Tuesday, October 26, 2004

If...

I came across this book the other day. Here are some questions from it. I look forward with interest to your responses.

1. If you had to choose the best song ever composed, which would it be?

2. If you were renamed after someone from history, whose name would you want?

3. If you could change one thing about your city or town, what would you alter?

4. If you could arrange for any two singers to record a duet together which two would you pick, and what song would you have them sing?

5. If you could make a film from any book never produced as a film, what book would you pick?


From If (Questions for the Game of Life)
by Evelyn McFarlane and James Saywell.

Click here to buy the book or for more info


12 comments:

Anonymous said...

can't decide the best song ever composed - it always changes, at the moment i'm enjoying "close to you" by the cure equally with "the magnificent sanctuary band" by donny hathaway.

i'm happy with my name, but "voltaire" has an element of distinction that would suit me.

i would alter my rent.

minnie ripperton and barry white - suzanne [leonard cohen]

a confederacy of dunces - by john kennedy toole

amiethinggoes said...

- Like the song “I’ll be” by Edwin McCain and an old song by I don’t know whom “A certain Smile” (more like an acquired taste from my mom. I used to hear this every morning)

- Gabriela, a historical figure (a woman of real courage)

- Congested Traffic

- Evanescence and Josh Groban, can’t think of a song yet but it’ll probably rock whatever it is!

- Can’t think of a good book yet.

Wastedpapiers said...

1. At the moment it would be "Gasoline" by the Evangenitals.

2. Quasimodo isnt really from history but his name has a nice ring to it!

3. I'd get rid of all the ugly factories along the river and turn the biuldings round in the town centre so they faced the river and not turn their backs on it. Or failing that alter the course of the river to go where the horrible road is that slices Northwich in half.

4.Don Van Vliet and Howlin' Wolf singing GOt My Mojo Working.

5. Joseph Cornell's "Theatre Of The Mind".

sylviasometimes said...

My 2 and 1/2 pence worth...
1-Warren Zevon-The Wind- "Keep
me in your heart"...it's raggedy,
but true...with wonderful words.
2-OHHHHH! Popeye! I am what I
yam! Lessons in finese.
3-Blimey! The parking..there
ain't none...gonna get a ticket
so just "suck it up"!
4-Jonathan Stangroom & Joe Scurrio...
singing "All Along the Watchtower"...because
it's awesome & would make Dylan's hair
crinkle!...but Tom Waits talks...and
him & Peter Wolf would be one show to see!
5-The DaVinci Code...sucked me right in!
I think Sean Connery should fit in somewhere...
and maybe Rachel Ward...liked her in the
Thorn Birds way back when. If not that..
"The Finer Balance", an intriquing Indian
story...oh wow...Bollywood!

Roger Stevens said...

Here are my thoughts. Best song. Strawberry Fields Forever. Very clever music, brilliant words and a goose-pimply performance. I never tire of it.
Call me Alfred. That would be great.
Boring - but I'd improve public transport.
I think Dylan and Lou Reed would be good together, waiting for their man.
As yet un-made film? Have to be one of my books. The Howen - that would make a scary film for kids. Producers please note!

Ed Giecek said...

1. "It makes No Difference" as sung by the late Rick Danko on The Last Walt'z

2. Buggzy

3. I'd put little conveyor belts in instead of sidewalks. You'd just step on them and go for miles...

4. Tony Blair and George Bush singing "We're such silly little dafts".

5. "Across The Olympic Mts., The 1889-90 Press Expedition" -- By Robert E. Wood (I think). Still my favorite epic true adventure book.

Seire said...

1. angel flyin' too close to the ground - nelson

2. annie oakley

3. more theme parks!! nah - i just miss our small town. austin has sprouted into a traffic-choked metroplex.

4. cap'tin n' tenille - oh wait, damnit they already did one. um...bob dylan n' shakira covering the stone's shattered.

5. a winter's tale by helprin

Roger Stevens said...

Anon - Leonard Cohen's Suzanne deserves the Clash!

WeirdLoverWilde - You've Got a Friend. Wonderful song. Could be my number two. Or number three. (No they're not!)

Amie - Have you thought of a book yet?

Andi Simone - has a nice ring to it.

Michael - Don Van Vliet - of course. He could sing Suzanne.

Syl - Do you really want to be called Popeye?

Jade - Soul Music. Good choice. There are a few Pratchet contenders. You'd think there'd be a host of films by him by now.

Ed - Lotz of Dylan on the lizt. May I call you Buggzy?

Sunshine - your name really is exotic enough. And wasn't coyote an historical figure?

Jonathan said...

1. Let's give Dylan a break and try "Waterloo Sunset"

2. Napoleon... hey I'm short and often scratch myself.

3. Take Harvard Square back to the late 60's... they've
turned it into a mall.

4. Tom Waits and Marianne Faithfull singing "Somewhere
Over the Rainbow" might be interesting.

5. Something by R.K. Naryan... Indian but not Bollywood.

Roger Stevens said...

Waterloo Sunset. Wow!That would be my number two. That's the one that knocks You've Got a Friend into third.

Weird or what?

Mischief abounds. Were you thinking of the old Marianne Faithful or the new. Her voice is almost the female equivalent to Tom Waits - where as once it was pure.
Maybe team Tom up with Charlotte Church.

Jonathan said...

Roger... forgot what your number 1 was...
"Waterloo Sunset" is often called the prettiest song in rock n' roll... (myself, I don't think it's rock at all)

The newer Marianne, of course (yes, coarse)... I think that they'd be beautiful together.

Dunno Charlotte Church.

Seire said...

Sunshine's guy here. I want:

Keller & Teller, The Sound of Silence.