John Simm's Revealing Playlist: From Early Loves to Peculiar Aversions

The first tune I was captivated by
My most primal recollection is walking into a room at nursery school where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the sound effects, and John Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the hook, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The first 45 I acquired
When I was eight, 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 Woolworths, and I picked out Come Back My Love by Darts. The first single I purchased with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was No 1 at the time, and I chose it when my dad mentioned that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The tune I perform at karaoke
I honestly cannot stand public singing and steer clear at all costs. But if I had to, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The track I oddly know all the words to
I just discovered that I can recall almost every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The perfect song to blast at a party
It hinges on what stage of the party you are at. Early doors it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the night wears on, I’d move on to the Artist, the Stones and Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an undeniable hit.

The track I can not listen to
I strangely cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

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

The record that changed my life
When I was twelve and beginning to study the six-string, I’d only listen to classic rock and roll, and was fixated on Elvis, the rock pioneer, the killer, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter brought round Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was powerful rock ’n’roll. As soon as he put the record on the record player, I was hooked.

The track that wakes me in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.

The song that brings me to tears
All music leaves me touched. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Beatles all make me cry because of the harmony and pure perfection of the singing. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner gets me going every time.

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

Judy Clark
Judy Clark

Elara is a seasoned gambling analyst with over a decade of experience in the UK betting industry, specializing in odds and market trends.