John Simm's Honest Playlist: Starting with Childhood Favorites to Unexplained Aversions
The first track I fell in love with
My most primal recollection is entering a room at nursery school where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was enthralled by the sonic landscape, and Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the chorus, I recall believing: “This must be music!”
The very first single I acquired
When I was eight, I won a competition at school to pick a brand new vinyl to play at the small dance we had on Fridays. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I chose Come Back My Love by Darts. The first single I purchased with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was number one at the time, and I selected it when my dad pointed out that it was by a former member of the Beatles.
The song I sing at karaoke
I frankly do not enjoy karaoke and dodge it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d go with Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.
The piece I strangely know every lyric to
I not long ago realised that I have memorized almost every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The perfect track to put on at a gathering
It relies on the point of the event you are at. Early doors it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the evening progresses, I’d move on to Prince, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an undeniable hit.
The song I can no longer listen to
I for some reason loathe Mr Brightside by the Killers.
The ideal song to have sex to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The record that changed my life
When I was twelve and starting to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to classic rock and roll, and was obsessed with The King, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder played Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock music. Instantly after he dropped the vinyl on the record player, I was a fan for life.
The song that gets me up in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.
The piece that gets me emotional
Virtually any music makes me touched. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the harmony and sheer beauty of the singing. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going without fail.
The track I’d like to be played at my final send-off
Elvis. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.
