Dame Vera Lynn.

I have looked through all the posts on here at least twice, and I can't see any posting which suggests ignoring the sacrifice of the wartime generation or demeaning what they went through. That was why I criticised the post of Mypennyfarthing41, especially for the mention of the holocaust which I thought was inexcusable for the discussion which was going on.

Are we not allowed to say if we don't like someone's singing style? Why does this then become:

^ the product of a self-satisfied generation that doesn't want to hear about how the generation before them fought and struggled so that they could live in peace, freedom and comfort. They would rather put their hands over their ears - or their earphones on with their music - than listen to any tales of sacrifice^

All this from saying I don't much care for Vera Lynn's voice?? Where have I or anyone said anything derogatory about the people listening to it?

I hesitated to post my thoughts but on reflection here goes:

A couple of posts on here sound as if they have been written by what is termed 'selfish baby boomers'. Not selfish in the normal way of having 'stolen their children's future' but rather like the product of a self-satisfied generation that doesn't want to hear about how the generation before them fought and struggled so that they could live in peace, freedom and comfort. They would rather put their hands over their ears - or their earphones on with their music - than listen to any tales of sacrifice.

At least some remember - not least those who assemble at the Menin Gate for a ceremony at 8 pm each evening.

We don't want to perpetuate grievances but nor should we forget or be willing to listen.

Most of Mypennyfarthing41's post would not be unpleasant at all, if the " Stop bellyaching Yorkshiregel" and the "Try growing up" had been left out. I go along with "if the public were not reminded about it [war], complacency could set in."

At risk of being boring I'll repeat a truism "The nation that forgets its past is condemned to repeat it". Same with its war heroes and heroines, the threat they faced, the national near-despair that they helped fend off, may be over, but that is no reason to throw them on the scrapheap beause they are out of fashion, or to think that similar situations will never recur.

There are still a number of veterans alive and, of course, many of us who may have lost a parent in WW2.
Added to which, those who are of a different age, want to give it a rest and not remember those horrible times could do well to reflect that times could have been even worse, they may not even be here at all to enjoy the music they like were it not for the sacrifice of the previous generation and the horrible times they went through.

I think it does us good to remember, reflect and resolve never to let it happen again.

I have 'Auf Wiedersehen Sweetheart' as an ear worm now (could be worse, could be some dreadful modern pop song )

A friend was out in the jungle in Malaya and said how he could hear Vera Lynn ,singing at a nearby camp and how it really lifted his spirits , he later met her at the camp, for anyone to travel all that way in those times and raise the spirits of our troops ,i will always thank, he said it is something he has never forgot, he was on the programme on Sunday .

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.

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.

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

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.

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!

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

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!

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.

Happy Birthday Dame Vera

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

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!

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?

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.

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.

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

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

* 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

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.

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....

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.

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.