John Simm's Honest Playlist: Starting with Childhood Favorites to Unexplained Dislikes
The earliest tune I was captivated by
My earliest memory is entering a room at kindergarten where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was mesmerized by the audio textures, and John Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the hook, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”
The very first 45 I acquired
When I was eight years old, I was victorious in a competition at school to pick a brand new record to play at the weekly dance party we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to a local store, and I chose Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I purchased with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was topping the charts at the time, and I chose it when my dad pointed out that it was by one of the Beatles.
The track I perform at karaoke
I honestly do not enjoy public singing and avoid it at all costs. But if forced, I’d choose Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.
The piece I oddly know all the words to
I recently realised that I can recall almost all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The perfect tune to play at a soirée
It depends on the point of the evening you are at. Early doors it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the evening progresses, I’d transition into the Artist, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an absolute banger.
The track I can never listen to
I inexplicably detest Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The best piece to have sex to
Come Together by the Beatles.
The LP that transformed me
When I was twelve and just learning to study the six-string, I’d only listen to early rock and roll, and was obsessed with The King, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter introduced me to Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was powerful rock music. Instantly after he placed the vinyl on the turntable, I was hooked.
The tune that gets me up in the AM
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by Ray Charles.
The track that brings me to tears
Virtually any music leaves me moved. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Fab Four all stir my emotions because of the melody and pure perfection of the singing. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner gets me going consistently.
The track I’d like played at my funeral
Elvis. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.
