My friend Charlie got me to do my choices for Desert Island Discs. It’s kind of fun making the choices, but is also incredibly difficult. I’ve only spent last night and this morning thinking about it, and it should probably warrant more time, but with exams etc. it’s best not to obsess over it too much. Should anyone care here’s what I decided upon. First the rules:

Dear Rich,

This week you are my famous castaway. Your task is to choose eight pieces of music, a book and a luxury item for your imaginary stay on the island. The pieces of music should be singles. Your luxury item must be inanimate and of no use in escaping the island or allowing communication from outside. All castaways are automatically given the Complete Works of Shakespeare and either the Bible or another appropriate religious or philosophical work. 

You do not have to tell me the reasons behind your choices, but you may if you want to.

(Yes this is shamelessly stolen from BBC Radio Four, who have the entire lists from decades of the show on their website. I’ve spent quite a lot of time browsing through previous guests and strongly recommend it. Interesting fact: Nick Clegg chose Shakira.)

Ok first I’m glad that they let you swap the Bible with a work of philosophy. So I’ll take Sartre I guess. Being and Nothingness. 

Luxury item would have to be as much writing materials as I’m possibly allowed to take. I’ve always wanted to be a writer, but as of yet I’ve never had the focus or inspiration to write anything worthwhile. I probably don’t have the talent for it but I’d enjoy trying.
As for a book…maybe Don Quixote or Moby Dick, because both are long and rich and I’ve never gotten round to reading either. Moby Dick might be too upsetting though what with the shipwrecks and all.
Or maybe I’d take 2666 and just read a sentence at a time. I reckon I’d be ok with that. And then when I’ve memorised it I could hang it on a washing line and observe how the elements affect it (obscure reference to the events of the book).
Or Borges. Yes. Can I take a complete works? That’d be lovely. There’s so many fascinating ideas in Borges’ stories, incredible writer.

Music:

Firstly I’ll take This Is Yesterday by the Manic Street Preachers. The Holy Bible was my favourite album growing up and has been consistently one of my favourites. It’s incredible. Also they played this when I saw them last year. My actual favourite on the album when I was 10 was Die In The Summertime, but it’s too depressing.

From Mr Waits I’ll take Clap Hands. It was the song that really convinced me that I liked him, and he’s now one of my all time favourites so there’s that going for it. Also it’s a very brooding and angry song, so I can listen to it when I’m pissed off with the world that left me abandoned on an island, “Said roar, roar the thunder and the roar Son of a bitch is never comin’ back here no more. ” Yeah, fuck you…world.

Next, I think I’ll have The End by The Doors. Full version obviously. I can sing along when the tide starts approaching my seaside abode “This is the end, my only friend the end”. I can do that for all 11+ minutes and then move my hammock back a bit. It’s such an amazing song though, so much going on it. And it reminds me of Apocalypse Now very vividly so it’ll be like taking the film as well.
I’ll go with Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds now. I considered taking No Pussy Blues, by offshoot band Grinderman, because it’s a lot of fun and, let’s face it, I’ll probably be able to relate to it sooner or later on the whole last stop before the River Styx. But, it’s not my favourite, and that accolade would probably go to More News From Nowhere which is surreal, amusing and awesome. Much to the dismay of many of my friends, Nick Cave is definitely an all time favourite artist of mine, very versatile, very varied and I never tire of his music. More News From Nowhere is fairly upbeat for Nick Cave, and also quite relaxed. Might allow me to cling on to sanity for a few more days.

This choice is a bit of a weird one, in that I don’t actually think it’s that great a song, but it’s all to do with the timing of it. I first listened to it during first year college (it’s on the soundtrack to This Is England, if you’re wondering where I heard it, which I downloaded for the Einaudi, but more on him later), and in particular during and after my week stay at Nottingham University thanks to the Sutton Trust. It was an amazing week and I met lots of awesome people, which, me being me, I didn’t manage to stay in contact with for long and I only ever saw one of them again. So the song makes me very nostalgic, not just that week, but just the general sense of losing touch with someone. I’ve done a fair bit of moving around so I’ve quite a list of people I’ve lost contact with. Anyway the song is Since Yesterday by Strawberry Switchblade.

Speaking of Ludovico Einuadi - I think I’ll take Fuori Dal Mondo. It’s beautiful and very emotional. And I need some classical. Potential tea-jerker. Especially by about week 5 of the island exodus. Loneliness will have set in, my books will be finished, I’ll have burnt the writing material for warmth and all I’ve have left is this heartbreaking piece of music.

6 down, 2 to go, and I’ve not yet mentioned The National, Arcade Fire, The Veils, The Smiths, Devendra Banhart, Captain Beefheart, Edward Sharpe and so on. Very difficult.


I am in need of something genuinely upbeat and fun, so for that I’m going to take Cassius by the Foals. It’s just brilliant. I’d probably even dance to it. When no one’s looking of course. Which shouldn’t be too hard.

Finally, and reluctantly, because there’s so much I’ve missed, I’ll take Under the Folding Branches by the Veils. I almost chose Nux Vomica, but at the end of the day this is more affecting. 

My overall favourite? I’ve no idea. Probably not even on this list. But I think it’s a good mix.

This really sucks, 8 is never enough. But I could probably spend my entire life fretting over this so I’ll leave it there.
Conveniently all of these songs can be found on spotify. It’s as if that was intentional. Ha. Have a playlist, should you care.

http://open.spotify.com/user/richcie/playlist/40syzXqvzzVnOQChm2dOMI

The End. 

Exciting post script: William Gibson chose both Tom Waits and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and then chose Borges for his book.
I think we’re soul mates. Or even sole mates. As all we’ll be able to eat is fish.