Favorite WWII Song/Composer/Band?

Music was a big thing during the Second World War. It had a great influence, and in my opinion, was the best music ever. Of course, I'm talking about Big Band and Swing.

So if you enjoy the music as well, who's your favorite artist or group? Or favorite song?

My favorite composer would be Glenn Miller, but my favorite song is "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" by the Andrews Sisters. I play that everytime I jump into my P-51 in CFS.

 

Not big band but French. Edith Piaf

 

White Christmas; Irving Berlin; Bing Crosby

 

Partial to almost anything by Marlene Dietrich.


My least favourite is probably George Formby... just read that he was Britains highest paid entertainer in 1939.
Some aspects of history will always puzzle me.

Cheers,
Adam.

 

Just to really make Adam's day - and for those of you who haven't a clue who George Formby was...

 

Glenn Miller. still listen to his songs even though I went through a "serious phase" of punk rock in the late 1970´s...

 

Thank you so much Martin... 'nice' choice of picture too.
Sends shivers down my spine for all the wrong reasons... It'll be Gracie Fields next .

Don't have nightmares...
Adam.

 

Vera Lynn was quite a popular singer in Britain, although I've never heard her songs except perhaps as part of a soundtrack. "White Cliffs of Dover" was one, I believe.

JT

 

Go to youtube and search for:
"little stick of blackpool rock"
&
"when I'm cleaning windows"

...
Actually.
Don't.


Dame Vera is thankfully still with us, we were at Beltring a year or two ago when a lovely WW1 Model T MG carrier went by, my brother came out with "who's that old bint in the passenger seat?" (or words to that effect)
The reply
"That happens to be Dame Vera Lynn."
Edit: (checked with mates & disputed anecdote emerges, I'm now told it was me who asked and the response was "Vera Lynn you t___"... An alcohol/memory conflict has occurred, apologies .)

 

Glenn Miller is also my favorite... String of Pearls. I am also partial to classical.

 

...listening to George Formby's singing voice is an experience similar to running your fingernails down a blackboard.....

 

Dame Vera Lynn, "We'll Meet Again" ...

YouTube - We'll Meet Again (Dame Vera Lynn)

Marlene Dietrich, "Lili Marlene"
YouTube - Lili Marlene

The "Farewell of Slavianka" (Прощание славянки ), not a WWII composition but saw a revival during the "Great Patriotic War" when Stalin lifted the ban on this Imperial Russian patriotic anthem ... (the words were changed from the original, of course.)

The original, Soviet-banned ("counter-revolutionary") version:
YouTube - White army of Russia farewell of slavianka

Dooley Wilson, "As Time Goes By"
YouTube - As Time Goes By

a bit off topic, but one cannot discuss music in Casablanca and not mention the "Wacht am Rhein" vs Marseillaise scene ...
YouTube - Casablanca - Marseillaise Scene

Three years ago, I was having lunch with a group of French anesthesiologists in Las Vegas. The discussion drifted to movies and one asked what was the name of that "song in Casablanca" ... Couldn't resist it ... and with an evil twinkle in the eye I started singing "Lieb Vaterland magst ruhig sein! ...". Before I got to "fest steht und treu die Wacht, die Wacht am Rhein ..", the whole group was on their feet and singing their National Anthem!

 

I can't think of the music of WWII without thinking of Vera Lynn, Glenn Miller, Bing Crosby, and the Andrew Sisters. Frank Sinatra also had some very poignant songs then.

Vera Lynn:"Wish Me Luck As You Wave Me Goodbye", "We'll Meet Again", "You'll Never Know", "White Cliffs Of Dover", etc

Glenn Miller: "A String of Pearls", "St. Louis Blues March", "Moonlight Serenade", "American Patrol", "In the Mood", "Bugle Call Rag"

Dinah Shore: "A Boy in Khaki, A Girl in Lace" - probably influenced by the fact that my mother was a Londoner who married a Canadian serviceman!

Bing Crosby: "White Crhistmas" "Sunday Monday or Always"

Doris Day: "Sentimental Journey"

Frank Sinatra: "I'll Never Smile Again" "All or Nothing At All"

Artie Shaw: "Begin the Beguine"

Andrew Sisters: "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy"

For some reason not completely certain of the primary artist: "I'll Be Seeing You" "I'll Be With You In Apple Blossom Time"

The Merry Macs: "Mairzy Doats" A song my Dad frequently sang, just as he sang "I'm Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover", "Bye Bye Blackbird", and "Jeepers Creepers" He also sang, "Barnacle Bill the Sailor!" edited for his daughter's ears.

Music was very important during those years. When my Dad was in hospital in his late 50's he was in a 4 bed ward where 2 of the other men turned out to be veterans as well, and they took to singing to their visitors just before visiting hours ended and would continue on after we left. They developed fans, and then would have to be closed down when it was time for lights out!

Thanks for the great question...

 

My knowledge in that field is limited, but I still listen to Glen Miller, which leads to terrible rows with the Red Rabbi who only cares for the Red Army Choir!

I make him admit the Preobraschenski's March is fine even if from Czarist's times. He's getting mellow with age, you know.