John Simm's Honest Musical Selections: From Early Favorites to Unexplained Dislikes
The initial song I fell in love with
My earliest memory is entering a space at preschool where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was mesmerized by the audio textures, and Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the hook, I recall believing: “This must be music!”
The very first 45 I bought
When I was eight years old, I won a contest at school to pick a brand new vinyl to play at the small dance we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I opted for Come Back My Love by Darts. The first single I purchased with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a record shop in Colne. It was No 1 at the time, and I selected it when my father pointed out that it was by a former member of the Beatles.
The track I perform at karaoke
I candidly do not enjoy karaoke and avoid it at all costs. But if forced, I’d choose Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.
The song I oddly recite all the words to
I just became aware that I have memorized pretty much every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.
The perfect track to play at a party
It hinges on what stage of the party you are at. Early doors it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the evening progresses, I’d transition into the Artist, the Stones and Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an absolute banger.
The track I can not listen to
I for some reason loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The best track to get intimate to
Come Together by the Beatles.
The LP that transformed me
When I was 12 and beginning to study the six-string, I’d only listen to 1950s rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on The King, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter introduced me to Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was powerful rock music. The moment he placed the vinyl on the turntable, I was a fan for life.
The track that motivates me in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.
The track that gets me emotional
Most music makes me emotional. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Beatles all stir my emotions because of the melody and utter beauty of the vocals. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner gets me going consistently.
The track I’d like played at my memorial service
Elvis. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.
