John Simm's Honest Playlist: Starting with Childhood Favorites to Peculiar Aversions
The earliest tune I was captivated by
My earliest memory is walking into a room at kindergarten where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was enthralled by the sonic landscape, and John Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the hook, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”
The very first single I bought
When I was eight years old, I was victorious in a competition at school to choose a brand new vinyl to play at the weekly dance party we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I opted for Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I purchased with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Colne. 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 track I sing at sing-along
I candidly do not enjoy public singing and dodge it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d select Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.
The piece I strangely know each line to
I just realised that I can recall 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 tune to play at a soirée
It hinges on which phase of the party you are at. For the beginning it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the evening progresses, I’d work through the Artist, the Rolling 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 track I can no longer bear
I inexplicably loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The ideal track to have sex to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The record that changed my life
When I was 12 and beginning to play the guitar, I’d only listen to 1950s rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on Elvis, the rock pioneer, the killer, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter brought round Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was powerful rock music. The moment he put the record on the record player, I was hooked.
The tune that motivates me in the morning
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by The Genius.
The track that brings me to tears
All music makes me touched. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Beatles all stir my emotions because of the harmony and pure brilliance of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going consistently.
The music I’d like performed at my memorial service
Elvis. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.
