John Simm's Candid Playlist: Starting with Childhood Favorites to Unexplained Dislikes
The first track I fell in love with
My first memory is entering a room at preschool where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the audio textures, and John Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the refrain, I recall believing: “This must be music!”
The inaugural record I purchased
When I was eight years old, I won a competition at school to pick a brand new record to play at the mini disco we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I opted for Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single I bought with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was No 1 at the time, and I selected it when my father mentioned that it was by a former member of the Beatles.
The song I perform at karaoke
I frankly cannot stand karaoke and steer clear at all costs. But if I had to, I’d select Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.
The piece I oddly know each line to
I recently became aware that I know pretty much every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The ideal song to play at a soirée
It relies on the point of the party you are at. For the beginning it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the night wears on, I’d work through the Artist, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an absolute banger.
The song I can never bear
I strangely cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The ideal song to get intimate to
Come Together by the Beatles.
The LP that transformed me
When I was twelve and just learning to learn the six-string, I’d only listen to classic rock and roll, and was obsessed with Elvis, the rock pioneer, the killer, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter introduced me to Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was electrifying rock music. Instantly after he dropped the record on the turntable, I was a fan for life.
The song that wakes me in the AM
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by Ray Charles.
The piece that makes me cry
Virtually any music makes me touched. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Beatles all make me cry because of the tune and sheer brilliance of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley hits me hard consistently.
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.
