John Simm's Candid Musical Selections: Starting with Childhood Favorites to Peculiar Dislikes
The earliest song I fell in love with
My earliest recollection is stepping into a space at nursery school where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the sonic landscape, and John Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the refrain, I recall believing: “This must be music!”
The inaugural 45 I acquired
When I was eight, I was victorious in a competition at school to pick a brand new vinyl to play at the weekly dance party we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single I purchased with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Colne. It was No 1 at the time, and I selected it when my dad noted that it was by one of the Beatles.
The track I do at karaoke
I frankly do not enjoy public singing and dodge it at all costs. But under duress, I’d choose Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.
The song I inexplicably remember every lyric to
I recently realised that I have memorized virtually every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The ideal song to blast at a gathering
It hinges on which phase of the party you are at. Early doors it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the party deepens, I’d move on to 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 Gorillaz, which is an undeniable hit.
The number I can no longer listen to
I for some reason cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Killers.
The best song to have sex to
Come Together by the Beatles.
The LP that changed my life
When I was twelve and just learning to learn the six-string, I’d only listen to 1950s rock and roll, and was obsessed with The King, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder introduced me to Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was powerful rock music. The moment he placed the record on the turntable, I was a fan for life.
The song that wakes me in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by Ray Charles.
The song that makes me cry
Virtually any music leaves me moved. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Fab Four all stir my emotions because of the tune and pure brilliance of the vocals. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner gets me going consistently.
The song I’d like performed at my funeral
Elvis. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.
