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.

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Not big band but French. Edith Piaf

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White Christmas; Irving Berlin; Bing Crosby

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Lord, let me be the person my dog thinks I am.

These both typify the era and are also my favorites.

In Dec, 1942, Glenn Miller performed a concert at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery AL. Years later, area residents persuaded the city and the AFB to have a Christmas concert performed by military bands playing swing music every year in early Dec in memory of Glenn Miller and the men who served during that war.
My wife and I used to attend the concerts with my grandfather and grandmother until he was too old to attend. We really loved it. We've talked about going back each year, but 7 years later, we still haven't made it. Maybe this year...

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Best Regards,
JW

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.

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

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"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

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

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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.

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I never caught that malady, Kai.

Marlene Dietrich had an interesting voice.

I guess that Formby dude was real big on radio, chick magnet that he is. Did his voice match his dorky appearance?

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Best Regards,
JW

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

And here ya go, Adam.

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Best Regards,
JW

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 .)

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Now see, Adam, if you were a good Baptist like me you wouldn't have these sorts of problems. Kindly ignore my brief comments in this thread on the other site.

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Best Regards,
JW

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

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

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"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

Well, UNFORTUNATELY I did. My stars, he was horrible. Did he not realize that he could also use his oral pharynx when singing? He is singing so high in his nose, I was afraid he was going to burst his eyeballs.
I thought that was a banjo in the pic above and in the clips it looks sorta like one, only smaller. That alone should have warned me off. A Brit playing the banjo! I think that is a crime in most states in the US.
He reminded me a bit of Jerry Lewis. YECH.

EDIT I see it is not a banjo it is a banjolele.

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Best Regards,
JW

That doesn't begin to descibe it, Martin.

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Best Regards,
JW

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, Bin