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

The first tune I became enamored with
My first memory is walking into a room at kindergarten where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was mesmerized by the audio textures, and John Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the hook, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”

The inaugural record I bought
When I was eight, I won a competition at school to select a brand new record to play at the weekly dance party we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by Darts. The first record I purchased with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was topping the charts at the time, and I chose it when my father mentioned that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The song I perform at karaoke
I frankly do not enjoy public singing and dodge it at all costs. But if forced, I’d choose Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The track I oddly remember all the words to
I recently realised that I know almost all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The best tune to play at a soirée
It hinges on the point of the event you are at. At the start 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 Prince, the Stones and Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an undeniable hit.

The track I can never hear
I strangely loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The ultimate track to make love to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The LP that transformed me
When I was 12 and beginning to study the six-string, I’d only listen to classic rock and roll, and was obsessed with The King, the rock pioneer, the killer, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder introduced me to Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was electrifying rock ’n’roll. Instantly after he put the vinyl on the record player, I was captivated.

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

The piece that brings me to tears
Most music makes me moved. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Fab Four all stir my emotions because of the melody and utter brilliance of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going without fail.

The song I’d like to be played 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.

Brittany David
Brittany David

A seasoned gaming analyst with over a decade of experience in casino trends and digital entertainment.