Introduction: An actor’s intimate soundtrack
John Simm, the veteran of stage and screen known for his riveting versatility, invites us into a rarely shared corner of his life: his music. In a candid look at the songs that shaped him, Simm lays bare his earliest memory, the joy of discovery, and the surprising chasm between admiration and aversion. This is not a curated Top 10; it is a living playlist, a map of his sensibilities, and a reminder that our musical opinions can be as honest as any other confession.
The first spark: childhood soundtracks and the Beatles
“The first song I fell in love with,” Simm begins, tracing back to nursery school. He recalls walking into a room where the Beatles were playing Yellow Submarine and being captivated by the sound effects and Lennon’s shouted line, “Full speed ahead!” Those early memories are more than nostalgia; they’re the moment music revealed itself as a force. The playful whimsy of Yellow Submarine isn’t just a memory for Simm—it’s a doorway to the way sound can transport a listener to a different time and mood. For him, the Beatles weren’t an icon; they were the first students of possibility, demonstrating how a simple melody could fracture and reform a world inside a small child’s ear.
Love and aversion: the contradictions that fuel a playlist
Every listener carries contradictions, and Simm is no exception. The title of this piece—“I inexplicably detest Mr Brightside”—is less a paradox and more a window into an imperfect, honest relationship with music. The Killers’ hit has earned a near-universal glow in pop culture, yet Simm’s response reminds us that personal resonance doesn’t always align with popularity. When he talks about detesting a song that many adore, there’s no performative edge—only a playwright’s or actor’s instinct to follow what moves him, even if the crowd’s marching drumbeat says otherwise. His candid stance turns a familiar radio staple into a case study in personal musical taste rather than a scandalous confession. It’s the kind of honesty that makes a playlist feel like a diary and a musician more human.
Why detestation can coexist with appreciation
Detesting a well-loved track does not dismiss the craft behind it. Simm recognises the composition, production, and cultural impact of songs like Mr Brightside while admitting a personal dissonance. He demonstrates how taste is a negotiation—between technical admiration and emotional response, between what’s popular and what resonates with our own lives. This nuanced stance enriches his playlist, giving it texture: a balance of nostalgic anchors (the Beatles), intimate revelations, and stubborn personal reactions that keep his music collection dynamic rather than predictable.
From memory to modern listening: how music informs acting
Music for Simm is not a passive backdrop but a tool—a way to cue memory, emotion, and even a character’s inner life. The earliest Beatles memory may be fond, but the detestation of a modern stadium anthem may sharpen his ear for subtler, quieter moments in performance. The playlist becomes an almanac of feelings, a catalog of moments that can prompt a nuanced response when he steps into a scene. In acting, as in listening, it is often the contradictions that drive the most convincing choices.
The listening room as a studio: a closing note
John Simm’s honest playlist offers more than a list of tunes. It’s an invitation to respect the tensions inside our musical preferences—the way we love, resist, and improvise as our lives evolve. Whether you share his affection for the Beatles’ early magic or your own stubborn aversions, the essence remains: music is a living dialogue between memory, taste, and identity. And in that conversation, truth can be more compelling than consensus.
