John Simm's Revealing Playlist: Starting with Childhood Loves to Peculiar Aversions
The earliest song I was captivated by
My first recollection is stepping into a room at nursery school where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was mesmerized by the sonic landscape, and Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the hook, I recall believing: “This must be music!”
The first record I bought
When I was eight, I was victorious in a competition at school to choose a new record to play at the mini disco we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I bought with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was number one at the time, and I chose it when my father pointed out that it was by a former member of the Beatles.
The song I do at karaoke
I frankly do not enjoy public singing and steer clear at all costs. But if forced, I’d choose Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The song I oddly know each line to
I just discovered that I have memorized virtually 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 song to play at a soirée
It relies on which phase of the event you are at. For the beginning it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the party deepens, I’d transition into the Artist, the Rolling 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 number I can not bear
I for some reason detest Mr Brightside by the Killers.
The ideal piece to make love to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The album that changed my life
When I was twelve and starting to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to classic rock ’n’roll, and was consumed by Elvis, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter brought round Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was electrifying rock music. Instantly after he dropped the vinyl on the turntable, I was hooked.
The track that gets me up in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.
The track that makes me cry
Virtually any music leaves me moved. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the harmony and pure beauty of the singing. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner hits me hard without fail.
The song I’d like performed at my funeral
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.
