Which Desert Island Disc would you save?

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Published by: MarkR on 29th Nov 2011 | View all blogs by MarkR

To mark the 70th anniversary of Desert Island Discs, you get the chance to save one track from the waves if it were you marooned on the sand. And you get to tell the BBC why.

I'm sorry to place such a dilemma at your door, but which ONE track would you choose?

BBC - Desert Island Discs - Your Desert Island Discs

I chose Baba Yaga's Ball by local band Sheelanagig. An amazingly happy tune that tells a story of a Russian witch who steals children and eats them. It makes me jump up and down to an extent that spells bad news for my ankles.

http://sheelanagig.bandcamp.com/

Comments

25 Comments

by John Taylor 5 months ago

One track! That's cruelty, Mark. Probably Wilhelm Kempff playing Beethoven, but which one??? I'll go for the slow movement of the Appassionata Sonata recorded in mono before I was born. And as soon as I heard it, I would want something else... and something else... and...
by Tony 5 months ago

I only ever once thought about what eight gramaphone records I would take to my desert island and I only managed to come up with three: The Teddy Bears' Picnic, The Laughing Policeman and The Ugly Duckling. I was six at the time and these were my favourites played by Uncle Mac on the Light Programme on Saturday mornings. Of the three, I'd stick with The Teddy Bears' Picknic - it's very tuneful and rhythmical, and I love the brass instruments.
by Jill 5 months ago

Those were my favourites too, Tony!

Now I would choose Eva Cassidy's heartrending version of 'Over The Rainbow'.

Reasons: 1. It evokes many and varied emotions. 2. I love rainbows. 3. They represent hope and I would hope to get off that desert island one day!
by Old Fat Prop 5 months ago

Has to be...can only be....Billy Idol...."dancin wiff myseff"

Close runner up is Jackson Browne's love song to his hand....."Rosie"
by Wrathnar the Unreasonable 5 months ago

I'd choose 'Tearing the veil from grace' by Cradle of Filth, cos it kinda sums everything up. It's a long, epic track full of awesome riffs and mindblowing harmonies, which tells the story of the fall of the rebel angels, their sojourn in Hell, and their eventual counterattack on Heaven and subsequent victory over the Desert God.

Sample lyric: "Stormbringer drums thunder / In full Dis orchestra / As lightning streaks with fire / Black clouds that shroud the Earth"

My second choice would be 'Hosannas in extremis' (sub-titled 'The rape and ruin of angels') by the same band.

Sample lyric: "Hurry else Death may spy us here / And quicken the pulse of dawn"
by Tony 5 months ago

Oh, Eva Cassidy - yes! Our tastes have remained similar as we've matured, Jill :-) (Did you like Buddy Hollly and Roy Orbison?) I think, now, I'd take 'Autumn Leaves'. It's a bit sad, I know, but it's such a beautiful song.
by Ali 5 months ago

'love song to his hand' he he.

Whole lotta Rosie by AC/DC. (live version)
and if I could sneak in the electric piano intro to 'Suspicious' by Stevie Wonder that would be great.
by Jill 5 months ago

Yes, in answer to your question Tony! Autumn Leaves a favourite also. Trouble is, there are too many favourites, classical, popular et al., and choosing one is a real challenge. If that one is chosen by gut instinct, I guess it reveals a lot about the choser too!
by Jill 5 months ago

Think that should be *chooser*!
by John Taylor 5 months ago

I was too tired to hunt out a link to mine last night: this is Rubinstein playing it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9CeFgSbGIc
by SecretSpi 5 months ago

I'd choose "Friday I'm in Love" by The Cure.
First of all, I hope it would help me keep track of the days of the week. And secondly, hopefully I'd have my own gorgeous Man Friday marooned with me!
by Noodledoodle 5 months ago

That's funny Spi - I have chosen 'just like heaven' by the Cure. With 3 crazy kids a desert island break would be just that & certainly a cure!! :-)
by CJ 5 months ago

Another vote for The Cure here - Pictures of You for me! Reminds me of my youth, and never fails to make me smile and make me cry in equal measure.
by John Taylor 5 months ago

As an alternative to the Beethoven, maybe House of Fun by Madness. Either would be completely incongruous on a desert island. It would have to be, like, Samba Pa Ti by Santana, man, to bring back memories of parties in the 70s with, like, strange aromas in the air. Or the theme music from my profile, Dancing on the Beach.
by Barry Walsh 5 months ago

A Man Needs a Maid – Neil Young. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=na1v3_RloJg&feature=related
(No, not sexist, but universal reflection how sometimes men/women need space when troubled)
by MinxieAD 5 months ago

I don’t think I’d choose a slow one because that’d be too depressing on a desert island, and I doubt there’d be wine.

Happy songs can get annoying after a while... mmm...

I'd want to save "Sex Pistols – Holiday in the Sun." It's a great track and better still, I think it’d get me in the mood for hitting small rodents over the head and biting their heads off to survive!
by John Taylor 5 months ago

:-) Minxie
by John Taylor 5 months ago

I still can't settle on which one of mine, so I'm going for 4'33" by John Cage.
by Skylark 5 months ago

Well, my choice is a bit obvious, but I think it would have to be Vaughan William's Lark Ascending :-D
by Gerry 5 months ago

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4t-Kip9NqY
by MarkR 5 months ago

Such good choices folks, even the indecisive and rule-bending amongst you ;-)
Best not to think about it too long...there lies madness.

So 3 Cures, a Sex Pistol, Cassidy and Cradle of Filth.
A Ball, a Lark, a man, a maid and a Cage.
Not forgetting Billy and Rosie.

I need a lie down.
Have you entered your choice on the website though?
by MarkR 5 months ago

Oh and Minxie, would you like fries with that?
by Wrathnar the Unreasonable 5 months ago

Must-see video for Roy Orbison's 'Pretty Woman': click here
by Jill 5 months ago

Priceless, WtU!
by Gerilyn 5 months ago

Wrath- those pics could easily have been taken in my local Tesco.
My song would have to be Unfinished Sympathy by Massive attack. It just doesn't age and reminds me of 'the good 'ol days'. :D