The war years brought about an influence in the music scene and highlighed Jazz and Big Band music. Pre-war period sound was introduced in cinema and musicals but during World War II, music was becoming mass distributed and many households that did not previously have radios now had access to music and news. Check out this playlist of WWII music. New dances were also created to reflect this new up-tempo beat. High energy dances such as the Lindy Dance could be seen in movies such as Hellzapoppin –
Other high energy tunes include –
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy by the Andrews Sisters
Straighten Up and Fly Right by Nat King Cole
One of the most popular songs during the war years is the White Cliffs of Dover.
(Words by Nat Burton, music by Walter Kent, 1941)
There’ll be bluebirds over
The white cliffs of Dover,
Tomorrow
Just you wait and see.
There’ll be joy and laughter
And peace ever after,
Tomorrow
When the world is free,
The shepherd will count his sheep
The valleys will bloom again,
And Jimmy will go to sleep
In his own little room again,
There’ll be bluebirds over
The white cliffs of Dover,
Tomorrow
Just you wait and see.
You can listen to the Vera Lynn’s version here.
Other popular songs include
We’ll Meet Again by Vera Lynn
As Time Goes By by Jimmy Durante
Leave a comment