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

The first tune I was captivated by
My earliest recollection is walking into a space at preschool where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was mesmerized by the sonic landscape, and Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the chorus, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”

The inaugural 45 I bought
When I was eight years old, I was victorious in a contest at school to select a brand new record to play at the mini disco we had on Fridays. My teacher took me to a local store, and I chose Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single I purchased with my own savings was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was topping the charts at the time, and I selected it when my father mentioned that it was by one of the Beatles.

The tune I sing at sing-along
I candidly cannot stand public singing and steer clear at all costs. But if forced, I’d go with Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The track I oddly remember every lyric to
I not long ago realised that I can recall pretty much every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The perfect song to put on at a soirée
It relies on the point of the evening you are at. For the beginning it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the night wears on, 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 the virtual band, which is an massive track.

The track I can never hear
I inexplicably detest Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The best track to get intimate to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The LP that transformed me
When I was twelve and beginning to learn the six-string, I’d only listen to 1950s rock ’n’roll, and was obsessed with Elvis, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder played Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was electrifying rock music. Instantly after he placed the record on the turntable, I was captivated.

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

The song that brings me to tears
Most music leaves 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 beauty of the singing. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner gets me going without fail.

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

Megan Harris
Megan Harris

A blockchain enthusiast and financial analyst with over 8 years of experience in crypto markets and decentralized finance.