To be terminally disappointed with Desert Island Discs

[Jemima232]

………. because the music people choose is so awful these days.

I used to enjoy it but I don't bother listening any more.

They choose it because it means something to them, and its not all 'pop' music, there are more than two genres.

HollowTalk has it, in my opinion. I've always thought DID was more about the guests choosing music that triggered memories for them, rather than "here are my favourite songs". For me, growing up in the 90s, my memory triggers would probably include some really ropey pop songs (Menswear, anyone?) and maybe some of the things my parents used to listen to which wouldn't be my taste at all but which still evoke a feeling of a particular time. The very first song I have any memory of is What I Like Most About You Is Your Girlfriend by The Special AKA, because it was on Top of the Pops and I can remember my gran saying what an awful racket it was.

I doubt if any classical stuff would figure because I only came to that later in my life. But even if someone chooses 8 pop songs because that's the sort of music they like, so the bloody hell what? Do you actually know anything about music beyond Radio 3? Pop (in which I include rock, alternative, post-punk, and anything else that isn't classical or jazz) is so varied and rich, and there have been, and still are, some astoundingly talented songwriters and performers out there. You're really missing out.

In the past four weeks they’ve had Jared Diamond, who chose exclusively classical music, and Sue Biggs, who chose about half classical and half modern (I confess I was a bit baffled that one person would pick Ralph Vaughan Williams and Robbie Williams but she had her reasons!) so yes YABU.

I love DID. I have a running list in my head of the best/worst lists to be stuck on the island. Like a meta-DID.

My idea of hell would be being stuck on the island with Clive Woodward's choices!

I'd be pretty happy with Clare Balding's list.

John Cooper Clark was wonderful this morning. Yes, very unreasonable, OP.

A lot of classical music is grim

Yes of course it is. I don't dispute this. There are loads of pieces and composers I cannot bear to listen to.

Just as there is pop, folk and jazz which I love.

I don't think I made my OP very clear. I feel that most people on DID these days fail to choose a mixture of stuff.

For example I would choose Mr. Blue Sky as one of my eight.

And no Mozart. Or Beethoven, either.

I just wish the castaways had a bit more imagination.

A lot of classical music is grim

Yes of course it is. I don't dispute this. There are loads of pieces and composers I cannot bear to listen to.

Just as there is pop, folk and jazz which I love.

I don't think I made my OP very clear. I feel that most people on DID these days fail to choose a mixture of stuff.

For example I would choose Mr. Blue Sky as one of my eight.

And no Mozart. Or Beethoven, either.

I just wish the castaways had a bit more imagination.

Nitin sawhney was on four weeks ago, doesn’t get much more eclectic and diverse than his choices. Get a grip.

because the music people choose is so awful these days.

In your opinion! I would probably agree with you, but musical taste is a personal thing. It's the emotional connection that matters, not the actual piece of music.

You sound like a gigantic snob, OP. I play the violin in an orchestra, sing in a choir and am extremely musical and fairly knowledgeable about different genres of classical music. I have often mused upon what I would choose as my DIDs and the (current) list contains everything from Rimsky Korsakov to Britney Spears to the theme from “Grandstand”. Because, despite being classically-trained, I’m really musically curious and open and my tastes are catholic.

Pop music frequently uses concepts and structures also used in classical. For example, Robbie William’s “She’s the One” contains about four interrupted cadences at the end - did you know that?

People who only like classical music aren’t as inherently musical as those whose tastes are wider, in my view.

Are you a big fan of the last night of the Proms, by any chance? 🙄

Yup. I was BU, no doubt of that.

Are you a big fan of the Last Night at the Proms by any chance

No.

Well, that’s something, I suppose.

It’s always been for elderly people , the 60+. Age group. Has it supposed to have changed ?

Piglet89

No, I am not keen on the Last Night of the Proms - I do listen to some of the concerts. Not all, by any means.

And Robbie Williams' music doesn't have a monopoly on interrupted cadences (as I'm sure you're aware.)

@Treezylover he was fantastic wasn't he? I mean I love him and his music anyhow, but that was a fanatstic episode!

Lauren Laverne was the last straw for me. Can't stand her

Who is Lauren Laverne?

Patronising much?

Lauren Laverne now presents DID, OP. After Kirsty young stepped down. I mean, when did you actually last listen to the programme?

I started to listen to it this morning.

I didn't know the name of the presenter.

I thought John Cooper Clarke’s choices were brilliant. I loved his Doris Day track.

Are you Elisabeth Schwartzkopf the opera singer who chose eight of her own recordings?

Nile Rogers did almost exactly the same thing derxa. Not all eight, a couple of them were just produced by him and he did let some other artists get a look in.

Nile Rogers is allowed to do that with his back catalogue. His story was fascinating.

Jeez everyone picks Mr Blue Sky - try and be original