John Simm's Revealing Musical Selections: Starting with Childhood Favorites to Peculiar Dislikes
The earliest tune I became enamored with
My most primal recollection is stepping into a space at nursery school where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was captivated by the sound effects, and John Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the hook, I recall believing: “This must be music!”
The first 45 I acquired
When I was eight years old, I won a competition at school to select a brand new record to play at the weekly dance party we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I picked out Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first record I purchased with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was topping the charts at the time, and I chose it when my father noted that it was by one of the Beatles.
The tune I do at karaoke
I honestly do not enjoy karaoke and avoid it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d go with Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.
The song I inexplicably know each line to
I just realised that I have memorized virtually 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 song to blast at a soirée
It hinges on the point of the evening you are at. For the beginning it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the evening progresses, I’d move on to the Artist, the Stones and Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an massive track.
The song I can not hear
I strangely cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The best track to make love to
Come Together by the Beatles.
The LP that changed my life
When I was twelve and just learning to learn the six-string, I’d only listen to classic rock ’n’roll, and was obsessed with The King, the rock pioneer, the killer, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder played Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was powerful rock ’n’roll. Instantly after he placed the record on the turntable, I was hooked.
The tune that wakes me in the AM
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by The Genius.
The piece that brings me to tears
All music makes me touched. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Fab Four all stir my emotions because of the melody and utter brilliance of the singing. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley hits me hard consistently.
The song I’d like to be played at my final send-off
Elvis. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.