John Simm's Revealing Musical Selections: Starting with Childhood Favorites to Peculiar Dislikes
The first track I was captivated by
My most primal recollection is entering a room at preschool where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was enthralled by the audio textures, and Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the hook, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”
The first 45 I bought
When I was eight years old, I won a competition at school to select a brand new record to play at the weekly dance party we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I opted for Come Back My Love by Darts. The first single I purchased with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a record shop 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 tune I sing at karaoke
I candidly cannot stand karaoke and steer clear at all costs. But if I had to, I’d choose Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The track I inexplicably recite every lyric to
I just realised that I know pretty much all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The best song to play at a gathering
It depends on which phase 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 evening progresses, I’d move on to the Artist, the Stones and Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an massive track.
The song I can no longer hear
I inexplicably loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The best song to make love to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The record that transformed me
When I was twelve and beginning to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to 1950s rock and roll, and was obsessed with Elvis, Chuck Berry, the killer, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder brought round Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was electrifying rock ’n’roll. As soon as he dropped the vinyl on the record player, I was captivated.
The tune that gets me up in the AM
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by The Genius.
The song that brings me to tears
Most music makes me moved. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Beatles all bring a tear to my eye because of the melody and utter beauty of the singing. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going consistently.
The song I’d like performed at my final send-off
Elvis. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.
