The longest- running BBC radio show is "Desert Island Discs". It lasts for an hour - during which the week's special guest chooses eight recordings - usually songs - that he or she would choose to take to an imaginary desert island. The guest also gets to choose one luxury to take with them and a book too. Towards the end of the show, the guest is asked which one of their eight recording choices they would select if they could only take one.
 |
| Pam Ayres |
- Tim van Eyken & Members of the War Horse Company Chorus - "Only Remembered"
- Alun Armstrong & Original 1985 London Cast of "Les Miserables" - "Master of the House"
- Bob Dylan - "The Times They Are A' Changing"
- Neil Sedaka - "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen"
- Bruce Springsteen - "Independence Day"
- Tina Turner - "The Best"
- The Fureys and Davey Arthur - "When You Were Sweet Sixteen"
- Ruggero Leoncavallo - "Vesti la Giubba"
Interestingly it was the song by The Fureys that Pam Ayres picked if she were only allowed to take one. I hadn't heard that plaintive song in years. There are various different versions of "When You Were Sweet Sixteen" and here are three of them:-
By the way, which song or piece of music would you take to your desert island?
That's started my day off brilliantly. I love the Fureys, in fact I love most Irish Folk music. It all started with Robin Hall and Jimmy Macgregor, don't laugh, it must have been in the late sixties when we went to see them live, you may not even be aware of them, being the young whipper snapper that you are. lol
ReplyDeleteThis type of music even though it is often of a serious nature really lifts my spirits and I like to sing along. What a picture, me singing along to Irish music, lol
Briony
x
I do remember Robin Hall and Jimmy McGregor! However, I am still happy to be called a young whippersnapper by a "mature" woman.
DeleteI like 'mature' so much nicer than elderly. lol
DeleteBy the way, Tom has just reminded me that Robin and Jimmy were Scots. Still folk though.
Cheese can also be "mature" Briony.
Deletex
I don't know Pam Ayres. But, anyone who chooses their desert island disks without one piece by Mozart or Beethoven goes down the greasy pole of esteem I hold them in. Come to think of it, weaving in Bach (the composer), they go, as they say in the motherland, "den Bach runter" (down the mountain river).
ReplyDeleteThe one and only I'd take? Silence.
U
Who recorded "Silence"? Was it Little Mix or Girls Aloud? I know you are a big fan of both girl bands.
DeleteI love Pam Ayres. She always puts on a wicked smile when she gets to the punchlines. As for music - I have too many favourites. It would be so hard to choose just one.
ReplyDeleteWould your list include "The Birdy Song" ADDY?
DeleteFor me it would have to be "love me still" by Louise Setara. It's a moving song sung by the most wonderful voice.
ReplyDeletePam Ayres is an absolute legend!
I don't know that song Christina. I will seek it out on YouTube. Thanks for calling by again.
DeleteG'day YP... thought I would call in :) You have a nice variety of topics I see.
ReplyDeletePam Ayres - now there is a lady with a quick wit and retort. I've not seen her in anything for quite awhile.
So hard to choose just one song but for a desert island I think it would be 'If' originally recorded by Bread,
That is indeed a lovely choice Elle. Thanks for calling by.
DeleteOh, the lovely Pam Ayres. I'm so pleased to hear she is still alive & well and living where ever.
ReplyDeleteAs soon as I read your post I dug around in the music room here at the Trash Palace and sure enough! I found a vinyl LP - Some more of me poems and songs.
As for the desert island disc, I'd take something orchestral, after a while a song with lyrics would drive me crazy.
It would be Arvo Part's Silentium.
Of course might be a different choice tomorrow. And I totally approve of Pam Ayres choice of When you were Sweet Sixteen.
Alpbie
And it's so late & I'm so tired I can't even spell my name.....
DeleteShe lives in the cotswolds in a georgian house with barns and it backs on to fields. I used to walk my dogs there with my friend when her husband was away (my friends dog used to run off)
DeleteHello Albie/Alfie/Ally/Alphie - or whatever you are called - I will have to look up Silentium as I don't think I know it.
DeleteAnd thanks for the inside information about Pam Ayres Sol.
Lol YP her dog is a little smooth coat jack russell called Izzy, mostly white patches. I made a buffoon of myself the first time I met her. she asked the dogs names, and then said 'I am Pam' and like a blubbering idiot I blushed bright pink and said 'I know'. and then couldnt speak again. funny poetry royalty.
