Category Archives: Music
Desert worlds: JG Ballard, Lawrence of Arabia, Dune & the story of Ishmael
My latest Something Understood for Radio 4 on Sunday April 19th was conceived as a sequel to The White North Has Thy Bones, about our fascination with the Arctic and the North West Passage. Together with producer Natalie Steed we … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Film, Music, Radio, Religion, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Uncategorized
Tagged Deserts, Dune, Hagar and Ishmael, Lawrence of Arabia, Something Understood
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The Bronte heroine who hated bouquets
For this week’s Something Understood producer Lucy Dichmont was keen to explore the elaborate Victorian coded language of floral bouquets. Unexpectedly I found myself pulling out memories and stories that I’ve been carrying around for decades. I’ve also created a … Continue reading
Posted in Gardening, Music, Radio, Uncategorized
Tagged ben e king, charlotte bronte, flowers, passion flower, rhododendron, roses, Something Understood, spanish harlem, villette
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While the flame is strong: Pop and politics (Kingston Uni class notes)
This a list of suggested reading and films to follow on from my lecture for Dr Rupa Huq’s 2nd year sociology module on Monday March 2nd 2015 11am. The title of course comes from The Young Ones (1961). It’s open … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Film, Kingston University class notes, Music, Politics, Uncategorized
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The White North Has Thy Bones: Ice stations, submarines & the woman who swam the North West Passage
Here’s a programme to listen to huddled by the fire, like Jane Eyre with her book of polar wildlife as the wind howls outside. Producer Kevin Dawson came up with the idea of our latest Something Understood programme about the … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Environment, History, Music, Radio, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Travel, Uncategorized
Tagged arctic, david arnold, Frankenstein, from russia with love, ice station zebra, inuit, James Taylor, jane eyre, jude law, Kursk submarine, lynne cox, north west passage, sir john franklin, Something Understood, submarines
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I can’t believe he did that: David Guetta on Serge Gainsbourg
Super producer and DJ David Guetta came onto Front Row for last night’s show. Having grown up in the 70 and 80s in France he listened to American soul, funk and British synth and electronica, quoting Ultravox lyrics through our … Continue reading
Posted in France, Media, Music, Radio, TV
Tagged david guetta, France, front row, serge gainsbourg, tv
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Beating time: The secret musical life of metronomes, prison camps & airport lounges
Something Understood preview: Beating Time from Samira Ahmed on Vimeo. For this week’s Something Understood producer Natalie Steed and I explored the idea of beating time. There’s the piano I still keep by the front door, just where my mother … Continue reading
Posted in Music, Radio, Uncategorized, War
Tagged charles hazelwood, chopin, oliver messian, rosa luxemburg, Something Understood, waltz
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On The Road with Buddha: The Prince Who Walked Out of His Fairy Tale
UPDATED SEPT 2 What happens when a prince walks away from his kingdom? I love the symbolism and and dream like metaphors of fairy stories. So a “real life” one is all the more intriguing. I’d been fascinated with the … Continue reading
Posted in Books, History, Music, Religion, Travel
Tagged Ashoka, BBC, Buddha, David Yip, Herman Hesse, Hinduism, Hollywood, India, Jack Kerouac, literature, Prince Siddartha, Something Understood
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The art of interviewing: Class notes (Feb 11th)
These are the examples/clips I used in today’s class: The Q&A that goes with the flow: Tom Baker interview (Metro) A great questionnaire format: Big Issue Letter To My Younger Self Influential magazines/format: The “Who The Hell Does..” interview from … Continue reading
Oh What A Lovely War Commemoration!
Recently the Prime Minister spoke of his hopes that events to mark the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War would be a “commemoration that, like the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, says something about who we are as … Continue reading
Posted in Comedy, History, Media, Music, Politics, Radio, Theatre, Uncategorized, War
Tagged 1963, 60s, BBC, culture, David Cameron, David Kynaston, elitism, Erica Whyman, Field Marshall Haig, First World War, Joan Littlewood, Michael Billington, Murray Melvin, Oh What A Lovely War!, politics, satire, Theatre Royal Stratford, war
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Loving the Alien: Bowie and the ‘Burbs
How did I come to make a documentary for Radio 4 called I Dressed Ziggy Stardust? It was pitched and commissioned about 6 months ago, long before anyone thought Bowie might be releasing new … Continue reading
Posted in Children, Culture, Media, Music, TV, Uncategorized
Tagged 70s, aliens, Asian, Bowie, Bromley, FTW, immigration, London, suburbia, Ziggy Stardust
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