John Simm's Candid Playlist: From Early Loves to Peculiar Dislikes
The initial song I was captivated by
My earliest recollection is entering a room at nursery school where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was mesmerized by the audio textures, and Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the hook, I recall believing: “This must be music!”
The first single I acquired
When I was eight years old, I won a contest at school to select a brand new record to play at the small dance we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first record I purchased with my own savings was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Colne. It was number one at the time, and I chose it when my dad noted that it was by one of the Beatles.
The track I sing at sing-along
I frankly cannot stand public singing and avoid it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The piece I oddly recite every lyric to
I recently discovered that I know pretty much the entire lyrical content 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 play at a party
It hinges on which phase of the evening you are at. Early doors it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the party deepens, I’d transition into Prince, the Stones and Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an undeniable hit.
The number I can never bear
I inexplicably loathe Mr Brightside by the Killers.
The best song to get intimate to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The album that transformed me
When I was 12 and beginning to learn the six-string, I’d only listen to 1950s rock and roll, and was consumed by Elvis, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder introduced me to Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was high voltage rock music. The moment he dropped the record on the turntable, I was captivated.
The track that gets me up in the morning
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by The Genius.
The track that brings me to tears
Most music makes me emotional. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Beatles all make me cry because of the harmony and pure brilliance of the voices. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner gets me going without fail.
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 buried, I’ll have Way Down.
