John Simm's Candid Musical Selections: Starting with Childhood Loves to Unexplained Aversions

The first tune I became enamored with
My earliest recollection is walking into a space at kindergarten where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the audio textures, and Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the refrain, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”

The inaugural single I purchased
When I was eight, I won a competition at school to pick a new record to play at the weekly dance party we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I bought with my own savings was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a record shop in Colne. It was topping the charts at the time, and I selected it when my father noted that it was by one of the Beatles.

The song I do at sing-along
I honestly actively avoid karaoke and dodge it at all costs. But if forced, I’d select Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The song I inexplicably know each line to
I recently realised that I can recall virtually all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The best track to play at a soirée
It relies on the point of the event you are at. At the start it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the evening progresses, I’d work through Prince, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an undeniable hit.

The song I can not bear
I strangely cannot stand 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 12 and just learning to study the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock and roll, and was fixated on The King, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder played Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock ’n’roll. The moment he put the vinyl on the record player, I was captivated.

The song that motivates me in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.

The song that brings me to tears
Virtually any music makes me moved. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Beatles all make me cry because of the harmony and utter perfection of the singing. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley strikes a chord every time.

The song I’d like to be played at my memorial service
Elvis. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.