‘I Inexplicably Hate Mr. Brightside’: John Simm’s Honest Playlist | John Sim

The first song I fell in love with
My earliest memory is of walking into a room at nursery school where they were playing Yellow Submarine by The Beatles. I was blown away by the sound effects, and Lennon shouted: “Full speed ahead!” When it came to the chorus, I remember thinking: “This has to be music!”

First song I bought
When I was eight years old, I won a competition at school to choose a new record to play at the little disco we had on Fridays. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I chose Come Back My Love [50s revivalists] Arrows. The first song I bought with my own money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Colne in Lancashire. It was No. 1 at the time, and I picked it up when my dad pointed out that it was written by a Beatle.

The song I play at karaoke
I honestly can’t stand karaoke and avoid it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d choose Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The song to which I inexplicably know all the words
I recently realized that I know almost every lyric to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Paul Simon’s Graceland.

Best song to play at a party
It depends on what stage of the party you are in. The early doors are probably “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye. As night falls, I’m working on Prince, The Stones, Bowie, and when it really starts, Phat Planet from Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX from Underworld, and Ascension [Nic Fanciulli remix] By Gorillaz featuring Vince Staples, who is one hell of a hot guy.

The song I can no longer listen to
Mr. Brightside is inexplicably hated by assassins.

Best song for sex
Come Together by The Beatles.

The album that changed my life
When I was 12 and started learning guitar, I was only listening to early rock and roll, and I was obsessed with Elvis, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly, and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter brought on AC/DC’s Let There Be Rock. It was still rock ‘n’ roll, but it was high-voltage rock ‘n’ roll. Once he put the record on the turntable, I was hooked.

The song that wakes me up in the morning
What to Say Parts 1 and 2 by Ray Charles.

The song that makes me cry
All music makes me emotional. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and The Beatles all make me cry because of the melody, the sheer beauty and the perfection of the vocals. But Richard Hawley’s “Ocean” keeps me going every time.

The song I would want played at my funeral
Facebook. If I am cremated, I will have burning love. If I get buried, I’ll have a way down.

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