Alone on a deserted island: a musical inquiry

Sometimes, I get on these little rants about nothing. I call them Sarah’s Nothingness Thoughts.

For instance, the other day I was watching “The Blue Lagoon,” you know the one with Brooke Shields. I kept thinking, “Why the heck am I watching this?” So I decided to rent the movie “Castaway,” but I couldn’t find it. I was almost tempted to watch “Survivor,” but I knew I couldn’t get sucked in.

Suddenly I stopped to ponder the not-so-obvious: all the movies I’d thought of take place on an island. I couldn’t imagine taking movies to a deserted island, so– of course– I thought of music.

Anyone who knows me knows my love for music, so I had a brillian idea for a survey– not to mention the fact that I ripped off the idea from “Pulse” magazine’s column called “Desert Island Disks.”

I asked students and faculty from Yuba College what CD’s would they take with them to a desert island. (Let’s pretend that we have something to listen with, and a bizarre supply of Energizer batteries.) My only rules were that they chose only 5 CD’s. The other rule: double CD’s were counted as one and box sets account for single CD’s. I also allowed people to mix their own CD’s. Napster fans were happy.

Here were some of the responses:

Music Professor Robert Matthews picked: (1) “A Bach Celebration” by Christopher Parkening; (2) “Anthology” by The Beatles; (3) “Life Blood” by Joanne Shenandoah (4) “Chant Gregorien: Messe Des Morts” by Gregorian Chant By the Monks of Solesmes; (5) Here’s to Life –Shirley Horn

Student Joseph Sadatello picked: (1) “Mellon Collie Infinite Sadness” by Smashing Pumpkins; (2) “Magical Mystery Tour” by The Beatles; (3) “Sabotage” by Black Sabbath; (4) “Dave Matthews at Red Rocks” by Dave Matthews Band; (5) “Three Sides Live” by Genesis

Student Olivia Jaks picked: (1) “Unplugged” by Eric Clapton; (2)“Greatest Hits” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers; (3) “Get a Grip” by Aerosmith; (4) A collection of Beethoven music; (5) “Blood Sugar Sex Magik” by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Student Kenea Guyton picked: (1) “Vol. 2 Hard Knock Life” by JayZ; (2) “T.P.2.Com”by R Kelly; (3) “Extinction Level Event” by Busta Rhymes (4) “The Chronic” by Dr. Dre; (5)“Back For The First Time” by Ludacris

Last but not least here is my top five. (1) “Siamese Dream” by Smashing Pumpkins; (2) “Violator” by Depeche Mode; (3) “Boys Don’t Cry” by The Cure; (4)“Look Sharp” by Joe Jackson; (5) “Warning” by Green Day.