Desert Island Discs Meme
Feb. 7th, 2011 10:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
galadriel1010So, I am procrastinating, and I thought it would be fun to play Desert Island Discs. The rules are:
You are to be cast away on a desert island and you can only take so much with you. As well as the Complete Works of Shakespeare and a religious or philosophical text of your choice, you can take:
Eight pieces of music.
One book
One luxury, which cannot be useful in escaping.
Music
1. Bellowhead - New York Girls
This song is massively good fun, and works just as well on CD as it does live. It was beaten for Best Traditional Track at the BBC folk awards just now (must as I adore Norma Waterson and Eliza Carthy, I think they were robbed), but they did get the Best Group award. It's such an upbeat, lively song that I can't help dancing to, and I can't get enough of it.
And I'm seeing them live this summer!
2. Bon Jovi - Living on a Prayer
As well as being a fantastic song with a great story, Living on a Prayer is also one of my favourite pieces that I've done with choir. I did an a capella arrangement with two choirs, one of whom 'borrowed' it from the other, and we took it to China to perform there. It is one of those pieces that you never want to end, and has some fantastic memories like singing it full volume at the back of a bus in Beijing and watching the bad boys of the choir rocking out with officially sanctioned inflatable guitars.
3. Enter the Haggis - One Last Drink
Enter the Haggis are a fabulous Celtic rock band from Canada. Yep.
I heard this one on the radio when I was tuned in to listen to the Demon Barbers, who are my favourite band but, sadly, don't have a single song that I could say 'yes, that one'. This one came straight after it, and nearly had my family up and dancing - we were in the car at the time, so we didn't quite, but we wanted to. It's a fabulous song about not being prepared to die just yet.
And getting drunk. Getting drunk and kissing the girls is important.
4. Emerson, Lake and Palmer - Hoedown
Love this as the original classical version, but it just gets so much better with electricity. It rocks, it rollocks and it has twiddly bits, and it's a lot folky as well. I love.
5. June Tabor and Oyster Band - Dives and Lazarus
I'm not normally a fan of June Tabor's voice, but she's just fabulous on this track. Dives and Lazarus is one of those tunes that you just know and love, and it ties together my church upbringing with my love of folk rock, in a folk rock version of a religious folk song.
6. John Barrowman - Oh What a Night
What is this? It's not a folk rock song? No, it's the fabulous and most lovely John Barrowman. Since I was fifteen and watching him swashbuckle his way through Doctor Who, he's had a large part of my heart, and I just can't get him to give it up, he just keeps being more and more lovely. I've seen him live four times in pantomime, once when he was recording the first series of Tonight's The Night, once on his Music Music Music rout, once as Zaza in La Cage Aux Folles and at the first showing of Children of Earth in London. I could have chosen ten songs from him, but I wouldn't let myself.
I chose this one because, like all the others on my list, it makes me want to get up and dance and makes me feel good. I'm not a girl who likes her music to make her cry, I want it to fill me with joy, and John Barrowman is just overflowing with joy. Every night should be a night like this one.
7. Tiger Moth - Sloe Banga
Sloe Gin is a lovely polka that I have a few covers of, and this is my favourite. It's a blend of styles and traditions, and is just played with absolute glee. Hearing it makes me want to grab a partner and polka around the living room.
8. Show of Hands - Roots
Another folk rock track to finish the list, and this is the one I think is most important. It's a warning about not letting your traditions die, and a celebration of English traditions, and a lament for the people who don't know of the awesoem that makes up this list, plus the thousands of awesome songs that I didn't choose, and the wonderful stuff that just isn't my cup of tea. Folk music tells the stories of the people more effectively than teachers ever can, but so few people are listening.
This song is also a fantastic rollock, great fun live and beautifully crafted.
Book
If I had one book to take with me, I would cheat and take the City Watch trilogy by Terry Pratchett. They're not my favourite of his stories, but it's such a great series, and you get three in one. Pratchett is a wonderful storyteller, and I couldn't leave him behind.
Luxury
I get one luxury, it has to be my magic laptop which never runs out of power. I can write, play games, listen to music and use it as a pillow.
