John Simm's Honest Musical Selections: Starting with Childhood Loves to Peculiar Dislikes
The earliest track I was captivated by
My first memory is stepping into a space at preschool where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was captivated by the sonic landscape, and Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached 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 small dance 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 allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was number one at the time, and I selected it when my father noted that it was by one of the Beatles.
The track I sing at sing-along
I candidly actively avoid karaoke and avoid it at all costs. But if forced, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The song I oddly recite every lyric to
I recently became aware that I have memorized pretty much the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The ideal tune to blast at a soirée
It relies on which phase of the event you are at. At the start it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the party deepens, I’d move on to the Artist, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an undeniable hit.
The song I can not bear
I inexplicably cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The ideal song to make love to
Come Together by the Beatles.
The LP that changed my life
When I was twelve and beginning to study the guitar, I’d only listen to classic rock and roll, and was obsessed with The King, the rock pioneer, the killer, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter played Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was high voltage rock music. As soon as he placed the vinyl on the record player, I was a fan for life.
The track that gets me up in the AM
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by Ray Charles.
The song that makes me cry
Virtually any music leaves me touched. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the melody and pure beauty of the voices. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley hits me hard consistently.
The music I’d like to be played at my final send-off
Elvis. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.
