John Simm's Revealing Playlist: Starting with Childhood Loves to Unexplained Aversions
The first track I became enamored with
My first recollection is walking into a room at kindergarten where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was enthralled by the audio textures, and Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the hook, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”
The inaugural 45 I purchased
When I was eight, I won a competition at school to choose a brand new vinyl to play at the weekly dance party we had on Fridays. My teacher took me to a local store, and I chose Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I bought with my own savings was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was topping the charts at the time, and I selected it when my father mentioned that it was by a former member of the Beatles.
The track I sing at karaoke
I frankly do not enjoy public singing and dodge it at all costs. But under duress, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The track I oddly remember each line to
I just became aware that I know pretty much every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.
The ideal song to blast at a gathering
It depends on the point of the event you are at. For the beginning it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the party deepens, I’d work through Prince, the Stones and Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an massive track.
The number I can no longer bear
I for some reason loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The ultimate track to make love to
Come Together by the Beatles.
The album that changed my life
When I was 12 and starting to play the guitar, I’d only listen to 1950s rock and 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 AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was powerful rock music. The moment he put the record on the turntable, I was hooked.
The tune that gets me up in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.
The piece that brings me to tears
Most music leaves me emotional. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the melody and pure beauty of the singing. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner gets me going without fail.
The music I’d like to be played at my memorial service
Elvis. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.
