John Simm's Revealing Playlist: From Early Favorites to Peculiar Aversions
The initial tune I was captivated by
My earliest memory is entering a space at kindergarten where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the audio textures, and John Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the chorus, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”
The very first record I acquired
When I was eight, I was victorious in a contest at school to pick a brand 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 purchased with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a music store in Colne. It was topping the charts at the time, and I chose it when my dad noted that it was by a former member of the Beatles.
The song I do at karaoke
I candidly do not enjoy karaoke and dodge it at all costs. But under duress, I’d select Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The song I inexplicably know each line to
I just became aware that I can recall pretty much the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The perfect tune to play at a gathering
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 work through Prince, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an absolute banger.
The song I can no longer listen to
I inexplicably loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The ideal piece to make love to
Come Together by the Beatles.
The LP that changed my life
When I was twelve and starting to play the six-string, I’d only listen to 1950s rock and roll, and was obsessed with Elvis, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder played Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock ’n’roll. Instantly after he put the record on the turntable, I was hooked.
The track that gets me up in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.
The piece that gets me emotional
Most music leaves me touched. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Beatles all make me cry because of the melody and pure brilliance of the vocals. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner strikes a chord every time.
The track I’d like to be played at my final send-off
The King. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.
