John Simm's Revealing Musical Selections: From Early Favorites to Peculiar Aversions
The initial tune I fell in love with
My earliest recollection is entering a room at nursery school where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the sonic landscape, and John Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the hook, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”
The first single I acquired
When I was eight, I won a contest at school to pick a brand new vinyl to play at the small dance we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I opted for Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single I bought with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a music store in Colne. It was topping the charts 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 karaoke
I frankly do not enjoy karaoke and dodge it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d select Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.
The track I strangely know all the words to
I not long ago became aware that I know pretty much all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.
The perfect tune to put on at a gathering
It depends on the point of the party you are at. Early doors it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the evening progresses, I’d move on to Prince, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an absolute banger.
The track I can never bear
I for some reason detest Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The ideal song to make love to
Come Together by the Beatles.
The album that transformed me
When I was twelve and starting to play the guitar, I’d only listen to classic rock and roll, and was obsessed with Elvis, Chuck Berry, the killer, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder played Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock ’n’roll. Instantly after he put the vinyl on the record player, I was hooked.
The tune that gets me up in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by Ray Charles.
The piece that makes me cry
Most music makes me touched. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Fab Four all stir my emotions because of the tune and pure beauty of the voices. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner strikes a chord consistently.
The music I’d like to be played at my final send-off
Elvis. 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.
