John Simm's Honest Musical Selections: From Early Loves to Unexplained Aversions
The first tune I became enamored with
My earliest recollection is stepping into a space at nursery school where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the sonic landscape, and John Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the hook, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”
The first record I purchased
When I was eight years old, I won a competition at school to choose a new vinyl to play at the mini disco we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I picked out Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first record I bought with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was number one at the time, and I selected it when my father mentioned that it was by one of the Beatles.
The track I perform at karaoke
I honestly cannot stand public singing and steer clear at all costs. But if I had to, I’d select Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The track I oddly know every lyric to
I just became aware that I can recall virtually every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.
The perfect tune to blast at a party
It hinges on the point of the evening you are at. At the start it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the evening progresses, I’d move on to Prince, the Stones and Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an absolute banger.
The track I can no longer bear
I inexplicably detest Mr Brightside by the Killers.
The ideal song to get intimate to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The album that transformed me
When I was twelve and just learning to study the six-string, I’d only listen to early rock and roll, and was fixated on Elvis, Chuck Berry, the killer, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter brought round Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock music. As soon as he put the record on the record player, I was a fan for life.
The track that gets me up in the morning
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by The Genius.
The track that brings me to tears
All music makes me moved. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Beatles all make me cry because of the melody and pure perfection of the voices. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going without fail.
The music I’d like to be played at my funeral
Elvis. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.
