Islands in the Stream?
Post categories: Greetings
|08:13 UK time, Sunday, 27 February 2011
It was while I was researching information on the "Mingulay Boat Song" popularised by The Corries amongst others, that I got to thinking about the number of songs that were written in praise of islands. Needless to say there are a number of Gaelic songs which extol the virtues of the great majority of them, from Lewis to Barra, and all between there and the mainland - many written by exiles or sailors, with a deep longing for their homeland.
But there are some which have been translated into English - Dark Island for example, there's the world famous "Skye Boat Song" and if you want to be less specific, well what about "Islands in the Stream" - Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton? Madonna recorded La Isla Bonita and Elton John sang about Island Girl and a band called Typically Tropical took "Barbados" to Number 1 in July 1975. That's just a few of them. What about classical tracks - were any of our world-famous composers sufficiently moved to write about a particular part of the world, an island somewhere? Which are your own favourites - let me know.
The Greetings Programme is in BBC Radio Scotland every Sunday, 0705-0800
Comment number 1.
At 09:12 27th Feb 2011, Scotch Get wrote:'Rock Island' - Jethro Tull ~ More a state of mind, but a rerr wee song!
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Comment number 2.
At 12:56 28th Feb 2011, norriemaclean wrote:Van Morrison - Coney Island
"Wouldn't it be great if it was like this all the time?"
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Comment number 3.
At 19:51 28th Feb 2011, Madmacfraeclydebank wrote:Norrie, Whit aboot Lou Reed's Coney Island Baby?
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Comment number 4.
At 21:40 28th Feb 2011, norriemaclean wrote:Great shout MMFC great song from a superb album, one of Lou's finest.
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