Belated birthday wishes to Vera Lynn
Bookworm on Jun 11 2009 at 3:33 pm | Filed under: Uncategorized
Did you know that British WWII songbird Vera Lynn is still alive? She celebrated her 92nd birthday on March 20, 2009. Here are two different videos, both putting pictures to my favorite of her songs, “We’ll meet again.”
Memories of World War II:
And memories from this war:
The good songs go to the heart and last.
Happy belated birthday, Ms. Lynn!
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4 Responses to “Belated birthday wishes to Vera Lynn”
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I’ve always loved the 40′s music. My favorite CChristmas song is ” I’ll Be Home For Christmas”. I think it’s because some of my first memories of my mother is her singing. I must have been 4 or 5 so that would have put it in 1948 or 49. Also, as you say, those songs used a combination of good lyrics and good melodies. The War added an indefinable something to them as well, but the music was key. My own war was in the 60′s and for many of us that time, too, is delineated by two iconic sounds: the clatter of helicopter rotors and the 60′s music. I have watched some of the videos being made by the current soldiers in the war zones (and isn’t that an amazing capability) and the music doesn’t seem to carry the same melodic and lyrical positiveness. Or maybe I’m just getting old. I’m sure these young people will look back at their songs as they get older and they will foster the memories of close friendship and fear and searing loneliness as we all felt as well, and it will bring the same meloncholy comfort.
“the music doesn’t seem to carry the same melodic and lyrical positiveness. Or maybe I’m just getting old.”
Dennis, you’re getting old (we all are), but you’re still right!
As for the music, it’s interesting that, in this war, the war music is being created by the troops themselves. I hadn’t thought about that. The lack of positiveness may be because that’s not what the troops want (or ever wanted) or because they’re troops, not musicians.
Book,
Could be. But being in a shooting war is such a negative load on your soul. I know I ached for something positive and the music helped with that. Second only, I think, to letters.
Dennis, if you have a Costco near you, they have some CD collections from WWII on sale there this month.