Your turn!
That got long, edited to add cut.
You are to be cast away on a desert island and you can only take so much with you. As well as the Complete Works of Shakespeare and a religious or philosophical text of your choice, you can take:
Eight pieces of music.
One book
One luxury, which cannot be useful in escaping.
Music
1. Bellowhead - New York Girls
This song is massively good fun, and works just as well on CD as it does live. It was beaten for Best Traditional Track at the BBC folk awards just now (must as I adore Norma Waterson and Eliza Carthy, I think they were robbed), but they did get the Best Group award. It's such an upbeat, lively song that I can't help dancing to, and I can't get enough of it.
And I'm seeing them live this summer!
2. Bon Jovi - Living on a Prayer
As well as being a fantastic song with a great story, Living on a Prayer is also one of my favourite pieces that I've done with choir. I did an a capella arrangement with two choirs, one of whom 'borrowed' it from the other, and we took it to China to perform there. It is one of those pieces that you never want to end, and has some fantastic memories like singing it full volume at the back of a bus in Beijing and watching the bad boys of the choir rocking out with officially sanctioned inflatable guitars.
3. Enter the Haggis - One Last Drink
Enter the Haggis are a fabulous Celtic rock band from Canada. Yep.
I heard this one on the radio when I was tuned in to listen to the Demon Barbers, who are my favourite band but, sadly, don't have a single song that I could say 'yes, that one'. This one came straight after it, and nearly had my family up and dancing - we were in the car at the time, so we didn't quite, but we wanted to. It's a fabulous song about not being prepared to die just yet.
And getting drunk. Getting drunk and kissing the girls is important.
4. Emerson, Lake and Palmer - Hoedown
Love this as the original classical version, but it just gets so much better with electricity. It rocks, it rollocks and it has twiddly bits, and it's a lot folky as well. I love.
5. June Tabor and Oyster Band - Dives and Lazarus
I'm not normally a fan of June Tabor's voice, but she's just fabulous on this track. Dives and Lazarus is one of those tunes that you just know and love, and it ties together my church upbringing with my love of folk rock, in a folk rock version of a religious folk song.
6. John Barrowman - Oh What a Night
What is this? It's not a folk rock song? No, it's the fabulous and most lovely John Barrowman. Since I was fifteen and watching him swashbuckle his way through Doctor Who, he's had a large part of my heart, and I just can't get him to give it up, he just keeps being more and more lovely. I've seen him live four times in pantomime, once when he was recording the first series of Tonight's The Night, once on his Music Music Music rout, once as Zaza in La Cage Aux Folles and at the first showing of Children of Earth in London. I could have chosen ten songs from him, but I wouldn't let myself.
I chose this one because, like all the others on my list, it makes me want to get up and dance and makes me feel good. I'm not a girl who likes her music to make her cry, I want it to fill me with joy, and John Barrowman is just overflowing with joy. Every night should be a night like this one.
7. Tiger Moth - Sloe Banga
Sloe Gin is a lovely polka that I have a few covers of, and this is my favourite. It's a blend of styles and traditions, and is just played with absolute glee. Hearing it makes me want to grab a partner and polka around the living room.
8. Show of Hands - Roots
Another folk rock track to finish the list, and this is the one I think is most important. It's a warning about not letting your traditions die, and a celebration of English traditions, and a lament for the people who don't know of the awesoem that makes up this list, plus the thousands of awesome songs that I didn't choose, and the wonderful stuff that just isn't my cup of tea. Folk music tells the stories of the people more effectively than teachers ever can, but so few people are listening.
This song is also a fantastic rollock, great fun live and beautifully crafted.
Book
If I had one book to take with me, I would cheat and take the City Watch trilogy by Terry Pratchett. They're not my favourite of his stories, but it's such a great series, and you get three in one. Pratchett is a wonderful storyteller, and I couldn't leave him behind.
Luxury
I get one luxury, it has to be my magic laptop which never runs out of power. I can write, play games, listen to music and use it as a pillow.
Your turn!
That got long, edited to add cut.
