John Simm's Candid Playlist: Starting with Childhood Favorites to Unexplained Aversions
The first tune I became enamored with
My first recollection is stepping into a room at nursery school where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the sonic landscape, and Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the hook, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”
The inaugural record I bought
When I was eight, I won a competition at school to choose a new record to play at the weekly dance party we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I opted for Come Back My Love by 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 No 1 at the time, and I selected it when my father pointed out that it was by a former member of the Beatles.
The song I sing at karaoke
I frankly cannot stand karaoke and avoid it at all costs. But under duress, I’d select Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.
The track I oddly remember each line to
I not long ago discovered that I know pretty much the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.
The best tune to blast at a soirée
It hinges on what stage of the party you are at. Early doors it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the evening progresses, I’d work through Prince, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an absolute banger.
The song I can never listen to
I strangely cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Killers.
The ultimate song to get intimate to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The record that transformed me
When I was 12 and beginning to play the guitar, I’d only listen to 1950s rock ’n’roll, and was obsessed with Elvis, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, 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 powerful rock ’n’roll. The moment he dropped the record on the record player, I was a fan for life.
The tune that gets me up in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by Ray Charles.
The track that brings me to tears
Most music leaves me moved. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Fab Four all stir my emotions because of the melody and pure brilliance of the voices. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going every time.
The music I’d like played at my memorial service
The King. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.
