’d have had a major meltdown, a midlife crisis at 26. He’d be a heroin junkie.
The album that reminds me of metting Frank
Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Summit: In Concert
Artanis, 1999
I sing Rat Pack–y stuff in the shower all the time. I saw Frank at the opening of the MGM Grand. He was so old. He had big monitors with all the lyrics, and the monitor went out at one point. It was, like, “Start spreading the…What’s happening?” But I got to go back and meet him. It was like meeting the Godfather: You just hope that he doesn’t dislike you, because a hit will be taken out.
The album that makes me want to be a singer
Jason Mraz, Waiting for My Rocket to Come
Elektra, 2002
I met him at a barbecue before anyone knew who he was. His voice is just such a masterful gift. He has great vocal control. He’s so smooth. He’s the kind of person I’d like to emulate as a singer. But I watched Jennifer Love Hewitt’s music career and I realized that I should probably not follow suit. As much as the Japanese might enjoy my album, I’ll leave that to the Hasselhoffs of the world.
The album that reminds me I can’t dance
Fatboy Slim, Better Living Through Chemistry
Astralwerks, 1996
Just when you start to get bored with what Norman Cook is doing, he’ll throw in a whole other bridge or something. I think that electronica is intellectually pretty clever and he’s my favorite. But I don’t go out and dance, ever. It’s just not in me — I couldn’t be whiter. I prefer poker. The secret to being a good poker player is intimidation. On that Celebrity Poker show, I made Shannon Elizabeth cry. I felt terrible. Well, not that terrible ….
The album that makes me think about drugs
Basement Jaxx, Kish Kash
Astralwerks, 2003
The beats are great. It’s my gym CD. I was listening to this when I made Harold and Kumar. How was I so convincing as someone on Ecstasy? I’ve done that before, but strictly as research for the part. But I was stone-cold sober when I was filming the scenes, I’ll have you know! I’m not going to comment on whether I really had “every piece of ass” on Doogie Howser. But there was a lot of ass to be had — that would be a Herculean task.
The album that reminds me of puppet sex
Avenue Q, Original Broadway Cast
RCA, 2003
I’ve got to throw a little musical theater in there, and this is hilarious. It’s a Broadway show starring puppets with songs called “It Sucks to Be Me” and “You Can Be As Loud As the Hell You Want (When You’re Makin’ Love).” It’s like Sesame Street songs, but with darker material. There’s lots of graphic sex as well. I think the Ernie outs the Bert. Gary Coleman is in the show, played by a woman. It’s just funny.
The album that I play at parties
Scapegoat Wax, SWAX
Hollywood, 2002
This is one of my best friends — Marty James. There’s some rapping, a lot of samples. I’m kind of pimping him because he’s my friend, but it’s also a really strong album. It’s the kind of music I’ll play in my house when friends are over. I’m a pretty good party host. Most of my friends are actor couples. But there’s no swinging. My friends just had a baby, so now that there’s a tot in the mix, it would be … awkward.
The album that tops the White Stripes
Maroon 5, Songs About Jane
Octone/J Records, 2002
They’re cool. I saw them on SNL and they performed well. That’s the litmus test, I think, to see if you’re Ashlee Simpson or not. Out of the new rock groups they would be my favorite. I don’t like the White Stripes. It’s all kind of the same every time. I’m not up on my Stones or Beatles. Although I did have a car called Mick Jaguar. The chicks loved him. But his hips started going out. Now I have a Prius. Judas Prius.
The album that makes me cry — with laughter!
Dane Cook, Harmful If Swallowed
Comedy Central, 2003
The most hilarious stand-up CD I’ve ever heard. He’s very frenetic and goes off about Speak & Spell and the Kool-Aid man and working at Burger King. I don’t have the sense of security to do stand-up. But I do magic and help design illusions for friends. I love seeing live magic. Sawing up a woman into six pieces is pretty impressive. Well, of course, it’s easy to saw up a woman. It’s hard to put her back.
The album that I can’t stand
Clay Aiken, Merry Christmas With Love
RCA, 2004
I had such high expectations for it. He’s worked so hard to get where he is. He’s really worked in the musical trenches. What sounds sarcastic is actually kind of accurate. A Christmas album lends itself to somebody that has a nice, Barry Manilow–y kind of voice. So I was really crossing my fingers that he’d hit “O Holy Night” out of the park. And he didn’t even say the right words. I sent it to my parents. They think he’s adorable.
