John Simm's Candid Playlist: Starting with Childhood Loves to Peculiar Aversions
The earliest track I fell in love with
My first memory is entering a room at kindergarten where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the sonic landscape, and John Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the hook, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”
The inaugural record I acquired
When I was eight years old, I won a contest at school to select a brand new vinyl to play at the weekly dance party we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I picked out Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I purchased with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was topping the charts at the time, and I chose it when my dad mentioned that it was by one of the Beatles.
The track I perform at karaoke
I candidly do not enjoy public singing and dodge it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d choose Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The song I inexplicably remember all the words to
I not long ago discovered that I know virtually all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The ideal song to blast at a gathering
It relies on the point of the event you are at. Early doors it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the party deepens, I’d move on to Prince, the Stones and Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an massive track.
The number I can no longer hear
I strangely detest Mr Brightside by the Killers.
The ultimate piece to make love to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The album that changed my life
When I was 12 and just learning to play the six-string, I’d only listen to 1950s rock and roll, and was obsessed with The King, Chuck Berry, the killer, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder played Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was high voltage rock music. Instantly after he placed the record on the record player, I was a fan for life.
The tune that gets me up in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by Ray Charles.
The piece that makes me cry
Most music makes me moved. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Fab Four all stir my emotions because of the harmony and pure beauty of the voices. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley strikes a chord consistently.
The music I’d like played at my final send-off
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.
