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

The initial tune I fell in love with
My earliest memory is stepping into a room at nursery school where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was enthralled by the sound effects, and John Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the refrain, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”

The first record I purchased
When I was eight years old, I won a contest at school to choose a new vinyl to play at the weekly dance party we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I opted for 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 No 1 at the time, and I selected it when my dad mentioned that it was by one of the Beatles.

The tune I do at sing-along
I candidly do not enjoy public singing and steer clear at all costs. But under duress, I’d select Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The piece I strangely remember all the words to
I recently discovered that I can recall almost every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The ideal song to play at a soirée
It relies on which phase of the evening you are at. Early doors it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the evening progresses, I’d transition into the Artist, the Stones and Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an undeniable hit.

The song I can no longer bear
I inexplicably loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The ultimate song to have sex to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The record that altered my perspective
When I was 12 and just learning to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to classic rock ’n’roll, and was consumed by Elvis, the rock pioneer, the killer, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter introduced me to Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was electrifying rock ’n’roll. As soon as he put the vinyl on the turntable, I was a fan for life.

The tune that gets me up in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.

The track that makes me cry
All music makes me touched. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the harmony and pure perfection of the singing. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley hits me hard consistently.

The song 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.

Michael Elliott
Michael Elliott

A seasoned gaming journalist with over a decade of experience covering UK online casinos and slot strategies.