The rules are simple.
You are stranded on a desert island. You are allowed eight pieces of music to take with you.
You can also choose a favourite book (excluding the Bible or other religious work and Shakespeare – these already await you) and a luxury which must be inanimate and have no practical use.
Ready? 1… 2… 3… GO!
1. A little respect – Erasure
I don’t know what it is about this song but no matter how I feel when I start listening to it, I’m always happy by the end of it!
2. My baby just cares for me – Nina Simone
Another happy song. The piano bit in the middle makes me feel like giggling. Odd but true.
3. Folsom Prison Blues – Johnny Cash
I can’t believe how long it took me to find out about Johnny Cash. I only really got into him about 2 years ago and now can’t imagine how I ever lived without him!
4. California Dreamin’ – The Mamas and the Papas
This reminds me of growing up in Kenya – we went through a real Mamas and the Papas “stage” and this was pretty much the only song we sang or listened to for about a month.
5. I’m on my way – The Proclaimers
You may know it from Shrek but I remember this from growing up. My mother had Sunshine on Leith - an excellent album, sadly overlooked.
6. Nimrod (from “Enigma variations”) – Elgar
It makes me cry but I still love it.
7. Clarinet concerto in A major - Mozart
A really relaxing piece of music – for some reason it reminds me of summer and, I think because of its use in Out of Africa, it reminds me of home.
8. Young person’s guide to the orchestra – Britten
I can remember my father and I listening to this and my task was to name all the instruments. At push, I think I could probably still do it!
Book: Cautionary Tales for Children by Hilaire Belloc
My father used to read this to me. I still find them stupidly funny.
Luxury: Paper, lots of pencils and a pencil sharpener
So now, over to you. Write your own blog post about your desert island.
That Nina Simone song gives me chills every time I hear it! I’ve heard a dozen other artits record thta song and all of their efforts are half-baked compared to Ms. Simone.
I’m going to be pedantic, and say that Sue Lawley would never have let you have paper, pencils AND a sharpener…
UB – That’s coz Nina rocks.
Hannah – pah to you and your pendantry. Paper, pencils and a sharpener was allowed the other week (that’s where I got the idea from!)