John Simm's Revealing Musical Selections: From Early Favorites to Peculiar Dislikes
The earliest tune I fell in love with
My first recollection is walking into a space at nursery school where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was enthralled by the sonic landscape, and John Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the chorus, I recall believing: “This must be music!”
The first 45 I bought
When I was eight years old, I was victorious in a competition at school to pick a brand new record to play at the weekly dance party we had on Fridays. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I chose Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I bought with my own savings was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was No 1 at the time, and I chose it when my father noted that it was by one of the Beatles.
The tune I perform at karaoke
I honestly cannot stand karaoke and avoid it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d select Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.
The song I strangely recite every lyric to
I recently became aware that I can recall almost all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.
The ideal tune to play at a soirée
It depends 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 evening progresses, I’d transition into Prince, the Stones and Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an massive track.
The song I can no longer hear
I for some reason loathe Mr Brightside by the Killers.
The ideal song to get intimate to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The record that altered my perspective
When I was 12 and just learning to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on The King, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder played Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was high voltage rock music. The moment he dropped the vinyl on the record player, I was a fan for life.
The track that wakes me in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.
The track that brings me to tears
Most music makes me touched. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Beatles all stir my emotions because of the tune and pure beauty of the vocals. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner strikes a chord every time.
The song I’d like performed at my funeral
Elvis. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.