John Simm's Revealing Musical Selections: From Early Favorites to Peculiar Aversions

The earliest track I became enamored with
My first memory is walking into a space at kindergarten where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was enthralled by the sound effects, and John Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the chorus, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”

The inaugural record I bought
When I was eight years old, I won a competition at school to pick a new record to play at the small dance we had on Fridays. My teacher took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by Darts. The first single I purchased with my own pocket money 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 dad pointed out that it was by one of the Beatles.

The song I sing at karaoke
I candidly do not enjoy public singing and avoid it at all costs. But under duress, I’d go with Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The track I inexplicably recite every lyric to
I recently discovered that I can recall almost the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The best song to blast at a soirée
It hinges on the point of the party you are at. At the start it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the evening progresses, I’d transition into Prince, the Rolling Stones and Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an absolute banger.

The song I can never bear
I for some reason detest Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The best piece to make love to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The record that altered my perspective
When I was 12 and just learning to play the guitar, I’d only listen to 1950s rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on The King, the rock pioneer, the killer, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter introduced me to Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was powerful rock ’n’roll. As soon as he placed the record on the record player, I was captivated.

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

The piece that gets me emotional
All music leaves me touched. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Beatles all make me cry because of the harmony and sheer perfection of the singing. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner strikes a chord every time.

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

Margaret Fletcher
Margaret Fletcher

Tech enthusiast and journalist with a passion for breaking news and in-depth analysis.