John Simm's Honest Playlist: From Early Favorites to Peculiar Dislikes
The initial tune I became enamored with
My first memory is stepping into a room at kindergarten where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was mesmerized by the sound effects, and John Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the refrain, I recall believing: “This must be music!”
The very first single I bought
When I was eight, I won a contest at school to select a new vinyl to play at the mini disco we had on Fridays. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I picked out Come Back My Love by Darts. The first single I purchased with my own savings was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was topping the charts at the time, and I chose it when my dad noted that it was by a former member of the Beatles.
The track I sing at karaoke
I candidly actively avoid public singing and steer clear at all costs. But if I had to, I’d select Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.
The piece I inexplicably recite all the words to
I just discovered that I know almost all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon.
The best track to put on at a party
It hinges on which phase of the evening you are at. At the start it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the party deepens, I’d work through Prince, the Rolling Stones and Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an massive track.
The song I can no longer bear
I inexplicably cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Killers.
The best song to have sex to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The LP that transformed me
When I was twelve and just learning to play the guitar, I’d only listen to classic rock and roll, and was obsessed with The King, the rock pioneer, the killer, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter introduced me to Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was high voltage rock music. Instantly after he placed the vinyl on the turntable, I was a fan for life.
The song that wakes me in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by Ray Charles.
The song that brings me to tears
Virtually any music makes me emotional. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Fab Four all stir my emotions because of the melody and utter brilliance of the voices. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going without fail.
The song I’d like 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.
