On the best radio station in the world, BBC Radio 4 – you can get it on the internet and satellite – we have a programme called “Desert Island Discs” . It was first broadcast in 1942 and has had many famous people on it including princes, princesses, presidents, scientists, musicians, sports people, and actors. Anyone famous or leading in their field. The guest has to choose the eight pieces of music they would take with them to their desert island.
I thought about some of the music I listened to on the Via Egnatia and the music that made me think of those wonderful times we had. Here are my Via Egnatia choices, linked to YouTube. I hope you enjoy them.
Maybe you can think of what you would take with you if cast away; eight records only mind, and at the end you have to choose just one to rescue as the tide sweeps up the beach and washes the rest away!
The Dubliners – Seven Drunken Nights (very old!)
I learned this song with my Irish family although I sometimes stumble over the verses (it was the horse I was missing). Memories of a great night in Broshka, and this is specially for Kate.
Buggles – Video Killed the Radio Star (1979)
I played this whilst sitting in the sun at Elbasan waiting to go the hot springs with Tim and Wim, anticipating the Albanian Virgins. It brought back a lot of memories of a long hot summer when I was sixteen.
Afion – Anadolka (2008)
Whilst I did not have this music with me, I have been introduced to it since my return by Mateja and Bernardka. Afion play traditional Croatian, Macedonian and Bosnian songs and are very engaging. This song has a gently building tempo which reminds me of the build up of dance tempo at Dardhe.
Simon and Garfunkel – Kathy’s Song (1965)
I had not listened to Simon & Garfunkel for such a long time, but their music on my iPod really affected me in Albania. Whilst Homeward Bound was often on my mind, this is my favourite; a wonderful love song, performed brilliantly.
End of the Final Antiphon of the Kneeling Vespers – Capella Romana (2005)
I was really intrigued to learn early on that Nayden sang Byzantine chant. It is something that I have grown to like over the last year, particularly after seeing Capella Romana at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Hagia Sophia, in London. I wanted to offer “The Fall of Constantinople” as it was on my mind and the anniversary fell in May, but all I could find is this, which is still very good.
Going Back – Dusty Springfield (1966)
Dusty Springfield was one of the most successful female artists of the 1960s. She also saw success with the Pet Shop Boys in the 1980s. She died of breast cancer in 1999. Her sensual voice made her a successful soul artist. Her voice gets right through you and her songs are some of the best ever written by the leading song writers Burt Bacharach and Hal David, Carole King etc. Bacharach kept writing for her. This song is for those of us who feel younger than we are Karen. I listened to her most days on the walk.
Brown Sugar – The Rolling Stones (1971)
Needing no introduction this is the opening track from the brilliant 1971 album “Sticky Fingers” – the original LP had a pair of jeans with an actual zip as I recall. This is the song that we should have played late at night at the bar in Radozda but they did not have it. Let’s rock!
Sweet Home Alabama – Lynard Skynard (1974)
This is classic American rock and was inspired by the great Neil Young. There are controversial references to Alabama Governer George Wallace who supported segregation, but the band said “The lyrics about the governor of Alabama were misunderstood. The general public didn’t notice the words ‘Boo! Boo! Boo!’ after that particular line.” We danced to this at the Jazz & Blues bar in Ohrid on our final, momentous party night. Karen still listens to it on her balcony.
On the desert island you are allowed one luxury. I thought about this for a while. Apart from the Angels singing to me, having a bag of clothes to change into, or that great Macedonian Alexandria wine, I decided to go for a guitar and a teach yourself guitar book so I could strum away whilst waiting to be rescued.
You are given the Bible and the Complete Works of Shakespeare and must choose a book. I chose the Complete History of Byzantium by John Julius Norwich, which would never fail to keep me entertained, and his good humour would come through, even in the parts about the bad emporers.
Finally, the cruellest blow of all, you are asked to choose the one record you would rescue as the sea swept in. This is just too hard, but I had to choose one and it would probably be Kathy’s Song. I could happily listen to that every day until the boat came to rescue me.
What are your Via Egnatia Desert Island Discs?
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VEF2009Review 
Via Egnatia Desert Island Discs
Posted in General Comments, tagged Afion, Albania, Anadolka, Brown Sugar, Buggles, Burt Bacharach, Byzantium, Capella Romana, Croatia, desert island discs, Dubliners, Dusty Springfield, Elbasan, Going Back, Greek Orthodox, Hagia Sophia, Kathy's Song, Lynard Skynard, Macedonia, Ohrid, Pet Shop Boys, radio 4, Radozda, Seven Drunken Nights, Simon and Garfunkel, Sweet Home Alabama, Via Egnatia, Via Egnatia Foundation, Video Killed the Radio Star on June 24, 2009| 1 Comment »
On the best radio station in the world, BBC Radio 4 – you can get it on the internet and satellite – we have a programme called “Desert Island Discs” . It was first broadcast in 1942 and has had many famous people on it including princes, princesses, presidents, scientists, musicians, sports people, and actors. Anyone famous or leading in their field. The guest has to choose the eight pieces of music they would take with them to their desert island.
I thought about some of the music I listened to on the Via Egnatia and the music that made me think of those wonderful times we had. Here are my Via Egnatia choices, linked to YouTube. I hope you enjoy them.
Maybe you can think of what you would take with you if cast away; eight records only mind, and at the end you have to choose just one to rescue as the tide sweeps up the beach and washes the rest away!
The Dubliners – Seven Drunken Nights (very old!)
Buggles – Video Killed the Radio Star (1979)
Afion – Anadolka (2008)
Simon and Garfunkel – Kathy’s Song (1965)
End of the Final Antiphon of the Kneeling Vespers – Capella Romana (2005)
Going Back – Dusty Springfield (1966)
Brown Sugar – The Rolling Stones (1971)
Sweet Home Alabama – Lynard Skynard (1974)
On the desert island you are allowed one luxury. I thought about this for a while. Apart from the Angels singing to me, having a bag of clothes to change into, or that great Macedonian Alexandria wine, I decided to go for a guitar and a teach yourself guitar book so I could strum away whilst waiting to be rescued.
You are given the Bible and the Complete Works of Shakespeare and must choose a book. I chose the Complete History of Byzantium by John Julius Norwich, which would never fail to keep me entertained, and his good humour would come through, even in the parts about the bad emporers.
Finally, the cruellest blow of all, you are asked to choose the one record you would rescue as the sea swept in. This is just too hard, but I had to choose one and it would probably be Kathy’s Song. I could happily listen to that every day until the boat came to rescue me.
What are your Via Egnatia Desert Island Discs?
Read Full Post »