John Simm's Honest Musical Selections: From Early Loves to Peculiar Dislikes

The initial song I was captivated by
My earliest memory is walking into a space at preschool where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the audio textures, and Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the refrain, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The first single I bought
When I was eight, I won a competition at school to choose a brand new vinyl to play at the small dance we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first record 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 father mentioned that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The tune I sing at sing-along
I candidly cannot stand karaoke and avoid it at all costs. But if forced, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The song I oddly recite every lyric to
I not long ago discovered that I know virtually the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The best tune to blast at a gathering
It depends on which phase of the event you are at. Early doors it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the night wears on, I’d work through the Artist, the Stones and Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an massive track.

The song I can never bear
I strangely detest Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The ultimate track to make love to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The album that transformed me
When I was twelve and beginning to play the six-string, I’d only listen to 1950s rock ’n’roll, and was obsessed with The King, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter introduced me to Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was electrifying rock music. As soon as he put the record on the turntable, I was captivated.

The tune that gets me up in the AM
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by Ray Charles.

The piece that gets me emotional
All music leaves me emotional. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Fab Four all bring a tear to my eye because of the harmony and utter perfection of the vocals. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner strikes a chord without fail.

The track I’d like played at my funeral
The King. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.