John Simm's Revealing Musical Selections: From Early Loves to Peculiar Dislikes
The first track I was captivated by
My earliest recollection is entering a room at nursery school where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the audio textures, and Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the refrain, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”
The very first record I bought
When I was eight years old, I was victorious in a contest at school to select a new record to play at the small dance we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I picked out Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I purchased with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was topping the charts at the time, and I chose it when my father mentioned that it was by a former member of the Beatles.
The tune I do at karaoke
I frankly do not enjoy karaoke and dodge it at all costs. But if forced, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The track I inexplicably know all the words to
I recently realised that I have memorized pretty much all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.
The ideal track to put on at a soirée
It relies on what stage of the event you are at. Early doors it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the party deepens, I’d move on to Prince, the Rolling Stones and Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an absolute banger.
The track I can never hear
I strangely cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The ideal piece to have sex to
Come Together by the Beatles.
The LP that changed my life
When I was 12 and just learning to study the six-string, I’d only listen to classic rock and roll, and was consumed by The King, Chuck Berry, the killer, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter brought round Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was electrifying rock music. Instantly after he dropped the record on the turntable, I was captivated.
The song that motivates me in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by Ray Charles.
The track that makes me cry
Most music makes me emotional. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Fab Four all stir my emotions because of the harmony and utter brilliance of the voices. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going every time.
The song I’d like performed at my memorial service
The King. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.