John Simm's Revealing Musical Selections: Starting with Childhood Loves to Peculiar Aversions
The first tune I became enamored with
My first recollection is entering a room at nursery school where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was enthralled by the audio textures, and Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the chorus, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”
The first single I acquired
When I was eight, I won a contest at school to pick a new record to play at the small dance we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I bought with my own savings was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was No 1 at the time, and I selected it when my father mentioned that it was by one of the Beatles.
The song I sing at sing-along
I honestly do not enjoy public singing and dodge it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d choose Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The piece I strangely remember every lyric to
I just realised that I have memorized almost all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The perfect tune to blast at a gathering
It hinges on which phase of the event you are at. For the beginning it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the night wears on, I’d transition into the Artist, the Rolling Stones and Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an absolute banger.
The song I can never listen to
I strangely loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.
The ideal song to get intimate to
Come Together by the Beatles.
The record that transformed me
When I was 12 and beginning to play the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock and roll, and was fixated on Elvis, the rock pioneer, the killer, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder introduced me to Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was powerful rock ’n’roll. Instantly after he placed the vinyl on the turntable, I was hooked.
The tune that gets me up in the morning
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by Ray Charles.
The piece that brings me to tears
All music makes me emotional. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Fab Four all bring a tear to my eye because of the harmony and utter brilliance of the singing. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner hits me hard every time.
The music I’d like performed at my final send-off
Elvis. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.