Was there an American Vera Lynn?

Discussion in 'General' started by Josh&Historyland, Jul 17, 2014.

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  1. In 2000 Dame Vera Lynn was named the Briton who best exemplified the spirit of the twentieth century. Many say her songs instantly conjure up a picture of the War, and no other singer was so popular in the British army, famously described as the "Forces Sweetheart". No singer I can think of has such an association with the conflict as she. My question is who does or did that for America?

    Josh.
     
  2. TTH

    TTH Senior Member

    For an American, I think the Andrews Sisters would have to be the equivalent. And boy, could they sing.


    We had other female stars and vocalists famous for their dedication to the war effort. Frances Langford and Marlene Dietrich were known for going to wild, dangerous places that other stars avoided.
     
    Slipdigit likes this.
  3. They sure could sing alright! I've seen them perform with Bing Crosby on TV & in the Road to Rio, yes now I come to think of it they fit the bill nicely!

    Josh.
     
  4. TriciaF

    TriciaF Junior Member

    Ver Lynn sang very sentimental songs, and the only American singer I can think of with a similar style was Peggy Lee - specially "The Folk who live on the Hill", though that was writen pre-war.
    The Andrews Sisters - I can remember many of their records being played in our house. One song which echoed the worries of the British in wartime:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPJZTRqQ1Xw
    But the Americans were much more up-beat about it.
     
  5. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    The Americans had many more "Vera Lynns" available to listen but the Andrews sisters were always close to the front as being

    recognisable and followed by many more "sisters' with less appeal- after the war and sitting in Austria we were inundated by the

    "Musicals" such as South Pacific - Oklahoma et al which brought many more singers to our attention from the DJ's of - Parten-Kirkun

    at least until 9:30 nightly when the power wheel froze up - altogether now in your lowest Bass voice- "SOME ENCHANTED EVENING "…..

    Cheers
     
  6. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    There has been quite a post-war sentimentalisation of Vera Lynn and her songs. As I understand it, as with any entertainer, her sound wasn't universally liked at the time. In the early part of the war, Gracie Fields seems to have been more popular.
     
  7. Tricia.

    Lynn did sing emotional songs wereas the Sisters sang more upbeat numbers and I was wondering whether this highlights a cultural difference between Britain and America, music wise. If not a reflection of Blitzed war weary Britain and fresh galvanised America, reaching perhaps, what do you think?

    Tom.

    I saw some veterans from the US army in the pacific on TV saying that they didn't appreciate "Glamour girls" appearing to entertain them near the front. Now interestingly the reason Vera Lynn was so liked by the British 14th army when she visited was that she wasn't a "Glamour Girl" she was a sister, the girl next door, or across the street, the Andrews Sisters don't strike me as particularly glamorous in that sense either, I wonder if this was why they were so well liked too.

    Rich.

    That's good to keep in mind, it is all about taste,

    Josh.
     
  8. Enigma1003

    Enigma1003 Member

    One of the most popular female singers in America who did the same role as Vera Lynn, was actually a British singer ........... Gracie Fields. She had been forced to move to America when she married an Italian in 1940, as he would have been interned in the UK. She was particularly active in the Far East as areas were freed from Japanese occupation, and visited many reception centres in Aug / Sept 45 as troops / POWs awaited their homeward ships. She earned a lot of dollars for Britains Spitfire Fund.

    Mike
     
  9. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Old Hickory Recon

    Kate Smith was well loved and she certainly was no glamor girl.

    Dinah Shore had a string of hits during the war. She toured extensively with the USO and would probably come as close to being a "Vera Lynn" as any other female solo performer.

    I like the Andrews Sisters and automatically think of WWII when I hear them sing.
     
  10. TTH

    TTH Senior Member

    Slip, on Kate Smith...

    I forget what book I read this in, but US POWs in the Philippines used to hum "God Bless America," which of course was Kate Smith's signature song and probably the most popular patriotic song for that entire generation of Americans. Apparently the Jap guards (who were selected from the dumbest of the dumb) seldom caught on.
     
  11. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Old Hickory Recon

    Kate Smith sang God Bless America for the 30th Infantry Division when it came home in late summer, 1945. The subject of my book, Mr. Sanford, remembers that concert quite well. The concert was quite a treat for him to come home to.
     
  12. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Enigma

    Gracie Fields lost a great deal of her reputation when her Italian husband banned all British personnel from landing on the

    Isle of Capri by making it into an "American Officers only Island " - she was subject to much bad language - but still didn't

    budge - and we never did get on to the Island…

    Cheers
     
  13. Enigma1003

    Enigma1003 Member

    Tom,

    Thats interesting. Sounds like he had decided who his 'friends' were.

    Mike
     
  14. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    Hello Tom,

    I've been to Capri, seen Gracie Fields house, etc. The whole place is a rip-off and not worth the bother... Lucky escape for the banned British troops. Better left for the better paid US Officers.

    Also seen Vera Lynn sing live, in London for the 50th Anniversary of VE Day (or whatever it was). I hope the Yanks didn't have a Vera Lynn, they may just have capitulated.

    And what are 'Blue Birds' over the white cliffs of Dover? I have never seen a Blue Bird and what is all the nostalga/reminicsing about them all about then? No doubt someone will say it is an analogy and/or symbolic - but I always thought it was essentially symbolic with the 'sym' removed and an 'x' suffix applied.

    My grandfathers never ever sang Vera Lynn songs...

    Best,

    Steve.
     
  15. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Steve

    never even tried to land on Capri as I thought she was over the hill at that time plus marrying an enemy….. I always preferred

    the other popular one - big girl- can't think of her name now but she was a better singer…

    Cheers
     
  16. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    Steve, that wretched song was written by an American who'd probably never seen Dover. Anyone who's been there knows there's nothing but shite-hawks. As far as I can tell, ex-servicemen, especially after a few jars, only ever sing rude songs.
     
  17. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    Hello Tom/Rich,

    Would that be Tessie O'Shea, Tom? She sang 'If you were the only girl in the world', which was one of my maternal grandfather's favourite songs. I can just picture/hear him singing it now. :)

    I know a few of those rude songs myself, Rich. I played rugby for many a year and a lot of those 'old soldiers' songs were compulsory after the match, after four pints, fodder. :D
     
  18. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    I thought I'd refresh my own memory and found this:

    http://www.memorylanehf.oddquine.co.uk/music1.htm

    The name Anne Shelton certainly revived memories for me .

    In all my overseas service I never got to see any of the British celebrities who were reuted to have performed for the troops, but i did get to see a big US band that entertained us in Ulm in Germany .

    Ron

    Ps
    If you were wondering what I was doing in Germany, read on:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/13/a2062513.shtml
     
  19. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Steve

    Ron nailed it - Anne Shelton - she was way ahead of Gracie and Tessa

    Cheers
     
  20. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    Your 'big girl' comment threw me, Tom. Tessie O'Shea was known as 'Two Ton Tess' and that is BIG.

    I am not familiar with Anne Shelton's work, albeit I may have heard her sing but just not connected it to the name. I shall look her up on Youtube...

    Best,

    Steve.
     

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