Summary
An exploration into the enduring appeal of the Dire Straits classic, Brothers in Arms.
Although thought to have been written by Mark Knopfler in response to the Falklands war in the mid 1980's, it's a piece that people now associate with many other conflicts; military, personal and social.
Bass player, John Illsley explains why it remains such a special piece for Dire Straits.
Marines chaplain, Nigel Beardsley, recalls the important part it's played in the lives of so many soldiers in Iran and Afghanistan and why it's now often heard at military funerals.
Irish playwright, Sam Millar describes why he based a very personal play around the song.
Snuffy Walden, music director of the hit American TV show, The West Wing, talks about how the series writer, Aaron Sorkin insisted on it being used in its entirety during a crucial episode.
Professor Alan Moore of Surrey University explains how it's Knopfler's brilliant use of harmony that gives the song the sense of yearning that has made it into one of the most enduring pop songs of the last century.
Series exploring famous pieces of music and their emotional appeal.
Producer: Lucy Lunt
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2012.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Before you listen to this BBC podcast, I'd like to quickly tell you about some others. |
| 0:05.1 | My name's Andy Martin and I'm the editor of a team of podcast producers at the BBC in Northern Ireland. |
| 0:11.3 | It's a job I really love because we get to tell the stories that really matter to people here, |
| 0:16.2 | but which also resonate and apply to listeners around the world. |
| 0:19.6 | And because the team has such a diverse |
| 0:21.1 | range of skills and strengths, we have trained journalists, people who love digging through |
| 0:25.9 | archives, we've got drama and even comedy experts. We really can do those stories justice. So if |
| 0:31.8 | you like this podcast, head to BBC Sounds where you'll find plenty more fascinating stories |
| 0:37.0 | from all around the UK. |
| 0:39.4 | You're listening to a programme from BBC Radio 4. |
| 0:52.3 | The song is quite hunting actually |
| 0:54.5 | Even if you didn't listen to what the lyrics is saying |
| 0:56.5 | It's one of the young songs that stays in the back of your head |
| 0:58.3 | Meets her and the back of her neck walk |
| 0:59.8 | And then when I started to read the lyrics |
| 1:01.9 | It was quite shocking, you know |
| 1:03.4 | Because I just could relate |
| 1:04.6 | Exactly to what the song was all about |
| 1:07.5 | My name's Sal Miller I'm a crime writer song was all about. |
| 1:13.5 | I'm a Sam Miller. |
| 1:15.9 | I'm a crime writer here in Belfast. |
| 1:21.8 | I first heard it. |
... |
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