John Simm's Honest Musical Selections: Starting with Childhood Favorites to Unexplained Dislikes
The initial track I was captivated by
My earliest memory is walking into a space at kindergarten where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the sonic landscape, and Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the refrain, I recall believing: “This must be music!”
The inaugural 45 I bought
When I was eight, I won a competition at school to pick a new record to play at the weekly dance party we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to a local store, and I chose Come Back My Love by Darts. The first single I purchased 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 selected it when my father pointed out that it was by a former member of the Beatles.
The track I perform at sing-along
I candidly actively avoid public singing and avoid it at all costs. But under duress, I’d go with Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.
The track I strangely remember each line to
I recently discovered that I know almost every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The best song to put on at a gathering
It relies on which phase of the evening you are at. At the start it would likely 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 hits its peak, 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 bear
I inexplicably detest Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The best piece to make love to
Come Together by the Beatles.
The LP that changed my life
When I was 12 and just learning to learn the six-string, I’d only listen to early rock ’n’roll, and was consumed by Elvis, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder introduced me to Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was high voltage rock music. The moment he put the record on the record player, I was a fan for life.
The song that motivates me in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.
The piece that brings me to tears
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 harmony and sheer perfection of the voices. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner hits me hard without fail.
The music I’d like performed at my funeral
Elvis. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.
