Songs from World War II.

I'd be very interested in any songs from World War II.

It does not matter which side is supported by the music.

The thread is in the spirit of historical interest, and almost all the countries involved are now allies.

Posts with memories of the war, or on the people who fought it, or any additional information will be most welcome.

Well, I'm going to start with unpopular music:

A Japanese children's choir from the film Letters from Iwo Jima:

Lili Marleen - English version by Lale Andersen (1942).
A global hit song in a global war, it seems.

reply to post by halfoldman


I know my grandmother was shocked by this one, maybe because she found it irreverent or maybe because it had the word hell in it?

reply to post by halfoldman


Wow, you got me involved in quite the interesting search this morning, so thamks for that. I found tons of military marches on YT. Keywords, Prussian, waffen, heil, etc...I don't know if that's the direction you are searching in though. But for the fun of it, here's the Red Army Chorus performing WWII songs at Enghien-les-bains, France.

reply to post by halfoldman


Charlie Parker and Band

Here are a few classics:

Ich hatt eien Kameraden/I had a comrade:

Sung here in German, but still known today in several armies.



See: en.wikipedia.org... for translations.

English:

I once had a comrade,
you won't find a better one.
The drum was rolling for battle,
he was marching by my side
in the same pace and stride.

A bullet flew towards us
meant for you or for me?
It did tear him away,
he lies at my feet
like he was a part of me.

He wants to reach his hand to me,
while I'm just reloading my gun.
"Can't give you my hand for now,
you rest in eternal life
My good comrade!"

Oh what fantastic music on this thread!

First time I listened to it all, and I'm going right back to the beginning again ...

Heres one of my favorites,its one of the most beautiful songs ever made,with a haunting melody.It was released in 1935 and world war 2 started arguably in 1939,but i still love it a lot and it was a big hit with a lot of people,including the same people who would soon find themselves fighting and dying in that war...

I'm Getting Sentimental Over You...Tommy Dorsey > www.youtube.com...

I'm unable to externally link at the moment,but theres the link and if anyones never heard this beautiful song and its haunting melody before,when you do,you'll never forget it...

Heres another really good one "Swinging on a Star" an American pop standard.It was sung by Bing Crosby in the 1944 film Going My Way,winning an Academy Award for Best Original Song that year > www.youtube.com...

And a scene featuring this song from that movie Going My Way-1944 > www.youtube.com...

reply to post by blocula

Thanks for that blocula!

It's amazing how relaxing and smooth a lot of that music was.

reply to post by halfoldman



"I'll Be Seeing You" is a popular song published in 1938,the musical theme has emotional power and was much loved during World War II.It became an anthem for those serving overseas,both British and American soldiers...

The lyrics begin,in Ambrose's recorded version,with a preamble...

Cathedral bells were tolling and our hearts sang on,
Was it the spell of Paris or the April dawn?
Who knows if we shall meet again?
But when the morning chimes ring sweet again,
I'll be seeing you in all the old familiar places...
And when the night is new,
I'll be looking at the moon,
But I'll be seeing you...

Ambrose & His Orchestra Rita Shaw,I'll Be Seeing You 1938 > www.youtube.com...

Vera Lynn...I'll Be seeing You 1944 > www.youtube.com...

I'm reaching down deep into my memory vaults for this song,its from the movie Broadway Rhythm-1944,one of my favorite movie musicals,its filled with a lot of nice songs and heres one of them > Ginny Simms-Amor,1944 > www.youtube.com...

And of course every song from The Wizard Of Oz-1939 > www.youtube.com...

A video with colour footage of the USA Marines in the Pacific during WWII
three US march songs to match the video, which are:

- Thunderers
- King Cotton
- Liberty Bell

Peace,sugarcookie1

reply to post by halfoldman
Andrews Sisters "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy Of Company B" 1941 www.youtube.com...

This songs 9 years after ww-2,its from the korean war time period but i had to include it because its just lovely and harmonious and its one of my all time favorites "mr sandman" 1954 www.youtube.com...

One of my favorite actors back in the day..

Eddie Cantor..

The Russian folk-song: Katusha.



The romantic tune of WW II would eventually become the name of a new rocket-launcher.

en.wikipedia.org...

English translation:

Apple and pear trees were blooming.
O'er the river the fog merrily rolled.
On the steep banks walked Katyusha,
On the high bank she slowly strode.

As she walked she sang a sweet song
Of her silver eagle of the steppe,
Of the one she loved she loved so dearly,
And the one whose letters she had kept

O you song! Little song of a young girl,
Fly over the river and in the sunlight go.
And fly to my hero far from me,
From his Katyusha bring him a sweet hello.

Will he remember this plain young girl,
And her sweet song like a dove,
As he stands guarding his proud nation,
So Katyusha will guard their love.

Marlene Dietrich: Where have all the flowers gone?

Although filmed live in 1972, I think that Dietrich's figure as a dissident during World War II gave the song a special meaning, just as the Cold War was escalating into more needless bloodshed.

Had the world already forgotten what happened?
Would they repeat it?
Dietrich gave us a dignified, yet outraged reminder of the meaning of war.

Frank Sinatra-Stardust


Marlene Dietrich - Ich bin die fesche Lola


Erika


The longest day-Paul Anka(from the movie "The longest day")


Johnny Mercer - G I Jive


Louis Armstrong - I Wonder


Peggy Lee-Waitin' For The Train To Come In


The next few songs are from a heavy metal band that 90% of their songs talk about WW2.
SABATON - Uprising(about the uprising in the Warsaw getto)


Sabaton-Coat of Arms(about the Greco-Italian war)


Primo victoria(About D-Day)


Wolfpack(about the german submarines)


Hope you enjoy them.

The thing with music during the war is many of the songs popular during the first world war and during the twenties popped up again....Hell even into the 70's many different artists were banging out the most popular of tunes.

German version 1939 of Lili Marleen....Lale Andersen


Big hit in Nazi Germany under a germanized name-"Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen". But once its Jewish origins were discovered,the song was promptly banned.


Don't bring lulu


One of my favourites Bette Davies did for War Bonds.


Bit of our Gracie..While many songs were concerned with our troops, we had many song's focusing on the men and women left in the factories that were lighter hearted.




Veraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa....




George Formby..


And my favourite ever...And for some reason my little boy always fell asleep when I sang it to him. Yeah you know it, it was on the Pearl Harbour Film. Dinah Shore...


Speaking of Pearl Harbour this was obvious one for the boys in the Pacific.


Personal disclosure: We have quite the stash of wartime clothes, uniforms and music in this house.
I'll stop now before I get an urge to do my hair and do the dishes in my best 40's frock and pinny.