My Desert Island Discs

I adore Desert Island Discs. If you are not familiar, in a nutshell the castaway picks eight pieces of music and discusses why they chose them. Eight songs is nothing. As we have seen in some of my previous posts, I struggle to pick my favourite eight songs from just one band or artist. The Beatles nearly finished me off.

Sometimes the castaways pick the eight songs they like at the moment. George Michael did this and there is a lot to be said for this approach. Some go with a theme, James Ellroy picked five Beethovens! Matt Lucas endeared me to him forever by picking Starmaker by The Kids From Fame.

Last night my friend and I went for cocktails and she explained that a friend had invited her to dinner in May and they all have to go with their eight desert island disc choices. Well! Not only is this work of a genius in terms of dinner party ideas, it resulted in a long discussion about how best to choose the eight. My friend started by saying she would have Buddy Holly's Everyday as it made her think of her dad. All very noble and sweet but I said, can you really stand to listen to that song over and over? Do you love it that much? I like Buddy Holly as much as the next gal but if I am only taking eight precious songs, I am not sacrificing quality for a memory. This threw her somewhat. And before we knew it we were in despair at how difficult this task is.

I've been musing on this today (along with nursing my hangover) and decided out of interest to see what my top eight most listened songs were on my iTunes. It surprised me by being a pretty accurate picture. I could do worse than go with these.

Desperado - The Eagles
Rule The World - Take That
Wichita Lineman - Glen Campbell
Rainy Days and Mondays - The Carpenters
Shine - Take That
We Used to Be Friends - The Dandy Warhols
Forever in Blue Jeans - Neil Diamond
Don't Stop Believin' - Glee cast

Hmmmmmm. OK, Don't Stop Believin' is not a contender. It was fun at the time but I am a bit mortified that it makes this list at all. I am not taking two Take That songs so Shine is out. I had no idea I was such a Dandy Warhols fan so errrm, no. That leaves five good, strong contenders:

Desperado - The Eagles
Rule The World - Take That
Wichita Lineman - Glen Campbell
Rainy Days and Mondays - The Carpenters
Forever in Blue Jeans - Neil Diamond

Desperado was mentioned last night. I am on to something with this! I love The Eagles and it's a perfect song. It would be be between this and Take it Easy. Rule the World by my boys would be coming with me no doubt. I adore Wichita Lineman, it reminds me of road trips across America and it's nicely soulful. I would be very happy to have The Carpenters with me for a nice singalong. And I am not going anywhere without Neil Diamond. Forever in Blue Jeans is one of my favourites and doubles up with nice memories of all my family so that's two birds killed.

I have three more. Going further down my list isn't helpful as we seem to hit a Christmas fest. I am not going to listen to Christmas music on my sunny island. Lady Gaga? Meh. No, like her as I do, I think not. Then we come to Dancing Queen, how does one pick a single Abba song? I had a meltdown picking eight. However, I have some ballads with me so I think I need a more uplifting Abba song. Seriously if it's me alone on an island listening to The Winner Takes It All I'd be a morose, crying mess. Dancing Queen it is.

I need a song for my mum and there is only one choice, You Never Can Tell by Chuck Berry. She loved this and used to do a hilarious dance round the living room to it. My mum was a great dancer, she'd have been a good stand in for Uma. I could also practice the Pulp Fiction dance.

And I am at seven. How did that happen? I have just one left. My shortlist is not short. Barbra Streisand? I am not sure I can cope without Papa Can You Hear Me. Wham? No Club Tropicana? Bee Gees? Billy Joel? It has to be The Beatles surely? Guns 'n' Roses? Elvis? Michael Jackson? Lenny Kravitz? Madonna? Prince? Whitney? No. I've made my choice. It's my island and I can listen to what I want to with no scorn.

Bonnie, step on up! You win the place!

I don't want anything too sad, too musically perfect. I want something fun. I want something I can run around the island in a billowing frock pretending I am Bonnie. I want to belt it out because nobody can hear me. Only Bonnie fulfils this brief.

So my final list:

Desperado - The Eagles
Rule The World - Take That
Wichita Lineman - Glen Campbell
Rainy Days and Mondays - The Carpenters
Forever in Blue Jeans - Neil Diamond
Dancing Queen - Abba
You Never Can Tell - Chuck Berry
Total Eclipse of the Heart - Bonnie Tyler

On reflection I am pleased with this. I have plenty of singalong fun, songs to dance to, songs to remember friends and family with. And I think the Glen Campbell would surprise my friends and you need a surprise or two in there. Nobody wants to be predictable.

So now I have to pick the one I'd save from the waves crashing to the shore. As if this isn't torturous enough, honestly. It's between Desperado and Dancing Queen. I am going to have to pick Dancing Queen because it's a happy song. 

I can't even get started on a book and luxury. I am already traumatised and full of self doubt. This is very, very, very difficult. 

Which would be your eight? Knock yourself out!