John Simm's Revealing Musical Selections: Starting with Childhood Loves to Unexplained Dislikes
The initial track I fell in love with
My most primal memory is walking into a room at nursery school where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the sonic landscape, and John Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the chorus, I recall believing: “This must be music!”
The very first 45 I bought
When I was eight years old, I was victorious in a competition at school to pick a new record to play at the mini disco we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I opted for Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single I bought with my own savings was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was number one at the time, and I chose it when my dad mentioned that it was by a former member of the Beatles.
The track I sing at sing-along
I frankly do not enjoy karaoke and avoid it at all costs. But if forced, I’d choose Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The song I oddly know each line to
I not long ago realised that I know virtually every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The perfect song to play at a gathering
It relies on the point of the event you are at. For the beginning it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the party deepens, I’d move on to Prince, the Rolling Stones and Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an undeniable hit.
The song I can never hear
I strangely cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Killers.
The best piece to have sex to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The album that transformed me
When I was twelve and beginning to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock and roll, and was obsessed with Elvis, the rock pioneer, the killer, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder introduced me to Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was powerful rock music. As soon as he dropped the record on the record player, I was a fan for life.
The song that wakes me in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by Ray Charles.
The song that gets me emotional
Virtually any music leaves me emotional. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the melody and pure perfection of the voices. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner hits me hard without fail.
The track I’d like played at my funeral
The King. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.
