John Simm's Candid Playlist: Starting with Childhood Loves to Unexplained Aversions
The first song I became enamored with
My earliest memory is walking into a room at nursery school where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the sonic landscape, and Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the refrain, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”
The inaugural record I bought
When I was eight years old, I won a competition at school to choose a new record to play at the weekly dance party we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first record I purchased 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 selected it when my father pointed out that it was by a former member of the Beatles.
The tune I sing at karaoke
I honestly actively avoid karaoke and steer clear at all costs. But if forced, I’d go with Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.
The piece I strangely know every lyric to
I recently realised that I know pretty much all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.
The perfect song to blast at a soirée
It depends on what stage of the evening you are at. For the beginning it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the night wears on, I’d transition into Prince, the Rolling Stones and Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an massive track.
The number I can never bear
I for some reason detest Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The ideal song to make love to
Come Together by the Beatles.
The record that transformed me
When I was twelve and just learning to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock and roll, and was fixated on The King, Chuck Berry, the killer, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter introduced me to Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was electrifying rock music. As soon as he dropped the vinyl on the turntable, I was hooked.
The track that gets me up in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by Ray Charles.
The piece that gets me emotional
All music leaves me touched. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the harmony and sheer beauty of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going without fail.
The song I’d like played at my memorial service
Elvis. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.
