Simon Robinson
Simon is Hertford’s Catering Manager and joined the college in 2019 after working for many years with livery companies in the City of London.
Click the titles below to read Simon’s comments. Listen to his tracks in the YouTube playlist – to select a different song click the three horizontal lines in the top right of the video.
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Saint-Saëns – Organ Symphony Finale
The only way to wake up! And if you’re going to do something big with an orchestra you may as well use every instrument. The composer even said that “I gave everything to it I was able to give. What I have here accomplished, I will never achieve again,” which is also a good motto for how a day on a tropical island should be. It also features in the film Babe – the greatest film ever made! “That will do pig!”
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Gloria Gaynor – I Am What I Am
Every word is as inspirational to me today as it was 35 years ago… plus it’s a great tune to get the party started, a theme which will continue on my desert island day.
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Shirley Bassey – Light my Fire (live at the Electric Proms 2009)
It’s definitely an island full of divas – this performance is flawless. If I were to set off on a walk around the island I’d play this, find a perfect swimming spot and call it ‘Tiger Bay’ in Shirley’s honour!
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Bucks Fizz – Making Your Mind Up
Picking the pace up here before my leisurely lunch. First pop concert I was going to go to at Preston Guild Hall in 1984, but the group was in a serious road accident. It took me years to get over that… but this is probably one of the catchiest pop tunes ever written. It’s also a good pre-lunch drink!
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Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass – This Guy's In Love With You
A ‘digestif’ tune after a heavy lunch – if I have drunk a bit too much claret, emotions may run high! Just beautiful.
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Beyoncé – Ring the Alarm (Freemasons Club Remix)
Stop moping around now, time to get the party started again! I would reintroduce myself to dancing like I used to… and on a tropical island no one could see me!
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Harry Styles – Watermelon Sugar
As Jordan is on my neighbouring island I would play this loudly everyday before bed. She’s got no taste and doesn’t appreciate the ‘H-man’. I tried to introduce his many talents to her over the first lockdown but her ears are impervious to his charms! It’s also perfect for a sundowner on a deserted beach.
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Morecambe & Wise – Bring Me Sunshine/Positive Thinking
This would end the day perfectly. It should be prescribed as musical medicine. My favourite words…
When things look black, try positive thinking,
Treat every season as spring;
No glancing back: try positive thinking,
Trust what tomorrow may bring.Then I’d do the dance in to the sunset!
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Book & luxury item
You have to be resourceful on a desert island so I would bring my iPad as my luxury item! All books could be downloaded by my Kindle app as there’s so much time to read so many books. Amazon also deliver worldwide so I’d have everything I’d want – food, drink…!
