John Simm's Revealing Musical Selections: Starting with Childhood Favorites to Peculiar Aversions
The first tune I fell in love with
My first recollection is stepping into a space at kindergarten where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the sonic landscape, and John Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the refrain, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”
The very first 45 I bought
When I was eight, I won a contest at school to pick a new record to play at the small dance we had on Fridays. My teacher took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by Darts. The first single I bought with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was topping the charts at the time, and I chose it when my father noted that it was by a former member of the Beatles.
The song I perform 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 inexplicably know every lyric to
I just discovered that I can recall virtually all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The ideal track to play at a soirée
It depends on what stage of the party you are at. For the beginning it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the night wears on, I’d move on to Prince, the Stones and Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an massive track.
The number I can no longer hear
I inexplicably cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The best piece to get intimate to
Come Together by the Beatles.
The record that changed my life
When I was twelve and just learning to learn the six-string, I’d only listen to 1950s rock ’n’roll, and was consumed by The King, Chuck Berry, the killer, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter brought round Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was powerful rock ’n’roll. As soon as he put the vinyl on the record player, I was hooked.
The song that gets me up in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.
The track that gets me emotional
All music leaves me touched. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Fab Four all stir my emotions because of the melody and utter perfection of the voices. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner hits me hard without fail.
The song I’d like played at my funeral
Elvis. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.
