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Randy Newman

Kirsty Young's castaway is singer-songwriter Randy Newman.

Kirsty Young's castaway this week is the American composer, singer and song-writer Randy Newman. Colleagues say he stands shoulder-to-shoulder with musical legends Cole Porter and George Gershwin. He first made his name by writing mordant and often satirical pop songs - including A Few Words in Defence of Our Country, Political Science and Short People. For the past 25 years he has been better known for his Hollywood film music - including writing the scores for the first four Disney/Pixar films. He held the unique distinction for being Oscar-nominated 15 times without winning until 2002, when he picked up the award for Best Original Song for If I Didn't Have You from Monsters Inc. His songs are often written from the point of view of unlikeable characters - from slave masters to stalkers - it was a style, he acknowledges, that wasn't universally liked, but he adds: "I wouldn't have it any differently".

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: The 3rd movement of String Quartet No.16 in F Major by Ludwig van Beethoven
Book: The Divine Comedy (with translation) by Dante Alighieri
Luxury: A piano.

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45 minutes

Last on

Fri 24 Oct 2008 09:00
BBC Radio 4

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Music Played

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Ludwig van Beethoven

      String Quartet No. 16 in F major, Op. 135

      Orchestra: The Hollywood String Quartet

      • Beethoven: String Quartets.
      • Testament.

  • Alfred Newman

    Goodbyes

    • How Green Was My Valley.
    • Twentieth Century.

  • George Jones

    The Door

    • The Best of George Jones.
    • EPIC.

  • Fletcher Henderson

    The Stampede

    • Fletcher Henderson / 1925-28.
    • BBC.

  • Igor Stravinsky

    Sacrificial Dance (from The Rite of Spring)

    Orchestra: The Boston Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor: Benjamin Zander

    • Stravinsky: Rite of Spring.
    • I.M.P..

  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Symphony No. 15 in A major - 1st movement

    Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor: Bernard Haitink

    • Shostakovich: The Symphonies.
    • London.

  • Gustav Mahler

    Symphony No. 9 in D major - 4th movement

    Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor: Herbert von Karajan

    • Mahler: Symphony No.9.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Ray Charles

    Come Rain or Come Shine

    • The Genius of Ray Charles.
    • Atlantic.

  • Book Choice

    • The Divine Comedy (with translation) - Dante Alighieri

  • Luxury Choice

    • A piano

Credits

Presenter Kirsty Young
Interviewed Guest Randy Newman

Broadcasts

  • Sun 19 Oct 2008 11:15
    BBC Radio 4
  • Fri 24 Oct 2008 09:00
    BBC Radio 4

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