Desert Island Discs
Clearing the head, healing the heart and lifting the spirit
For many decades, there has been a popular UK radio program called Desert Island Discs. Each week they select a well-known person to talk about their life, but they also ask them to select 7 music tracks that have had great impact in key moments of their life. The idea is, what music would you take if you were to be abandoned on a desert island.
I do not intend for this to be my 7 favourite tracks from my life, but thought I would share with you 7 songs that have had an important role in my life. I hope this might be of interest, exploring the lyrics will introduce you to new language, and it helps you reflect on the influence of music on your life. Choosing music to play, or exposing ourselves to new opportunities, can really enrich our lives, clear our head, heal our heart and lift our spirit.
Nessun Dorma - One of the most famous arias from Puccini’s opera. It is in Italian, and so whilst I do not understand the words, the meaning seems so clear from the singing and music. The ending is incredible, and we use the word ‘spine-tingling’ to describe the feeling as Pavarotti (one of the greatest male opera singers) delivers the final “Vincero”. Vincero means, I will be victorious in Italian. If I ever feel down, and question whether I can achieve something, I listen to this and I feel energised to take on everything I do not like in the world, convinced I will be able to solve it!
Hoppipolla by Sigur Ros - I used to take students on trips to Iceland, and so I came across the Icelandic band Sigur Ros. Hoppipolla is an Icelandic word that is hard to translate into English but it aims to represent the feeling of unmatched joy as a young child when you just jump in muddy puddles for the sheer enjoyment of it and have no other care in the world. The video is quite funny because it is of old people acting like they are unruly teenagers! I find the tune very relaxing but I also like the message to not take life so seriously the whole time, and just enjoy those moments of jumping in muddy puddles!
Something Inside So Strong by Labi Siffre - this was written in 1984 in response to seeing white soldiers in South Africa shooting at black citizens under the apartheid era when black South Africans had few rights and were poorly treated. It is a powerful protest song. I listen to it when I feel like I am isolated pushing for change in things that matter deeply to me, and it gives me an additional strength that I really do have something inside so strong.
Calypso by John Denver - I am not sure I could pick just one John Denver song! He is the soundtrack to my childhood as my mother enjoyed him and it was one of the only tapes we had in our car (a tape is what we used to listen to music on before cds and mp4!). I find his music uplifting, positive, joyous and light-hearted but his lyrics are powerful. I have included Calypso here because it speaks to the joy of personal freedom and exploring. Denver wrote it whilst on the yacht, Calpyso, with the legendary ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau.
You’ll Never Walk Alone by Gerry and the Pacemakers (but sang in this clip by Tom Jones) - I love the lyrics here. No matter what difficulties you are facing, hold your head up high, don’t be afraid and walk on…walk on. I do not like Liverpool football club (because I support Arsenal!) but their supporters sing this at the start of every game and it is incredible to listen to. One of my great friends died last April and when I read the message from his wife announcing the news, for some reason this song came into my head immediately, and I continue to find it inspiring.
The Boxer by Simon and Garfunkel - another song from my childhood as my father loved Simon and Garfunkel and he would always sing along when listening to this in the car. One part of the lyrics really stands out to me.
It is the final sentence in this excerpt that gives me strength; even though he has been driven to leaving, he remains. I find it a source of strength when life is difficult. We know that at the point we think our mind and body can take no more hardship, we are actually only 40% of the way to our mind and body breaking, and so this always reminds me to access those deeper sources of strength.
Bad Penny Blues by Humphrey Lyttleton - I love jazz trumpet, and when I learned to play the trumpet I always wanted to be able to play like Humphrey Lyttleton. However, to get as good as him, you have to have a real passion and dedicate a lot of time and effort, and I wanted to put my time into other things! I love watching how he is able to get such an incredible sound out of the trumpet, and I can happily watch anybody who has expertise in an area I know little about as I find it so interesting and inspiring to watch talented people achieve excellence.
My music interests are hugely varied so in a future newsletter I will share some very different songs that I love. I wonder if any of the above resonate with you? What tracks would you have in your Desert Island Discs collection, not just songs you like but those that have had meaning in your life? How do you use music to change and enrich your mood?
Bonus track:
Theme tune to the Detectorists (TV show) by Johnny Flynn - one of my favourite songs and is a good example of English Folk music which is popular in countryside areas of England and has a rich heritage.
Enjoy!
Charlie