š Share this article John Simm's Candid Musical Selections: Starting with Childhood Loves to Unexplained Dislikes The first track I became enamored withMy earliest memory is walking into a room at preschool where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the sound effects, and John Lennon yelling: āFull speed ahead!ā When it reached the hook, I distinctly thought: āThis must be music!ā The very first single I purchasedWhen I was eight years old, I won a competition at school to pick a new vinyl to play at the mini disco we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I chose 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 topping the charts at the time, and I selected it when my dad pointed out that it was by a former member of the Beatles. The tune I perform at karaokeI honestly do not enjoy public singing and steer clear at all costs. But under duress, Iād go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra. The track I strangely know each line toI just realised that I have memorized virtually the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by Paul Simon. The ideal track to put on at a partyIt depends on which phase of the event you are at. For the beginning it would likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the evening progresses, Iād move on to Prince, the Stones and Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an massive track. The track I can no longer hearI inexplicably loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band. The ultimate piece to have sex toCome Together by the Beatles. The record that transformed meWhen I was 12 and just learning to play the six-string, Iād only listen to 1950s rock and roll, and was obsessed with Elvis, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder brought round Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rockānāroll, but it was electrifying rock ānāroll. The moment he placed the record on the record player, I was a fan for life. The song that gets me up in the morningWhatād I Say in its full glory by The Genius. The song that brings me to tearsMost music leaves me moved. Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Presley and the Beatles all make me cry because of the melody and utter beauty of the vocals. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner strikes a chord every time. The song Iād like performed at my final send-offElvis. If Iām given a cremation, Iāll have Burning Love. If Iām laid to rest in the ground, Iāll have Way Down.