John Simm's Candid Playlist: Starting with Childhood Loves to Unexplained Dislikes
The earliest song I was captivated by
My most primal memory is walking into a room at preschool where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was captivated by the audio textures, and Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the refrain, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”
The very first 45 I acquired
When I was eight years old, I won a competition at school to pick a new vinyl to play at the small dance we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to a local store, and I chose Come Back My Love by Darts. The first single I bought with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Colne. It was topping the charts at the time, and I selected it when my dad pointed out that it was by a former member of the Beatles.
The tune I sing at sing-along
I honestly cannot stand karaoke and steer clear at all costs. But if I had to, I’d choose Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The song I oddly recite each line to
I just discovered that I have memorized pretty much the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The perfect song to put on at a gathering
It hinges on which phase of the evening you are at. For the beginning it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the evening progresses, I’d move on to the Artist, the Stones and Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an undeniable hit.
The number I can never hear
I for some reason cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The best track to have sex to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The LP that changed my life
When I was 12 and starting to learn the six-string, I’d only listen to 1950s rock ’n’roll, and was obsessed with The King, the rock pioneer, the killer, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder brought round Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock ’n’roll. As soon as he dropped the vinyl on the record player, I was captivated.
The tune that wakes me in the morning
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by Ray Charles.
The song that brings me to tears
Virtually any music makes me moved. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the harmony and sheer perfection of the voices. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley hits me hard every time.
The song I’d like played 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.
