Sharks to the Left of Me, Palm Trees to the Right (Desert Island W/O) Aug 06 '03    Write an essay on this topic. Tweet Popular Products in Music The Dirtchamber Sessions, Vol. 1 by The Prodigy From $11 Jersey Boys [Original Broadway Cast Recording] by Original Broadway Cast From $8 The Bottom Line The bottom line is stuck on a desert island, so it better learn to talk to itself. This write-off posed one of the most difficult questions in recent Epinions memory, so I actually had to put a lot of thought into this. "Which eight songs would I choose to bring with me on a desert island?" asks guildenstern, one of my favorite Epinionators. As I strolled through life for the past few weeks, I contemplated which songs would stand up to multiple listens. As I made perfectly clear in my three year anniversary loyalty write-off, I have a short attention span and tend to change my mind quite often. So, while I turn up Kelly Clarkson's "Miss Independent" when it comes on the radio now, I know that in a couple of weeks, I will never want to hear it again. This theory can be generalized to most pop songs. With my fickle nature in mind, I decided to choose songs that are either timeless classics, relaxing and beautiful, or long and complex. So, without further ado, here are the songs I will live with for the duration of my stay on the desert island. "Today" by The Jefferson Airplane (From Surrealistic Pillow, 1967) The first time I heard this song was in the soundtrack of A Walk on the Moon. The beautiful, haunting tone of the guitar (how do they make it sound like that?!) fits perfectly with the innocence and idealism of the Summer of Love. Marty Balin sings in such a sweet and honest way that the rather ordinary lyrics sound rich and profound. "To be living for you is all I want to do," he pleads. When I got my wisdom teeth extracted and was doped up on Vicodin, all I wanted to do was listen to Jefferson Airplane. "Just Like Jesse James" by Cher When I saw Cher live in Boston, she claimed that she didn't like this song, written by the prolific Diane Warren, but that she would sing it for the fans since it's on the Greatest Hits album. Although the lyrics are a little bit kitschy, the tone of the song is triumphant and empowering. Cher's voice is at its finest in this theme song for independent women everywhere. If you're so tough, c'mon and prove it Your heart is down for the count and you know you're gonna lose it Tonight you're gonna go down in flames Just like Jesse James "I Spy" by Pulp (From Different Class, 1995) The thing I love about Pulp is the same thing I love about Cher: their music is dramatic. The verses and choruses are always very different, and the songs often feature abrupt changes. "I Spy," a voyeuristic fantasy about a working class man sleeping with a rich woman, goes from slow, creepy, talk-singing to grand, tuneful crescendos and back again. The lyrics are brilliant, and my friend Ethan and I used to walk around campus quoting them. No one on the desert island will be there to look at me strangely when I say/sing: You see, you should take me seriously Very seriously indeed 'Cos I've been sleeping with your wife for the past 16 weeks Smoking your cigarettes Drinking your brandy Messing up the bed that you chose together And all this time, I just wanted you to come home unexpectedly one afternoon and catch us at it in the front room You see, I spy for a living And I specialise in revenge... Then, there is, of course, my favorite line: Grass is something you smoke Birds are something you shag Take your year in Provence and shove it up your aarse These dark, sinister threats and promises erupt into a nearly orgasmic set of "la la las" near the end. Jarvis Cocker is a genius. "The Everlasting" by the Manic Street Preachers (from This is My Truth Tell me Yours, 1998) The Manic Street Preachers have dozens of fantastic songs, most of which present meaningful social commentary. A lot of this Welsh band's songs are angry, such as the brilliant "If White America Told the Truth for one Day its World Would Fall Apart" (how's that for a title?) which is filled with furiously sarcastic lines such as "Tipper Gore was a friend of mine." "The Everlasting," however, is gorgeous, and I find it soothing and hopeful even though it laments the loss of the past and criticizes modern, apathetic youth. "In the beginning, when we were winning", begins the chorus. The line: The world is full of refugees Just like you and just like me gets me every time. If only more Americans remembered that their own ancestors arrived here as poor immigrants. "Paranoid Android" by Radiohead (from OK Computer, 1997) This lengthy song that changes tones and melodies several times is the second track from the incredible OK Computer. Thom York contemplates death and the horrors of modern life with frightening imagery of bloody animals. However, the song ends with the line, "God loves his children, yeah" and is beautiful overall. "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" by the Shirelles In the early 1960s, when this Carole King composition about a woman's decision whether or not to have sex hit the airwaves, it was considered risqué. Now it sounds quaint but timeless, and it reminds me of folding laundry with my mom. Even though women have been empowered by birth control options, many still wonder: Is this a lasting treasure Or just a moment's pleasure It still sounds fresh after all these years. "A Day in the Life" by the Beatles (from Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, 1967) Even more so than the other long songs I chose for my desert stay, this song goes through several movements. The Beatles and George Martin brought in dozens of musicians to record this gorgeous, intricate song. I had heard it dozens and dozens of times, but listening to it last fall on state-of-the-art speakers in my university's recording studio still gave me goose bumps. Reportedly, John and Paul weren't kidding with the line, "I heard the news today, oh boy," using actual news stories for the tragic-sounding lyrics. And, playing this song on a desert island, I might finally find out if the urban legend that the final chord increases in frequency until only animals can hear it is for real. "Whipping Post" by the Allman Brothers Band (from Live at the Fillmore East, 1971) "Whipping Post" is a very cathartic song for me. If I am feeling angry or frustrated, I play it loudly and sing along with Gregg Allman's rough vocals. No matter what is going on in my life, Gregg sounds like he's in much more pain than I am. The song features the classic blues motif of a "mean women" running off with one's buddy. Gregg laments, "Good lord, I feel like I'm dyin'". This particular version of "Whipping Post" is 22 minutes long and features wonderful solos by the late Duane Allman, a master of the slide guitar. For my one book, I would choose one with a lot of photos, since it's easier to stare at a picture for hours than it is to read something over and over again. (Yes, I'm superficial.) The book I would choose would be my copy of a collection of Linda McCartney's best photographs from the '60s. I don't really consider people to be "luxury items", so I can't bring Colin Farrell. Instead, my choice would be an unlimited supply of duct tape. There have been books written about all the amazing things that people can make out of duct tape. I'll need to build a shelter, so I could fasten logs together with duct tape. I could also make a raft, repair clothing, and make countless other things. Check out the other participants in this fun fest: aerocat andymack andym173 anvrill atchesonate beckytcy (me!) blksqul cecile1 cletta1201 cryptosicko drdevience emptywishes fartzarellah foxy_shy headlessparrot hiimfred imprimis2 kcfoxy lambchops madtheory mattA75 plorentz shadesofblue sparkless speeddemon531 teamfreak16 thevoid99 trust12354 vanwarp Cheers, Simon!

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