John Simm's Honest Playlist: From Early Loves to Unexplained Aversions
The earliest tune I became enamored with
My most primal recollection is stepping into a room at nursery school where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the audio textures, and Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the refrain, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”
The very first record I bought
When I was eight, I won a competition at school to pick a brand new record to play at the mini disco we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I picked out Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I bought with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Colne. It was No 1 at the time, and I chose it when my dad noted that it was by one of the Beatles.
The song I perform at sing-along
I frankly do not enjoy public singing and avoid it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d select Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.
The piece I strangely remember every lyric to
I not long ago became aware that I have memorized almost all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.
The best track to put on at a gathering
It hinges on the point of the evening you are at. At the start it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the night wears on, I’d work through the Artist, the Stones and Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an absolute banger.
The number I can not listen to
I strangely detest Mr Brightside by the Killers.
The ultimate song to have sex 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 early rock and roll, and was fixated on Elvis, Chuck Berry, the killer, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder played Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was electrifying rock music. The moment he put the record on the record player, I was captivated.
The song that wakes me in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.
The song that makes me cry
Most music makes me emotional. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the harmony and sheer brilliance of the voices. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner hits me hard consistently.
The music I’d like performed at my final send-off
Elvis. 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.
