Saints Stranded

This week Anna Marweld has been stranded on an island and forced to pick three songs, a book, and a luxury item. What would you choose?

Being stranded on an island would create the blissful opportunity to do one of my most favourite things — listen to music and stare at absolutely nothing. While I am aware this would probably get extremely draining after a while, I also think one should not underestimate the addictive haze of lying in the sun and thinking about oneself in a variety of strange scenarios that would never happen. 

Conducive to this atmosphere for leisurely indulgence would be one of my all-time favourite songs, ‘I Heard It Through The Grapevine’ by Marvin Gaye, which is perhaps one of the most infectiously groovy songs ever made. I don’t think I would ever get tired of listening to it — incredibly timeless and yet unwaveringly dramatic and gripping at every new listen. 

The second song I would feature on my stranded-on-an-island playlist would be ‘Babe I’m Gonna Leave You’ by Led Zeppelin. This is mainly because I feel it would be extremely important to have a brooding and introspective soundtrack to listen to when you are alone at night, under a vast starlit sky. Am I hoping that the piercing e-guitar sections would scare away any lurking carnivores? Maybe.

Finally, the last song I would pick would be ‘Summers Over Interlude’ by Drake and Majid Jordan. It has the perfect rhythm and hypnotic melody for basking in the afterglow and staring out at the shimmering waters dreamily (preferably holding a coconut).

As for my book of choice, I would choose Just Kids by Patti Smith. It is not only my favourite book, but I believe it poignantly covers the complete emotional spectrum of the human experience. Whenever I pick it up again, I can never put it down. I have never tired of it, and it offers new revelations with every reading.

When it comes to a luxury item, I would choose a pack of playing cards so I could play solitaire — the loneliest game in the world. Or so I could develop a poker strategy to avoid losing money to my friends again once I hopefully return (it’s getting slightly concerning how gullible I am).

Illustration by Ruby Pitman