John Simm's Honest Musical Selections: From Early Favorites to Unexplained Aversions
The first tune I became enamored with
My earliest memory is entering a room at kindergarten where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the sound effects, and Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the refrain, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”
The inaugural record I acquired
When I was eight, I was victorious in a contest at school to choose a brand new vinyl to play at the weekly dance party we had on Fridays. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I opted for Come Back My Love by Darts. The first single I bought 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 selected it when my father mentioned that it was by one of the Beatles.
The tune I do at sing-along
I candidly actively avoid public singing and avoid it at all costs. But under duress, I’d select Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.
The track I inexplicably remember all the words to
I not long ago discovered that I have memorized 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 perfect tune to put on at a party
It depends on the point of the event 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 transition into Prince, the 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 undeniable hit.
The number I can never hear
I strangely loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The best piece to get intimate to
Come Together by the Beatles.
The album that changed my life
When I was twelve and just learning to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock ’n’roll, and was obsessed with Elvis, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder brought round Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock music. The moment he put the record on the record player, I was a fan for life.
The tune that gets me up in the AM
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by Ray Charles.
The song that makes me cry
Most music makes me moved. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Beatles all stir my emotions because of the tune and pure brilliance of the voices. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner strikes a chord every time.
The song I’d like performed at my final send-off
Elvis. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.
