John Simm's Honest Musical Selections: Starting with Childhood Favorites to Unexplained Dislikes
The initial track I fell in love with
My first memory is walking into a space at preschool where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the sound effects, and Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the chorus, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”
The first 45 I purchased
When I was eight, I was victorious in a competition at school to choose a new record to play at the weekly dance party we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to a local store, and I opted for 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 Colne. It was topping the charts at the time, and I selected it when my dad pointed out that it was by a former member of the Beatles.
The track I sing at karaoke
I candidly actively avoid karaoke and steer clear at all costs. But under duress, I’d select Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The track I inexplicably remember each line to
I recently discovered that I can recall pretty much every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The ideal track to blast at a party
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 Rolling Stones and David Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an absolute banger.
The track I can not bear
I for some reason cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Killers.
The ideal 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 classic rock and roll, and was obsessed with The King, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly 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 high voltage rock ’n’roll. The moment he dropped the vinyl on the turntable, I was a fan for life.
The song that wakes me in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by Ray Charles.
The piece that makes me cry
Virtually any music makes me emotional. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the tune and pure beauty of the singing. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley strikes a chord every time.
The music I’d like to be played at my memorial service
The King. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.
