John Simm's Revealing Musical Selections: From Early Loves to Unexplained Dislikes
The first song I became enamored with
My most primal memory is entering a room at nursery school where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the sound effects, and John Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the chorus, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”
The inaugural single I purchased
When I was eight years old, I was victorious in a competition at school to pick a brand new record to play at the mini disco we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I picked out Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single I purchased with my own savings 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 pointed out that it was by a former member of the Beatles.
The track I do at karaoke
I candidly do not enjoy public singing and steer clear at all costs. But if forced, I’d choose Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The piece I strangely recite each line to
I just became aware 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 the legendary songwriter.
The best song to play at a soirée
It relies on what stage of the event you are at. For the beginning it would probably 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 hits its peak, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an absolute banger.
The track I can never listen to
I inexplicably loathe Mr Brightside by the Killers.
The ideal piece to make love to
Come Together by the Beatles.
The LP that transformed me
When I was twelve and beginning to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock ’n’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 babysitter introduced me to Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock music. The moment he dropped the record on the turntable, I was a fan for life.
The song that motivates me in the morning
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by The Genius.
The piece that brings me to tears
Most music makes me moved. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Beatles all bring a tear to my eye because of the harmony and utter beauty of the voices. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner hits me hard consistently.
The music I’d like performed at my memorial service
The King. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.
