I hope lots of you join in with song titles that were popular during WWII. The music meant so much to everyone during those sad times. I'll start with this one, it was an American favorite during the war and maybe it was popular in Britain, Australia and allied countries also: "Coming in on a Wing and a Prayer" Whoops! I didn't read far enough or I would have noticed the above song has already been posted. Sorry. Here is a song that the British must remember; "The White cliffs of Dover" but did you know this song was very popular in America during WWII? If I can remember the words my mother use to sing; There'll be blue birds over the white cliffs of Dover, Tomorrow when the world is free, There'll be love and laughter and peace ever after Tomorrow just you wait and see. The sheperd will tend his sheep The valley will bloom again, And Jimmy will go to sleep In his own little room again repeat chorus.
My Dad's favourite was, I think, a pre-war song - "When they begin the Beguine" which I thought was sung by Billy Eckstein but I can't find a reference to that.
Not heard a vocal version of Beguine, but I do have the musical version on CD. I adore Coming In, always sing along to that one. What i do have is a lyric version of In The Mood by the Puppinni Sisters. Ah Big Band
I like the sound of Glenn Miller, but I do have problem with it! Everytime I hear it I get this dreadful urge to bomb Germany
Ok Morse somebody had to say it - does it put you in the mood then? Actually my favourite is "String of Pearls".
"You'll Never Know" My favorite WWII love song is "You'll Never Know" You'll never know just how much I miss you, You'll never know just how much I care, And if I tried I still couldn't hide my love for you, You ought to know for haven't I told you so A million or more times? You went away and my heart went with you, I speak your name in my every prayer, If there is some other way to prove that I love you, I swear I don't know how you'll never know If you don't know now. This song really gets me when I think of all those lovers who were separated by the war.
Liz that was just my favourite Glen Miller track. My favourite song of all time is "Everytime we say goodbye". Cheating a bit because I don't think it was actually a hit until much later.
Ella Fitzgerald sings this at 3:50 live in London. YouTube - Ella Fitzgerald, live in London (1965) #5
This is both the Frank Sinatra Radio & Studio versions. YouTube - Frank Sinatra - Begin The Beguine (Studio and Radio version)
And what could be better than Dame Vera Lynn and the "White Cliffs of Dover and the magical sound of the Spitfire. Talk about goosebumps......................... YouTube - White Cliffs Of Dover - Spitfire Show - Music Video
Should have had this up for St Georges Day! "There'll Always be an England" from Vera Lynn. YouTube - There'll Always Be An England
Lili Marlene by Marlene Dietrich, tune was used by the D-Day dodgers. YouTube - Lili Marlene D-Day Dodgers lyrics: THERE IS A SONG EIGHT ARMY USED TO SING MARCHING THRO THE DESERT, MARCHING WITH A SWING BUT NOW THEY'RE ON A DIFFERENT GAME. ALTHOUGH THE TUNE IS THE SAME THE WORDS HAVE ALL BEEN ALTERED -THE WORDS WE'RE SINGING STILL WE'RE THE "D" DAY DODGERS HERE IN ITALY DRINKING ALL THE VINO, ALWAYS ON THE SPREE, WE DIDN'T LAND WITH EISIENHOWER AND SO THEY THINK WE'RE JUST A SHOWER FOR WE'RE THE "D" DAY DODGERS OUT HERE IN ITALY HERE'S TO LADY ASTOR, OUR PIN UP GIRL OUT HERE SHE'S THE DEAR OLD LADY, WHO SENDS US SUCH GOOD BEER AND WHEN WE GET OUR ASTOR BAND WE'LL BE THE PROUDEST IN THE LAND FOR WE'RE THE "D" DAY