John Simm's Revealing Playlist: Starting with Childhood Favorites to Unexplained Dislikes
The initial track I fell in love with
My most primal memory is entering a room at preschool where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was enthralled by the audio textures, and John Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the refrain, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”
The very first record I acquired
When I was eight, I won a contest at school to pick a new vinyl to play at the weekly dance party we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to a local store, and I opted for Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first record I bought with my own savings was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was topping the charts at the time, and I selected it when my father pointed out that it was by a former member of the Beatles.
The song I sing at karaoke
I honestly cannot stand karaoke and dodge it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d select Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.
The piece I inexplicably know all the words to
I just discovered that I have memorized pretty much every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The best song to play at a party
It relies on what stage of the party you are at. For the beginning it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the evening progresses, I’d work through Prince, 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 Gorillaz, which is an absolute banger.
The song I can not hear
I inexplicably cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The ultimate track to make love to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The album that transformed me
When I was 12 and just learning to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on Elvis, Chuck Berry, the killer, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter played Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was high voltage rock ’n’roll. Instantly after he put the vinyl on the turntable, I was a fan for life.
The song that motivates me in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.
The song that gets me emotional
All music makes me touched. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Fab Four all stir my emotions because of the harmony and pure perfection of the singing. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner strikes a chord every time.
The song I’d like played at my final send-off
The King. 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.
