Dame Vera Lynn.

Thread started Saturday 18th March at 19:38:35.
That was yesterday..
The Vera Lynn programmme was last night. Yesterday.

I must admit I can't stand her style of singing - but then I'm a child of the 60s, so it's not really going to appeal to me and I'm not really the generation it's aimed at. However I can remember my dad for some reason didn't like her either, but I never bothered to find out why.

Her songs were patriotic, optimistic, uplifting and emotional. They were completely appropriate for that period, when the world was in turmoil. The messages were exactly what people needed to help get through those years and even now, more than 70 years after the end of the war, they still have the power to bring tears to the eyes, as witnessed in the tribute last night. Hardened fighting men wept at the memories.
Well done, Vera!!

Thank you, Mrsmopp. I've no idea how to start a thread but I now know how to find out when it started so that's progress indeed.

It's really easy to start a thread Kim. Just go on forums, decide which category you want your post to go in (say, ask a grandma) and then scroll down to the bottom and in the middle there is add post. Just click on it and away you go. I've seen others have a trial run so have a go

Thank you, Grannyben. I do seem to remember trying once and nothing happened so I'll maybe try again when I 'recover' from the stupidity sensation! Ta anyway. Really appreciated.

mrsmopp is right
I think Vera Lynn is an amazing woman. Whether you like what she sang or not (I do).

I am sure the effects her support on the morale of the troops and the general population during the war was very important.
There were also the ENSA entertainment groups.
However songs and music can have a particularly profound emotional effect on people.

BadenKate I am in my late 60s. Of course you did not get what she was all about. The war time generation i.e our parents fully understood how good this stuff was and loved them.

I like the songs of that era and the 1930s. Some of the Noel Coward stuff sung with his terribly posh accent and quite cynical views. It's the pre war style. Far better than some of the more recent crap that comes out.

I think I must be reincarnated from that era.

Nelliemoser, I agree, Irving Berlin and all that kind of music and songs are very evocative. I have a friend in her 90s with dementia and when I play it, her face lights up. Music has that effect on people, truly....

As in every era Nelliemoser, there are songs and performers who stand out and make you tingle. Noel Coward singing 'Mad about the Boy' is certainly one that does it for me. Johnny Mathis singing 'Misty'. I'm sure others can add to the list. These will last through generations because they are ageless and universal. Vera Lynn and the songs she sang, like the WW1 songs, are of their time, as is much of the popular music that is churned out and we listen to and forget. I reminisce over 60s songs because it reminds me of my youth - my children aren't interested in them. I'm afraid Vera Lynn means nothing except a historical footnote to most people today. Nice old lady, made it to 100.

* Badenkate* totally agree with you ,she was never popular with my parents either and I have no idea who would buy a "new" album of her songs .The music of that era was like every other some great ,some bad and some mediocre .There are some woderful artists about today,not commercial but they are there if you look .If folk look past whats played relentlessly on radio they'll find real gems,wonderful voices and fantastic lyrics .However reaching 100 is a milestone ,though not one I'm sure I want to reach so I wish her a happy birthday with her family and friends

oh and I have a massive collection of vinyl and cd's from the 30's onwards ,around 2500 in total from all genres.Just think Ms Lynn is a bit elevator musak in comparison to others

My mum tells me that when VL was on the radio my uncle would walk into the room, turn the volume up and announce "She can't sing, but she's got something"
Sums VL up completely

I agree totally Charleygirl, why do Care Homes persist with wartime songs etc when their current residents are from a different era.
Sorry folks but I was a huge fan of Terry Wogan, he saw me through children growing up and all sorts of changes in my life.
His humour suited me perfectly.
Vera Lynn is a link with the terrible days of WW11 and was a great comfort and inspiration to soldiers then. Of course there were others who gave as much but I'm sure VL represents them all.

Oh no, not again! She wasn't even a good singer. OK she reminded the troops of home in WWII but that was decades ago. Time to find someone else.

Most of us are from a different age. I don't even remember the war and neither does OH. Give it a rest please. Why do we want to be reminded of those horrible times?

mrsmopp good post

Yorkshiregel and Swanny sorry if Vera Lynn brings back unhappy memories of your traumatic times during WW2; however, many people living through that time did find her singing uplifting. If you are both around the age of 100 congratulations to you too - perhaps the Queen will send you each a telegram

Another singer of the era was Gracie Fields - My MIL thought she was just wonderful and my DM couldn't stand her!

Happy Birthday Dame Vera

Must look for that programme on 'catch up', I'm sure that I would find it very interesting

It brought a tear to my eye when I saw the footage of her face beamed over the White Cliffs. She meant a lot to my parents generation so it was a moment of reflection.

DH reckons that if Vera Lynn had sung to the troops as badly as Katharine Jenkins with her embarrassingly flat rendition of 'Bluebirds' on The One Show tonight, we'd have lost the war because the troops would have all shot themselves!

Jalima don't think the current Queen will be around if I reach 100!

Oh, sorry!"!

Do you know what - I think the reason we are thinking about Vera Lynn and the contributions she made to lifting the morale of the troops in WW2 was because - DRUM ROLL

SHE'S 100!!

and none of the others that people think they preferred are still around!

Happy 100th birthday Dame Vera!

If we weren't reminded of the war every so often, some idiot or idiots might try their luck at dominating others, and we all 'such boring people' might have to live through the nightmares again. Fancy a holocaust anyone ? It appears that Yorkshiregel could do with a little humility and accept that but for people like Dame Vera Lynn, who DiD help keep up moral, and so what, if she's not so great a singer, clearly as Yorkshiregel believes herself to be, Dame Vera went to the war zones where the troops were, and yes, faced a certain amount of danger. So, Stop bellyaching Yorkshiregel, just be glad that people do stay alert watching our backs, I promise you, you wouldn't like to be caught up in a full scale war, no one really wins. Everyone pays a price one way or another. Yes, the war was along time ago, but be thankful for it, if the public were not reminded about it, complacency could set in. That's the time to watch your back. Try growing up.

What an unpleasant post Mypennyfathing41. That was quite uncalled for.

There are still a few old boys (and girls) around who appreciate what she did, cheering then up and giving them the determination to try to get through it all, win and get back home again.
And they are the ones that matter, if we can't appreciate them and acknowledge their appreciation of her, then that diminishes us.

Well said jalima. It is good to have some good news for a change with all the depressing events around.We wont hear of Vera again until she dies so let's rejoice in her few moments of glory.