John Simm's Honest Playlist: Starting with Childhood Favorites to Peculiar Dislikes
The earliest tune I was captivated by
My most primal recollection is entering a room at kindergarten where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was enthralled by the sonic landscape, and John Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the refrain, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”
The very first single I acquired
When I was eight years old, I was victorious in a competition at school to select a brand new record to play at the small dance we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I picked out Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single I purchased with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Colne. It was topping the charts at the time, and I selected it when my dad noted that it was by a former member of the Beatles.
The tune I perform at sing-along
I honestly do not enjoy public singing and avoid it at all costs. But under duress, I’d select Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The track I strangely know all the words to
I recently realised that I know almost all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.
The perfect tune to blast at a gathering
It depends on which phase of the event you are at. At the start it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the party deepens, I’d move on to Prince, the Rolling Stones and Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an massive track.
The song I can not listen to
I inexplicably detest Mr Brightside by the Killers.
The ideal piece to make love to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The LP that transformed me
When I was twelve and starting to study the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock and roll, and was consumed by The King, the rock pioneer, the killer, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder brought round Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was electrifying rock music. The moment he placed the record on the record player, I was captivated.
The track that gets me up in the AM
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by Ray Charles.
The song that brings me to tears
All music leaves me moved. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Fab Four all bring a tear to my eye because of the tune and utter perfection of the vocals. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner hits me hard every time.
The song I’d like performed at my memorial service
Elvis. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.
