🔗 Share this article John Simm's Candid Musical Selections: From Early Favorites to Peculiar Aversions The initial tune I fell in love withMy most primal recollection is stepping into a room at kindergarten where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was captivated by the audio textures, and John Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the chorus, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!” The first single I purchasedWhen I was eight years old, I won a contest at school to select a brand new record to play at the weekly dance party we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to a local store, and I chose Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single I bought with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a record shop in Colne. It was No 1 at the time, and I selected it when my father pointed out that it was by one of the Beatles. The tune I do at sing-alongI honestly actively avoid public singing and avoid it at all costs. But under duress, I’d select Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra. The track I oddly remember every lyric toI not long ago became aware that I know pretty much every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by the legendary songwriter. The perfect song to blast at a soiréeIt depends on which phase of the evening you are at. At the start it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the night wears on, I’d move on to Prince, the Rolling Stones and David 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 massive track. The number I can never bearI strangely detest Mr Brightside by the Killers. The ultimate piece to make love toCome Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo. The record that altered my perspectiveWhen I was 12 and just learning to study the guitar, I’d only listen to 1950s rock and roll, and was fixated on Elvis, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter played Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock music. Instantly after he placed the vinyl on the turntable, I was captivated. The track that wakes me in the morningWhat’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius. The song that brings me to tearsVirtually any music makes me moved. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the tune and sheer brilliance of the voices. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner hits me hard consistently. The track I’d like played at my final send-offThe 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.