John Simm's Revealing Musical Selections: Starting with Childhood Favorites to Unexplained Aversions
The first track I was captivated by
My first recollection is entering a room at preschool where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the audio textures, and John Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the chorus, I recall believing: “This must be music!”
The first single I purchased
When I was eight, I won a contest at school to choose a brand new vinyl to play at the weekly dance party we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I chose Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I purchased with my own allowance 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 one of the Beatles.
The track I sing at karaoke
I frankly actively avoid public singing and steer clear at all costs. But if I had to, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The piece I strangely recite each line to
I recently realised that I can recall pretty much 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 hinges on which phase of the event you are at. At the start it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the evening progresses, I’d move on to Prince, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it really kicks off, 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 never bear
I for some reason detest Mr Brightside by the Killers.
The best piece to get intimate to
Come Together by the Beatles.
The LP that transformed me
When I was twelve and starting to play the six-string, I’d only listen to early rock and roll, and was consumed by Elvis, the rock pioneer, the killer, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder brought round Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock music. As soon as he placed the vinyl on the turntable, I was a fan for life.
The track that gets me up in the morning
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by The Genius.
The track that makes me cry
All music leaves me moved. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Fab Four all stir my emotions because of the tune and utter beauty of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going consistently.
The music I’d like played at my memorial service
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.
