John Simm's Honest Musical Selections: Starting with Childhood Favorites to Unexplained Aversions
The earliest song I was captivated by
My earliest memory is stepping into a room at nursery school where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the sonic landscape, and John Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the refrain, I recall believing: “This must be music!”
The inaugural record I acquired
When I was eight, I was victorious in a contest at school to select a new record 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 the group Darts. The first record I purchased with my own savings 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 father mentioned that it was by a former member of the Beatles.
The tune I do at karaoke
I frankly cannot stand karaoke and avoid it at all costs. But under duress, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The song I inexplicably know each line to
I recently realised that I have memorized almost all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The ideal track to play at a gathering
It hinges on which phase of the evening you are at. At the start it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the night wears on, I’d work through the Artist, the Rolling Stones and Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an absolute banger.
The track I can no longer hear
I inexplicably cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The best song to make love to
Come Together by the Beatles.
The record that altered my perspective
When I was 12 and starting to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock and roll, and was obsessed with The King, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter brought round Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock music. Instantly after he placed the vinyl on the turntable, I was captivated.
The tune that motivates me in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by Ray Charles.
The song that brings me to tears
Virtually any music leaves me emotional. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Fab Four all stir my emotions because of the harmony and pure beauty of the vocals. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner strikes a chord every time.
The track I’d like played at my funeral
Elvis. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.
