John Simm's Honest Playlist: From Early Favorites to Peculiar Dislikes
The first track I fell in love with
My earliest memory is entering a room at kindergarten where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was enthralled by the audio textures, and Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the refrain, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”
The first single I purchased
When I was eight years old, I won a competition at school to choose a brand new vinyl to play at the mini disco we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I chose Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I purchased with my own savings was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Colne. It was topping the charts at the time, and I selected it when my father noted that it was by one of the Beatles.
The track I sing at sing-along
I honestly actively avoid public singing and steer clear at all costs. But under duress, I’d select Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The piece I oddly recite all the words to
I not long ago became aware that I can recall pretty much all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.
The ideal song to put on at a gathering
It hinges on which phase of the event you are at. At the start it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the evening progresses, I’d work through Prince, the Stones and 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 massive track.
The track I can not listen to
I strangely cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The ideal song to have sex to
Come Together by the Beatles.
The record 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 consumed by Elvis, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder brought round Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was electrifying rock ’n’roll. The moment he placed the record on the record player, I was captivated.
The song that gets me up in the morning
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by The Genius.
The song that brings me to tears
All music makes me moved. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Beatles all bring a tear to my eye because of the tune and sheer brilliance of the singing. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going without fail.
The song I’d like performed at my memorial service
Elvis. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.
