John Simm's Revealing Musical Selections: Starting with Childhood Favorites to Unexplained Aversions
The earliest tune I was captivated by
My earliest recollection is stepping into a space at kindergarten where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the audio textures, and Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the hook, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”
The inaugural record I purchased
When I was eight, I won a competition at school to choose a brand new record to play at the small dance we had on Fridays. 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 No 1 at the time, and I selected it when my dad noted that it was by a former member of the Beatles.
The track I sing at sing-along
I candidly actively avoid karaoke and steer clear at all costs. But if I had to, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The track I inexplicably know all the words to
I just discovered that I can recall pretty much every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The ideal track to blast at a party
It hinges on the point of the party you are at. At the start it would likely 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 David Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an massive track.
The number I can not hear
I inexplicably loathe Mr Brightside by the Killers.
The ideal track to have sex to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The record that changed my life
When I was 12 and beginning to learn the six-string, I’d only listen to 1950s rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on The King, the rock pioneer, the killer, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter introduced me to Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock music. The moment he dropped the record on the record player, I was hooked.
The tune that wakes me in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.
The piece that brings me to tears
All music makes me moved. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Beatles all stir my emotions because of the melody and sheer perfection of the singing. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going every time.
The song I’d like played at my memorial service
Elvis. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.
