Saturday 10 August 2013

Desert island discs

I’ve a compulsive ambition to become fluent in French so I’ve been going to weekly classes for a few years.  I love language and need to keep learning stuff to exercise my flabby brain cells whose only other regular work-out comes when I compile shopping lists.  So, studying French feels good.  Ironically I’ve only been to France twice and neither trip was for pleasure.  The first time was to visit an oil tanker, of all things, where the most exotic moments were when mingling with engineers in oily boiler-suits, and the second time was spent holed up with some English colleagues in a homogeneous airport hotel, where engineers in oily boiler-suits would have been a welcome distraction.  Still, one of these days I’ll pack my beret and Breton top into my valise and attempt to break the world record for running down the Louvre.



Most of the year, in my small, informal French class, we learn the rules and complexities of tense and grammar.  But in Summer the structure changes and we just chat.  From the first “Ça va?” to the last “Au revoir!” we don’t speak a word of English and it’s a brilliant way to practise.  After 75 minutes of metaphorical running on the spot I’m almost thinking in French, even if it’s just a baby-talk version.  To help us focus, we’re given a specific topic for each session and the chance to prepare in advance.  Subjects have included ‘food’, ‘a favourite piece of art’, ‘something new you learned this year’, that kind of thing.   In the last few weeks I’ve ended up discussing Don Powell from Slade losing his sense of smell and caterpillars (but not at the same time).  It’s a great way to learn new vocabulary and my thumbs get a good work-out too as they leaf through the French dictionary to find the words for drummer and cocoon, etc.  And should I ever find myself in conversation with a French person about ‘70s bands from the Midlands or insect larvae, I’ll be well equipped.

Anyway, the next topic is ‘Desert Island Discs’.  At first I was really excited - wow, a chance to talk about my favourite bands / records! – but now the lesson looms closer and I haven’t got a clue how to tackle it.  For a start I don’t know how to narrow it down to just a handful of tracks.  I’ve never tried to compile a DID list before; I don’t have anything definitive in mind and my aural preferences tend to change week by week.  I know that the purpose of the exercise here is not really to demonstrate one’s impeccable musical taste, but still there’s something inside me that feels compelled to make meaningful choices.  If I’m going to talk about them in French, then it seems only right that I should also be able to talk about them with passion.

Where to begin?  How do I narrow down several decades’ worth of listening to just eight songs?  Eight songs that I’d want to hear whilst going slowly insane, looking out to a tropical sea, sipping coconut milk and hallucinating about talking conch shells? Would I want to hear 'London Calling' to remind me of grey English skies, city fumes and a misspent youth?  Yet would it be unwise to take some Saint Etienne in case I accidentally trod on a scorpion whilst dancing naked in the sand to their irresistible rhythms?  And would Morrissey remind me of just how lonely I was in this godforsaken hell-hole prison cell of an island paradise?  Or would Suede find me slowly turning into a man as the combination of a Brett Anderson obsession and the nuclear fallout from secret tests on a nearby atoll caused me to grow unexpected appendages?  

And then there’s the book and the luxury item as well!  This is harder than learning French! 

14 comments:

  1. My daughter is studying A level French. Only use so far? Translating for her PE teacher that the French policeman was about to arrest their coach driver if he didn't move the coach!!

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    1. Sounds like it was extremely useful, then!

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  2. Great piece, Cee. Linda Barker-inspired brevity notwithstanding, can't you combine the two and have a Gallic DID ? Serge, Francoise, Sylvie, Nouvelle Vague and, ermm, Stinky Toys ? Will write soon...x

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    1. Thank you, tindersticks, great idea - and I do remember 'Boozy Creed'! Always good to hear from you, and you know me - very low maintenance :-) Never any worries if you're busy 'changing rooms'! x

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  3. Terrific post C, which had me smiling throughout - at least until you came to the Desert Island Disc bit! A couple of years ago I had plans to map out a series of eight posts covering my own choices, but found it a tortuous struggle and would lay awake staring at the ceiling in the wee small hours as I tried to narrow down my selections, until I finally saw sense and threw in the towel! Perhaps I'll go back to the idea one day! I hope you'll share your final eight.

    (PS. If you take tinderstick's excellent suggestion, don't forget to include Metal Urbain!)

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    1. Ah, thanks so much, but I'm sorry if the last bit induced any DID nightmares! Mind you, if you do ever find the clarity and inspiration you need to select those vital eight, I'd love to read a series of posts on them.

      (I'm probably over-thinking mine!)

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  4. Bonne journée mon cher mon nom est vieux pa i voudrais être sur l'île et joue de la bonne musique et boire du vin toute la journée

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    1. Salut et merci bien! Ça serait la vie parfaite....

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  5. It's wonderful that you maintain such a passion for learning, C. Never managed to master much French myself as I was too busy buggering about in school. I love the sound of French and regularly listen to Jacques Brel even though I rarely understand much - it seems to come across anyway. How I wish I'd worked harder! Desert Island Discs? Sounds exciting, intimidating and near impossible. Haven't a clue what I'd choose, either, but I suppose they should be personally meaningful rather than songs you think are the simply the best ever. Something that will sustain you through those long desert island days and nights? I'll be fascinated to read your eventual choices. Bon chance!

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    1. Thanks SB - it really is a case of trying to maintain some mental faculties that I seriously fear I'll lose if I stop using them! It's fun too, though, which I think is the benefit of studying voluntarily as an adult - none of that "Who's that talking at the back?" "Are you chewing some gum?" type stuff! I agree about French in particular, it does just sound so beautiful.
      Good advice re. the DID choices, thanks. I'm still contemplating...

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  6. Will wait in greatest anticipation for the final 8 - im all for tindersticks idea and remember jacqueline taieb and victoire Scott too! As for the luxury item.. I suppose it could be a massive mp3player ready loaded, or is that cheating (and if it was me id guarantee losing the headphones on day one...)

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    1. Well, I'm not surprised you like that idea, with a name like yours ;-)
      I'm wondering if I should have mentioned DID at all now though, as I'm feeling the pressure to reveal all on here when I make my selection.... hmm!

      I was thinking about drawing materials for my luxury but they wouldn't last indefinitely so I'm still wondering. I think the most popular choices are musical instruments which makes a lot of sense - but apart from tinkering about on a bass guitar 30 years ago and being able to play a mean rendition of both Greensleevves and Bourrée on the recorder, I'd be a bit stuck there. Maybe I should learn to play the accordion...?

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  7. Roy Plumley refused to let Edward Heath take his requested church organ as a luxury, in case he put it to practical use by taking shelter underneath it. True.

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    1. That's just so mean. Bahhh...

      (Nice to see you!)

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