Favorite WWII song? Lili Marleen.

[Doctor Jones]

I'm going to go in a completely different direction, not a song per se but a tune, The Atholl and Breadalbane Gathering, a Highland bagpipe march.
Because that's what the massed Pipes & Drums of the 51st (Highland) Division are playing during their victory parade in 1945.

The Pipe Band I play in now plays that tune, so it's not only the historical aspect but it's a cracking tune I play regularly.

 

[filfoster]

London Derryair

 

[Edward]

London Derryair

It's strictly speaking known as the Londonderry Air. Stroke City being what it is, there are those who prefer 'Derry Air', though none of them are French.

 

[Tiki Tom]

Over There! Glenn Miller.

 

[Edward]

I'm going to go in a completely different direction, not a song per se but a tune, The Atholl and Breadalbane Gathering, a Highland bagpipe march.
Because that's what the massed Pipes & Drums of the 51st (Highland) Division are playing during their victory parade in 1945.

The Pipe Band I play in now plays that tune, so it's not only the historical aspect but it's a cracking tune I play regularly.

There's something that stirs me on a deeply instinctive, animal level when I hear bagpipes. I guess it's ancestral voices, some inherited memory that I can't quite consciously access, but has a shiver of the battlefield to it.

I keep meaning to take up the pipes - both bagpipe and Uileann.

 

[HanauMan]

Always liked the German WWII hits Sing, Nachtigall, Sing by Evelyn Kuennekke and Es Geht Alles Vorueber by Lale Anderson.

 

[hatguy1]

'Harbor Lights." Just seems to be so widely used as period music in documentaries and docudramas.

 

[Edward Reed]

As a pick me up the standard In The Mood (Glenn Miller arrangement.. as there was the Edgar Hayes & His Orchestra 1938 version which isn't quite a "swing-y" lol!) and Sing, Sing, Sing by Benny Goodman.

 

[2jakes]

"Song of India”
Tommy Dorsey Band

First heard this song on a documentary about the A.V.G. in Burma as they
were preparing to take off.
Every time I hear it...I think of R.T. “Tadpole” Smith of the Flying Tigers.

R.T. “Tadpole” Smith
WWII ace fighter pilot, American Volunteer Group (Flying Tigers)

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

Noel Coward -- Could You Please Oblige Us With A Bren Gun (1940)

 

[MisterCairo]

Mentioned of course in the recently passed thread, but Dame Vera Lynn has died, aged 103:

http://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/world...-dies-at-103/ar-BB15ExyK?li=AAggNb9&ocid=iehp

 

[Tiki Tom]

Thanks for this. Truly a noteworthy passing. Amazing woman, amazing voice... and those songs were iconic symbols of Britain’s refusal to back down when the going got tough. I can’t say enough good things. Honestly, I was surprised that she was still around. Passed away at the ripe old age of 103. A true national treasure. R.I.P.

 

[Harry Gooch]

 

[dirigoboy]

I'm only on here and there, but regarding music from the era, I'm haunted by Edith Piaf's song from Saving Private Ryan....well, that and the sound of that Tiger Tank backing up.
Here's to music from a great movie.

 

[Zombie_61]

I have to go on record with Very Lynn's "We'll Meet Again". Every time I hear it scenes from various WWII movies I've seen come to mind.

 

[Tiki Tom]

A little bit post-war, but wow: Marlene Dietrich singing “the ruins of Berlin” in no less than four languages...

 

[GHT]

Written in 1945, by Édith Piaf (lyrics) & Louiguy and Marguerite Monnot, "La Vie en rose." It would translate as: "Life in the Pink." But I like to think of it as: "Life Through Rose Tinted Spectacles." Not technically a WW2 song but it is always associated with that era.
The song became very popular in the US in 1950 with no fewer than seven different versions reaching the Billboard charts. These were by Tony Martin, Paul Weston, Bing Crosby, Ralph Flanagan, Victor Young, Dean Martin, and Louis Armstrong. It was popularly covered by Latin singer Thalia.

A version in 1977 by Grace Jones was also a successful international hit. "La Vie en rose" has been covered by many other artists over the years, including a 1993 version by Donna Summer. Harry James also recorded a version in 1950. Bing Crosby recorded the song again for his 1953 album Le Bing: Song Hits of Paris.

The diminutive version will always be by Piaf. It will take me a while to find but I have another version by our darling friend Lorraine, whom we lost to cancer a couple of years ago. When I find it I'll share it, but for now here's Édith.

 

[MichaelRhB]

Tommy Dorsey and Glen Miller are among my favorites of the era.

 

[Seth Byrnes]

I have a collection of my favorites here:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3Q8DI5CikJHexmYyxNMIqM?si=xkFviRySR2yHMZIUcm4ncg

I'd like to highlight:
Perfidia (All versions)
What Do You Do In The Infantry?
Tuxedo Junction
Straighten Up and Fly Right
A Cigarette and a Silhouette
Opus One
Heart and Soul ; Specifically the Bea Wain rendition

 

[Seth Byrnes]

Noel Coward -- Could You Please Oblige Us With A Bren Gun (1940)

This is a great one! I had this on my playlist already, but have added several others based on recommendations from the thread!