John Simm's Candid Musical Selections: Starting with Childhood Loves to Unexplained Aversions
The earliest tune I became enamored with
My first memory is walking into a room at preschool where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the sonic landscape, and Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the refrain, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”
The inaugural record I acquired
When I was eight years old, I won a competition at school to pick a new record to play at the small dance we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to a local store, and I chose Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single I purchased with my own savings was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was No 1 at the time, and I chose it when my dad noted that it was by one of the Beatles.
The song I sing at karaoke
I candidly do not enjoy karaoke and dodge it at all costs. But if forced, I’d select Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.
The piece I inexplicably recite every lyric to
I not long ago realised that I can recall pretty much all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.
The best track to blast at a gathering
It relies on which phase of the evening you are at. Early doors it would probably 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 Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an massive track.
The track I can never hear
I strangely loathe Mr Brightside by the Killers.
The ultimate piece to get intimate to
Come Together by the Beatles.
The album that transformed me
When I was twelve and just learning to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on Elvis, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter brought round Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was high voltage rock music. Instantly after he dropped the record on the record player, I was captivated.
The track that wakes me in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.
The track that brings me to tears
Most music leaves me moved. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Beatles all stir my emotions because of the tune and sheer brilliance of the singing. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley strikes a chord every time.
The song I’d like performed 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.
