Desert Island Discs

Today “Desert Island Discs” marked its 70th anniversary.

I have to say its one of my favourite programs and I listen avidly each week. I love the range of guests, and am constantly surprised by how much more interesting the “non-celebrities” are such as the scientists, writers and such like. It’s clearly not just me is hooked for when back in June the BCC produced the peoples “Desert Island Discs” more than 25,000 people submitted their
favourite eight tracks to the BBC and the top 8 were revealed in the show. It was a fantastic glimpse into the nations psyche (or at least the small section of it that listens to radio 4). So this anniversary led me to thinking.... what would my desert island choices be?

Well – This is the current choice, ask me tomorrow and I may well say something different , but in keeping with the spirit of the programme I have picked tracks that have real meaning for me at different points of my life

1) Gabriel’s theme from film “The Mission”
I picked this not just because it is a beautiful piece of music but also because it has the strongest memories of childhood for me. My dad, ever an early adopter of technology, bought a CD player when they very first came out. We only had a few discs and one of those was the soundtrack to the film “the Mission”. One summer when I was about 15 I played it over and over again, I was just enchanted by it (my mother less so with it being on constant repeat!) . Even now when I hear it I can close my eyes and be instantly back in our living room in Hong Kong and feel the warmth of the sun, hear the buzz of the air-conditioner and remember really happy times

2 )We Are the Champions , Queen.
Oh the arrogance of youth! I remember dancing to this at the school disco, surrounded by friends
and thinking we owned the world. Our futures lay ahead of us and we were going to make such a huge impact.... I look back and have a wry smile at how naive we were, but also look back a little enviously at the confidence we had then.

3) Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. BBC Philharmonic conducted by Gianandrea Noseda
Apparently this has been the most picked track by castaways over the last 70 years so I am in good company. I was really fortunate that my parents introduced me at a young age to classical music and my dad has a fantastic collection of discs that I frequently raid. This piece is just magical and never fails to get my heart pumping

4) J.S. Bach: Cello Suite #1 In G, Yo-Yo Ma
My next classical piece works on so many levels... The Cello is my favourite instrument to listen to, I think Yo-Yo ma is a genius and it’s just the most gorgeous piece. It was also played by Yo-Yo Ma in one of the best episodes of the “West Wing” which I still think is some of the best television ever made. As I said this works on so many levels...

5)Mancunian way by Take That
What can I say, there had to be a Manchester link in there... Though I have lived down south now for 24 years, Manchester still is, and always will be, home.

6) Whenever God Shines His Light - Van Morrison with Cliff Richard
Ok, so maybe not the most hip of choices, in fact positively cheesy really, but I love this song.. Its got a great beat, meaningful lyrics, and was how I learnt the nuances of Christine Doctrine thanks to its use in the inspired teaching of Jeremey Begbie at Ridley Hall.

7) Miserere Mei - Allegri
- What more can be said about this track, thats not been said. Its pure beauty and to me expresses the sheer transcendence and ethereal nature of God. It makes me feel alive in every fibre of my being.

8) Someone like you. - Adel
Last, but by no means least.... This song is sublime, you feel every note, every word and for anyone that’s ever had their heart broken, me included, it says it all...

For my book I was tempted to ask for a Greek grammar along with the bible in Greek... but who am I kidding... even stuck on a deserted island I am still not going to have the ability to learn Biblical Greek – so instead I shall go practical and ask for “Scouting for Boys” by Lord Baden-Powell. I figure with such sage advice on hand I could cope with anything the island would
throw at me

My luxury – I was tempted to follow David Tenants lead and ask for a DVD player and box set of “The West Wing” – Its eminently watchable, even on repeat as its some of the most intelligent TV ever written and, having watched it several times, I feel like I know the characters so well it would be like I had friends on the island) but in the end I have decided that I would need a good nights sleep and so I would ask for my bed (with an endless supply of freshly laundered, crisp bed linen of course) so I could sink into to comfort after a long hard day surviving.

And finally, if I could only take one disc what would it be?
It was an incredibly hard choice between Miserere Mei and - Gabriel’s theme from film “The Mission, but in the end I plumped for the mission because of the wonderfully evocative memories it holds for me.

So there we go, my desert Island Discs.... What would yours be?