John Simm's Revealing Musical Selections: Starting with Childhood Loves to Peculiar Aversions
The first tune I was captivated by
My earliest recollection is stepping into a space at nursery school where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was captivated by the audio textures, and Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the chorus, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”
The first 45 I purchased
When I was eight years old, I was victorious in a contest at school to select a new vinyl to play at the mini disco we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I bought with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a record shop in Colne. It was topping the charts at the time, and I selected it when my father mentioned that it was by one of the Beatles.
The tune I do at karaoke
I candidly cannot stand karaoke and steer clear at all costs. But under duress, I’d choose Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The song I strangely know all the words to
I recently discovered that I can recall pretty much every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The best tune to blast at a gathering
It depends on what stage of the event you are at. At the start it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the night wears on, I’d move on to the Artist, the Stones and Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an massive track.
The track I can no longer listen to
I strangely loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The best piece to have sex to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The record that changed my life
When I was twelve and starting to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on Elvis, Chuck Berry, the killer, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter played Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was powerful rock ’n’roll. The moment he put the record on the record player, I was a fan for life.
The track that gets me up in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by Ray Charles.
The song that brings me to tears
All music makes me emotional. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Beatles all stir my emotions because of the harmony and sheer perfection of the voices. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley hits me hard consistently.
The track I’d like performed at my final send-off
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.
