David Gilmour, Pink Floyd’s legendary guitarist, has spent decades shaping the sound of progressive rock. While his intricate solos and ethereal compositions have inspired countless musicians, Gilmour himself has always been a devoted music lover, finding inspiration in a wide range of genres. When asked to choose just one song he couldn’t live without, his answer wasn’t a grand, sprawling epic—but rather a track that simply made him want to dance.
Despite his reputation for crafting deep, immersive soundscapes, Gilmour’s musical tastes extend far beyond the world of psychedelic and progressive rock. Over the years, he has praised artists across multiple genres, from folk icons like Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen to rock pioneers like The Kinks and Neil Young. But when it came to selecting a single song to accompany him for eternity, Gilmour chose pure rhythm and joy over introspection.
In 2003, Gilmour appeared on the long-running BBC Radio 4 show Desert Island Discs, a program where guests select the eight songs they would take with them if stranded on a deserted island. The show has featured a diverse range of guests, from Hollywood stars to political leaders, and choosing just eight tracks is never an easy task. However, the real challenge comes at the end, when castaways must select the one song they would save above all others.
For Gilmour, that song was “Dancing in the Street” by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas. While his fans might expect him to name a blues masterpiece or a grand rock anthem, the Pink Floyd guitarist had one simple reason for his choice: “I’m gonna need to dance.”
Recognizing that life on a deserted island might require some uplifting energy, Gilmour explained, “I don’t do it very often, of course, at my hugely advanced age. But I need a little bit of Tamla Motown sort of dance music to accompany me on this beach, wherever I am.” Rather than opting for a complex composition, he wanted something that brought pure joy—proving that even a master of atmospheric rock needs a good groove sometimes.
Originally released in 1965, “Dancing in the Street” became one of Motown’s most iconic tracks, later covered by the likes of David Bowie and Mick Jagger. However, for Gilmour, the original version by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas remained untouchable. It’s a song that, despite its simplicity, captured his heart in a way that even the most elaborate rock compositions never could.
In the end, Gilmour’s choice is a reminder that music’s power isn’t just in technical mastery or poetic depth—it’s in the ability to make people feel something. And in this case, it’s the simple, irresistible urge to move.