DODGERS OUT HERE IN ITALY SALERNO AND CASSINO WE'RE TAKIN IN OUR STRIDE WE DIDN'T GO TO FIGHT THERE, WE WENT THERE FOR THE RIDE ANZIO AND SANZIO WE'RE O. K. JUST ANOTHER HOLIDAY FOR WE'RE THE "D" DAY DODGERS OUT HERE IN ITALY AROUND LAKE TRASIMANO WE HAD A LOVELY TIME BAGS OF WINE AND WOMAN THERE, THEY DIDN'T COST A DIME BASE WALLAHS, AMGOT AND THE YANKS ALL STAYED IN ROME , TO DODGE THE TANKS FOR WE'RE THE "D" DAY DODGERS OUT HERE IN ITALY WE STAYED A WEEK IN FLORENCE POLISHED OF THE VINO THEN THUMBED OUR WAY TO RIMINI THRO THE GOTHIC LINE SOON TO BOLOGNA WE WILL GO WHEN JERRYS GONE ACROSS THE PO FOR WE'RE THE "D" DAY DODGERS OUT HERE IN ITALY SOON THE BOYS IN FRANCE, WILL BE GETTING LEAVE AFTER SIX MONTHS SERVICE ITS A SHAME THERE NOT RELIEVED BUT WE CON CARRY ON OUT HERE FOR WHAT MAY BE A FEW MORE YEARS FOR WE'RE THE "D" DAY DODGERS OUT HERE IN ITALY ONCE WE HEARD A RUMOUR WE WERE GOING HOME BACK TO DEAR OLD BLIGHTY NEVER MORE TO ROAM THEN SOME ONE SAID IN FRANCE YOU'LL FIGHT WE ANSWERED "NO WE'LL JUST SIT TIGHT" FOR WE'RE THE "D" DAY DODGERS OUT HERE IN ITALY wHEN THE WAR IS OVER AND WE'VE DONE OUR BIT CLIMBING OVER MOUNTAINS, THRO' MUD AND SLEET THEN WE WILL ALL BE SENT OUT EAST TILL B.L.A. HAVE BEEN RELEASED FOR WE'RE THE "D" DAY DODGERS OUT HERE IN ITALY FORGOTTEN BY THE MANY REMEMBERED BY THE FEW WE HAD OUR ARMISTICE WHEN AN ARMESTICE WAS NEW ONE MILLION GERMANS GAVE UP TO US WE FINISHED OUR WAR WITHOUT MUCH FUSS FOR WE'RE THE "D" DAY DODGERS OUT HERE IN ITALY IF YOU LOOK AROUND THE MOUNTAINS IN THE WIND AND RAIN YOU'LL FIND THE SCATTERED CROSSES SOME WHICH BEAR NO NAME HEART BREAK AND TOIL AND SUFFERING GONE THE BOYS BENEATH THEM SLUMBER ON FOR WE'RE THE "D" DAY DODGERS OUT HERE IN ITALY
Alice Faye introduced "You'll Never Know" in the movie "Hello, Frisco, Hello" that was released during WWII. The GI's were crazy about Alice Faye and she was really cuter than Barbra Streisand and I think she did a better vocal on the song too. Dick Haymes sang it in the movie "Four Jills in a Jeep" that was released during the war. The GI"s weren't as crazy about him though! LOL!! Nana, I love the song "Everytime We Say Goodbye." When did it make its debut?
According to Wikipedia:- "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye" is a song by Cole Porter, introduced in 1944 in Billy Rose's musical revue, Seven Lively Arts. The song became a jazz standard, recorded by Ella Fitzgerald (Verve Records 1956) ......... However my original copy was a "45" (as apposed to "78" - heavens half of you won't have a clue what that means!!!) in 1958, so I would put it around that time or maybe a little later - or maybe it took me ever soooooo long to save up!!!! Amazing to think that it has endured as my favourite song for 50 years. Either a mature teenager or an immature pensioner - don't anybody dare answer that!!!!
We were there!!!! Absolutely brilliant concert as always! We were regulars at Ronnie Scotts and have enjoyed Ella, Sarah Vaughan, Ray Charles and countless spellbinding others. Kitty - Big bands!!!! Mmmm! We saw the amazing Count Basie and Duke Ellington several times. For sheer entertainment value Fats Domino took some beating, the audience ranged from teenagers to pensioners, all up on their feet dancing and clapping, it was hypnotic you simply had to do it - the band even came down to join us! Do I sound like Victor Meldrew again if I say that I cannot believe that people will be writing about Amy whatever her name is or Take That (which exhausts my contemporary knowledge) in 50 years time? - Better take the pill now!!!