DeleteI am sorry Sol - but I don't know if you are male or female - but hey it's 2018! It's okay to have a crush on Pam Ayres - an unlikely sex object!
Deleteha ha YP I am defo female. I dont have a crush on her I was just a bit star struck! ;) I always say stupid stuff when really I should just shut up! lol
DeleteI wonder if Pam Ayres has written a poem about you?
DeleteWhile walking the dog one day
Feeling light and happy and gay
I encountered another dog walker
She wasn't much of a talker
Her cheeks went bright red
And the few words she said
Convinced me she was a stalker.
You mentioned that guests on the show are also asked which one luxury and what book they would take to the desert Island. What did Pam Ayres choose? (By the way, I have not the slightest idea who she is.)
ReplyDeleteThe luxury was a medical cabinet - as she reacts badly to mosquitoes and her extra book was The Oxford Book of Humorous Prose: From William Caxton to P.G.Wodehouse by Frank Muir.
DeleteThat's not an easy choice. I like a wide variety of music and each piece reminds me of another. I like you tube as I can watch and listen to things I haven't heard for a long time.
ReplyDeleteI bet you would pick "When the Red Red Robin Comes Bob Bob Bobbin' Along"
DeleteI tend to get fixated on a piece of music for a long, long time. This time last year it was the Beach Boys' "God Only Knows" and right now it's Queen's "Somebody To Love". Either one would keep me going until the rescue ship/plane came along to pluck me off the island :)
ReplyDeleteP. S. What would YOU take, YP?
ReplyDeleteMaybe "Jenny" by The Bollweevils (1994).
DeleteIf not... maybe "Harvest Moon" by Canada's Neil Young.
Gosh, it's hard to narrow it down. Can it be one whole album or just a song? For a whole album, a strong contender would be Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness by Smashing Pumpkins. My favorite song on that particular album is "1979".
ReplyDeleteWell that's another song I do not know. I'll have to find it on YouTube. By the way - what kind of madman wishes to smash a pumpkin?
DeleteThe Smashing Pumpkins was one of my favorite bands back in the mid 90's when I was still an older teenager/young adult. It's the music from those days that always triggers a wistful nostalgia inside me.
DeleteI will listen to them with an open mind. Thanks for leading me to them.
DeleteI've not heard The Fureys, or "When You Were Sweet Sixteen" in years...longer than 16 years, probably. Lovely old song.
ReplyDeleteI would need to take a treasure chest full of music with me to a tropical island. I can never understand the term "desert" island. Is there such a thing as a "desert" island?
The original term, of course, was "deserted" island....
I certainly would choose a tropical island over a desert island any day of the week.
I think you are right Lee. It really means a deserted island. Once, long ago, near the Yasawa Islands off the north east coast of Fiji's main island I spotted a small island - about the size of a tennis court and in the middle of it a single palm tree. It is what I always think off when the term "desert island" crops up.
DeleteWe have been fortunate enough to navigate our boat around parts of the Great Barrier Reef here in Australia. We have often come across sand cayes some without any vegetation. Around Hamilton Island & adjoining resorts there are many palm trees but go where it is uninhabited and there is only Norfolk Pines..huge majestic trees & not a palm to be seen. I guess palms are percieved as the tropical oasis yet the native flora is stunning.
DeleteYou have had some wonderful adventures on your boat - seeing sights unknown to me. I am rather envious.
DeleteI think I'd choose that Furey's song but I'd insist on taking Imelda May with me!
ReplyDeleteNaughty boy!
DeleteI've had to open in Safari to be able to comment on your blog for some reason, YP. Anyway, I would currently choose anything from 'Dyrd i daudathogn' by Ausgeir Trausti, an Icelandic singer. No, I don't understand Icelandic at all, but I do like his 'sound'.
ReplyDeleteThat's another one I am going to have to research Jenny. Where are you on Safari and what animals have you seen so far?
DeleteIf Keith had his way, we would be on safari in Trondheim. (Don't ask!)
ReplyDeleteI have never listened to this show. I really need to try it out one of these days. I know it's legendary. My list would be some combination of Joni Mitchell, the Moody Blues, the Beatles, Joan Baez and Peter, Paul and Mary -- maybe with Frederick Delius' "Florida Suite" thrown in to give it some class.
ReplyDelete