Day 38 - My Desert Island Discs

Gimme Shelter - The Rolling Stones

  • Huge. That's all there is to it.


Reunited - Wu Tang Clan

  • In terms of consistency 90s Hip Hop is my favourite genre, yet I only have one hip hop song. This being the case, I've selected the all supreme Wu-Tang Clang, not only for quality purposes (great bars over a lovely and chill string instrumental), but it also provides a variety of rappers within a single track. Only four of them in this one, but still, four for the price of one (plus some bonus R&B vocals). 


Joga - Bjork

  • Some electronic sounds into the mix. It is starting become clear that I have a very tactical approach in attempting to cover a variety of styles. I love this song, but in the grand scheme of things there are admittedly plenty of tracks I prefer to this one, but in addition to adding variation to my mix, it also adds a female voice, which could be a nice reminder given that I may never hear one ever again. Also if I slightly lose my mind, I think this song would be provide a strong atmosphere into which I can descend into grandiose euphoric madness.


First We Take Manhattan - Leonard Cohen

  • "They sentenced me to 20 years of boredom" - This will take on a new pertinent relevance. In this list, value per song is clearly a theme and I am at it again; This is like 3 songs in one! You get your standard Leonard Cohen poetic darkness, an upbeat 80s bouncy beat, and a cheesy pop chorus you can sing and dance along to. There aren't many songs you can have a cheesy singalong to whilst imagining your own world conquest and this could be pivotal in serving that purpose after my Bjork-based descent into madess. Also other than Bjork, there aren't many female vocals in this list and she doesn't exactly sound like a normal woman, so this also covers that aspect after unfortunately having to neglect The Ronettes in a very tough call. This song covers a lot. 


What is Life - George Harrison

  • A big uplifting tune which I think would help me get shit done. I'm envisaging a triumphant montage of productivity, following a long period of failures and giving up. I've snapped into action and with this musical backing how can I fail? I can make a hut! I can catch a fish! I can build a raft! Escape here I come!!!


Idiot Prayer - Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds

  • A beautiful song by one of my all time favourite artists. Nick Cave was always going to be essential to this playlist but plenty of his songs would drive a person mad very quickly. Imagine The Mercy Seat on repeat whilst stranded on a desert island. A psychological disaster. This however is perfect; a gentle piano with sombre accompanying strings, soft yet bold vocals and to top it off a degree of of humour. Of course all songs will drive you mad eventually, but this would at least take longer.


The Boy With a Thorn in His Side - The Smiths

  • If any song sounded like this I wouldn't even care what the lyrics were. It could be the most depressing or offensive lyrics in the world and I would still be unable to refrain from being succumb to a jubilant trance. In my opinion this is the ultimate Morrissey and Marr combination, hitting a perfect sweet spot in complimenting each others sounds. Morrissey's yodelling outro partnered to the upbeat backdrop of Marr's jangly and hopeful riff never fails to transport me away from my dominant state of mind of unromantic obstinance and cynicism. 


Every Grain of Sand - Bob Dylan 

  • I think this would provide a level of calm, reassurance and understanding, particularly after going insane after Bjork. It also provides rare sentimental value and maintains memory, reminding me of sitting next to my mum watching Bob Dylan perform this song in Hull. My dad is also a massive Bob Dylan fan, so yet again multiple levels of value - two in one! Plus sand won't ever be more relevant.



Close Contenders

Be My Baby - The Ronettes

Half a Person - The Smiths

On Some Faraway Beach - Brian Eno

It was very close between Be My Baby and What is Life. Both have the Phil Spector 'Wall of Sound' production but ultimately the main determining factor came down to trying to maintain a more even balance of fast and slow songs. Plus What is Life simply being longer - value per second! 

Half a Person is my favourite Smiths/Morrissey song that I've seen him perform live, but it's been edged out by my actual favourite. Although not having seen it live, I hope it would still prompt a memory of the Half a Person performance.

With 'On Some Faraway Beach', the music would be calming but I'm not sure if I'd be a fan of the specificity of this blunt reminder of circumstance. It could go either way. It could be the perfect song but is it worth the risk?



Book

Planet Simpson (by Chris Turner)

  • I haven't actually read all of it, but in the absence of telly, hopefully this will do some of the job. Some light relief and the best substitute for The Simpsons I can think of.



Playlist

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7jCg35CG1ZRMPm19yr7jLY?si=T2A8ZRzeQtmDBiOMJRq1Ag


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