John Simm's Candid Musical Selections: Starting with Childhood Loves to Unexplained Aversions
The initial song I was captivated by
My most primal memory is entering a space at nursery school where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the sound effects, and Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the hook, I recall believing: “This must be music!”
The first record I bought
When I was eight years old, I won a competition at school to choose a brand new record to play at the mini disco we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I opted for Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I purchased with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Colne. It was topping the charts at the time, and I chose it when my father mentioned that it was by one of the Beatles.
The song I sing at sing-along
I candidly actively avoid public singing and steer clear at all costs. But under duress, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The track I inexplicably recite each line to
I just realised that I know pretty much the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The best song to blast at a soirée
It hinges on the point of the evening you are at. Early doors it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the night wears on, I’d transition into Prince, the Stones and David 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 song I can never listen to
I strangely cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Killers.
The ultimate track to make love to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The album that transformed me
When I was 12 and starting to play the six-string, I’d only listen to classic rock ’n’roll, and was obsessed with The King, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter brought round Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was powerful rock music. As soon as he placed the vinyl on the record player, I was hooked.
The tune that gets me up in the AM
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by Ray Charles.
The track that makes me cry
Virtually any music leaves me emotional. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Beatles all make me cry because of the harmony and sheer brilliance of the singing. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going every time.
The song I’d like played at my final send-off
The King. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.
