Desert Island Discs

Hopefully the Island I end up on - Tresco

This year at Christmas we had our own Desert Island Discs, which we presented to each other on Christmas Eve over a few wines, and a Shepherds Pie. These are the ones I selected.

1. Mercury The Winged Messenger from Holst’s Planets

This is the first piece of music I remember hearing. I picked Mercury as I was always fascinated by him in the Greek myths. He reminds me a bit of Pan, Puck, Loki, a mischievous character, and I feel the music really conveys that. Incidentally when I started secondary school I was asked by one of the cooler kids what music I liked. I replied classical, it didn’t go down well that I hadn’t said Take That! From that time I was in the geeky strange group. I’m still proud!

2. Strawberry Fields Forever – The Beatles

I’m the third generation of Beatles fan in the family,  so they had to be included. I picked this song as I remember playing as a child with my brother and listening to the Magical Mystery Tour album. I think we thought it was a nursery rhyme cd for kids, I don’t think we knew the real meaning!! A lot of lego buildings and games involving thundercats/teenage mutant ninja turtles/thunderbirds were created.  This is not my favourite Beatles song, but I think it’s their best.

3. Sexbomb – Tom Jones

I had to pick an upbeat, dance-y track. When I’m stuck on the island there’s going to be times when I need to let my hair down. It took me a while to go through my ipod, but I settled on Tom Jones. I love this track. It makes me laugh, it’s ridiculous, and makes me dance. Perfect.

4. The Sound of Silence – Simon and Garfunkel

Another group I grew up with was Simon and Garfunkel. They are fantastic.  This song is beautiful, but it must be the right version. The one I love is off Wednesday Morning, 3am. It’s more acoustic than the famous version, which I think gives it a more upbeat feel. It has a hopeful sound, which is what I love about it.

5. Cheek to Cheek – Ella Fitzgerald

I chose this one for a few reasons. The first is that it was on a jazz album we had when I worked in a local café. I used to clean the floors to it, and it made me feel like I was in a past simpler life. Happy times. The second reason was it reminds me of Swing dancing, and all the fun nights I’ve had out trying to lindy hop, and the great people I’ve met. The third reason is that it’s my favourite film – The English Patient.

6. Symphony number 7 in A Major,  op 92-2, Allegretto - Beethoven

I can’t really explain this one, apart from the fact that I believe it’s the greatest piece of music ever written. When I listen to it I can’t believe someone wrote it, it’s so incredibly beautiful.

7. Society – Eddie Vedder (On the ‘Into the Wild’ Soundtrack)

This song just makes me want to travel every time I hear it. I’ve listened to it on buses round Europe, trains to Italy and Paris, to Edinburgh, Leeds, Liverpool, and tubes in London.  It takes me everywhere.

8. Once there was a Hushpuppy – from the ‘Beasts of the Southern Wild ‘Soundtrack

Again I picked this track for a few reasons. The first was I saw this film at the 2012 London Film Festival, possibly the best period I had in London while I lived there. I saw a film a day for ten days and walked up and down red carpets, it was fantastic. I picked this film on a whim, not realising how big it would become, eventually being nominated for best picture at the Oscars.

The film itself really spoke to me, highlighting the important issues with climate change and the damage we’re doing to our planet, but through the eyes of a child. The whole soundtrack is wonderful, and I downloaded it as soon as I’d seen the film. It shows how important music can be as part of the viewing experience, and the emotions that can be created through it. I really enjoy listening to soundtracks, I guess they’re the modern classical music.

Luxury item – The one thing I couldn’t be without would be the ability to make tea. I can’t cope without it, I need at least 3 cups a day, minimum!

Book – The book I would take to the island would be the Gormenghast Trilogy. I couldn’t be without it.

Piece of Art- I don’t think they have this on the BBC’s Desert Island Discs, but we thought it would be interesting to have something useless, but meaningful. I would pick an ice age art piece, two reindeer carved into mammoth tusk. It’s around 13,000 years old, from France. As it is a carving I felt it would be comforting to touch it and feel the creation.  It would remind me where mankind have come from, and what we are capable of doing. If we got out the cave, then I’m capable of escaping an island.