John Simm's Revealing Musical Selections: Starting with Childhood Loves to Peculiar Dislikes

The earliest song I became enamored with
My most primal recollection is entering a room at kindergarten where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the audio textures, and John Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the chorus, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”

The inaugural 45 I purchased
When I was eight years old, I won a competition at school to select a new record to play at the small dance we had on Fridays. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I chose Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I bought with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Colne. It was No 1 at the time, and I selected it when my father noted that it was by one of the Beatles.

The tune I perform at sing-along
I frankly cannot stand karaoke and avoid it at all costs. But under duress, I’d choose Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The piece I oddly know every lyric to
I recently discovered that I have memorized virtually the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The ideal song to play at a soirée
It depends on the point of the evening you are at. For the beginning it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the party deepens, I’d move on to the Artist, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an absolute banger.

The number I can never hear
I inexplicably detest Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The ultimate song to have sex to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The record that changed my life
When I was 12 and starting to learn the six-string, I’d only listen to early rock ’n’roll, and was obsessed with The King, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter brought round Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was high voltage rock ’n’roll. As soon as he dropped the record on the turntable, I was a fan for life.

The tune that wakes me in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by Ray Charles.

The track that gets me emotional
All music makes me moved. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Fab Four all bring a tear to my eye because of the melody and utter brilliance of the vocals. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner strikes a chord consistently.

The track I’d like performed at my funeral
The King. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.