John Simm's Candid Playlist: From Early Favorites to Unexplained Dislikes
The first track I was captivated by
My most primal memory is stepping into a room at preschool where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the sonic landscape, and John Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the chorus, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”
The very first 45 I acquired
When I was eight, I was victorious in a contest at school to choose a brand new vinyl to play at the mini disco we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by Darts. The first single I purchased with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was topping the charts at the time, and I selected it when my dad noted that it was by one of the Beatles.
The track I do at sing-along
I candidly cannot stand public singing and steer clear at all costs. But if I had to, I’d select Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.
The piece I oddly know all the words to
I not long ago became aware that I have memorized pretty much the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The perfect song to put on at a gathering
It relies on what stage of the party you are at. Early doors it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the party deepens, I’d transition into Prince, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an absolute banger.
The song I can no longer hear
I strangely cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The ideal piece to have sex to
Come Together by the Beatles.
The LP that transformed me
When I was 12 and starting to play the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock and roll, and was obsessed with Elvis, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder brought round Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was powerful rock music. As soon as he dropped the vinyl on the record player, I was hooked.
The song that gets me up in the AM
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by Ray Charles.
The track that gets me emotional
All music makes me moved. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Beatles all make me cry because of the melody and sheer beauty of the voices. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley hits me hard every time.
The music I’d like to be played at my final send-off
Elvis. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.
