Richard the Film Reviewer

I'm the editor of a film website (Filmoria.com) and spend most of my time either at the movies or writing about them in one form or another. I was born and raised in Norfolk. I moved to Newcastle in my late teens and lived there for 10 years. I'm a former DJ who adores music... and food. My old school chum, Anna, recommended this site to me. It's taken me a month to put together my list. Talk about being persnickety!

1) Queen Bitch by David Bowie
I discovered Bowie in my early twenties - Yes, musically speaking I was a late developer - I haven't looked back. This song is from my favourite Bowie Album, Hunky Dory. It's fun, energetic and packed with early seventies grooves. Although Life on Mars is probably my favourite song on the album, I want something to dance to on a desert island, so Queen Bitch goes in the luggage.

2) Le Temps de L'Armour by Françoise Hardy
I love sixties French music. To me, there's no cooler music in the world. I could have filled this list with cool French sounds, but I need some variety on a desert island. My French sound choice was, ultimately, a toss up between Frances Gall's Laisse Tomber Les Filles and this song. Françoise Hardy just clinched it. Funnily enough, choices 1 and 2 on my list have appeared on the soundtracks of films by Wes Anderson, one of my favourite directors.

3) El Negro Zumbon by Silvana Mangano
Another film inspired song. I first heard El Negro Zumbon when I was watching Cinema Paradiso. The song appears on a film within a film, Anna. The rhythm is really infectious. I knew I had heard the guitar sample before. Some year's later I discovered it was on Frontier Psychiatrist by The Avalanches

4) The Snake by Al Wilson
You can't beat a bit of Northern Soul to get you in the dancing mood. And this might just be the best Northern Soul song ever recorded.

5) Gimme Shelter by The Rolling Stones
The opening rift of Gimme Shelter is perhaps the greatest intro to a song, ever. The song pounds into a rhythm and blues monster.

6) Just Dropped In by Kenny Rogers and the First Edition
If you've watched The Big Lebowski then you will know this number. With the backwards intro and the acid-trip lyrics, this is a slice of rock psychedelia.

7) Fidelity by Regina Spektor
I just love Regina Spektor's voice, it's so easy to listen to. The violin plucking arrangements on Fidelity are simply gorgeous. This is how pop music should sound.

8) Time For Heroes by The Libertines
This song is a stroke of indie-genius. I used to come home from night's out at Stonelove, an indie night in Newcastle, with a severe case of whiplash, caused by dancing like a complete loon to this. I used to run an indie night called Juicebox. I used a lyric from the song as the night's tagline "There are fewer more distressing sights than that of an Englishman in a Baseball cap" Poignant, I thought. You can probably still find the night's Myspace page online. Anyway, killer song.

9) Wuthering Heights by Kate Bush
Most of my friends hate this song. I can't understand why. The melody and arrangements are phenomenal. The song is amazing. If I had this on a desert island I would be singing until I was hoarse.

10) Rebellion (Lies) by Arcade Fire
I'm going to be controversial. Although The Beatles are my favourite band in the world, I've heard their songs so many times that I've committed them firmly to memory. So, for my final choice I am choosing Rebellion (Lies) by Arcade Fire. The song is a modern masterpiece, an orchestral behemoth that thumps and thumps with surging verocity. If I get to smuggle some rum on to the island, I will be cutting a sand-rug to this beast.