Desert Island Discs - What Would You Choose?

I've previously blogged about my love of Desert Island Discs, Radio 4's long running interview programme in which guests choose eight tracks they would choose to have with them if they were stranded on a desert island.

Guests are normally people who have achieved greatness or recognition in their field and are not always public figures or celebrities. As such, it can be a fascinating window on the lives of others - and what drives and motivates our top scientists, academics, artists, politicians and authors (for example).

Music choices are most often chosen to remind guests of people in their lives, or particular times and/or places. Occasionally someone will do something different, like James Ellroy who chose five tracks by Beethoven! Some guests have even chosen their own works, which is rather narcissistic! 

Stephen over at the state of the nation UK is currently in the process of revealing his choices, decided to represent different periods of his life and presented chronologically. His first choice was Don McLean's American Pie, which he shares with four previous guests on the show. His second, by Slade, has not previously been chosen!

Whatever you think of his first two choices, he's encouraging others to join him in sharing - and I've started on my list for publication soon!

Andrew

If you like that, you'll like this...

Of course, when someone says that, it's not always a given that you will like the recommendation - I love The Lord of the Rings but not a reader of other Fantasy novels although that's maybe because I started at the summit...

That said, though, a recommendation based on genre is as good a place as any to start and can open up the doors to new experiences and further exploration. This is the aim of Music Map (which I found using Stumble Upon).

Although some of the links may be questionable, it produces interesting suggestions and displays them graphically which is slightly more interesting than a list of related artists in, say, Spotify.

Here are two screen grabs to illustrate the results. First, Adele (have I mentioned that I am currently loving her material) and secondly Peter Gabriel who is a favourite of my friend and fellow blogger Stephen.

Why not click on the link above, and go and explore yourself!

Andrew

2 Years of Blogging - kind of!

Although I didn't start this blog until July 2009, today is the second anniversary of me being bitten by the blogging bug. My former colleague and friend Stephen had been blogging for some time and had asked me to do a guest piece for him. Without a deadline and without a topic, it took me a while to come up with something but I eventually did.

Having written the piece, and seeing it published, I was inspired to join him in the ranks of bloggers. After some further procrastination I did and the rest, as they say, is history. 

Although I will still make a song and dance when anniversaries of this blog roll round, I will always count that guest post for Stephen as the real beginning of my blogging journey!

Click here to read it in all it's nascent glory and here for Stephen's blog.


Andrew

5 on the 5th has a Facelift

Regular readers will know that I contribute to a monthly photography feature called "5 on the Fifth". The deal is simple - just take five pictures on (or in the lead up to) the fifth of the month and then post them on your blog or photo site.

This month the project has been refreshed and rejuvenated with new logos and a fresh approach to posting - details to follow. The organiser, Stephen, has also spruced up the look of his blog which I'd recommend you add to your follow list - have a browse here.

The fifth (of March, eek!) is only a week away now - so why don't you start thinking about making a contribution? The theme this month is "lines" but your pictures could be anything you wish. Keep an eye on Stephen's Blog for more details.

Andrew