John Simm's Revealing Musical Selections: From Early Loves to Unexplained Dislikes

The initial song I became enamored with
My most primal memory is entering a room at kindergarten where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was enthralled by the sound effects, and Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the refrain, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The first 45 I bought
When I was eight, I was victorious in a competition at school to select a brand new vinyl to play at the small dance we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to a local store, and I opted for Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I purchased with my own savings was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was number one at the time, and I chose it when my father mentioned that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The track I do at sing-along
I candidly cannot stand public singing and steer clear at all costs. But if forced, I’d choose Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The piece I oddly recite each line to
I not long ago realised that I have memorized almost the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The perfect tune to blast at a party
It hinges on which phase of the evening you are at. Early doors it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the party deepens, I’d move on to Prince, the Stones and Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an absolute banger.

The number I can not bear
I strangely cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The ideal piece to get intimate to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The LP that transformed me
When I was twelve and just learning to study the six-string, I’d only listen to 1950s rock ’n’roll, and was obsessed with The King, Chuck Berry, the killer, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder introduced me to Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was powerful rock ’n’roll. As soon as he dropped the record on the record player, I was a fan for life.

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

The piece that gets me emotional
All music makes me touched. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Beatles all stir my emotions because of the tune and sheer beauty of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley strikes a chord consistently.

The music I’d like performed at my final send-off
Elvis. 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.