John Simm's Honest Playlist: From Early Favorites to Peculiar Dislikes
The earliest song I became enamored with
My first memory is entering a space at nursery school where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was enthralled by the sonic landscape, and John Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the chorus, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”
The very first 45 I purchased
When I was eight, I won a competition at school to choose a new record to play at the weekly dance party we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I opted for Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first record I bought with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was No 1 at the time, and I chose it when my dad noted that it was by one of the Beatles.
The song I do at sing-along
I frankly cannot stand public singing and steer clear at all costs. But if I had to, I’d select Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The piece I strangely know all the words to
I just discovered that I know virtually 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 best tune to play at a party
It relies on what stage of the evening you are at. For the beginning it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the night wears on, I’d work through 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 no longer listen to
I inexplicably detest Mr Brightside by the Killers.
The best song to get intimate to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The LP that changed my life
When I was 12 and just learning to play the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock ’n’roll, and was obsessed with Elvis, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder played Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was powerful rock music. As soon as he put the record on the turntable, I was hooked.
The song that motivates me in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.
The piece that gets me emotional
Virtually any music leaves me touched. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Fab Four all bring a tear to my eye because of the melody and pure perfection of the singing. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going every time.
The track I’d like to be 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.
