Posted on 03/20/2007 4:33:18 PM PDT by Fiji Hill
LONDON (Reuters) - Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher joined a chorus of "Happy Birthday" for wartime singer Vera Lynn, who turned 90 on Tuesday.
Lynn, nicknamed the "Forces' sweetheart" who entertained the troops during World War Two, was honoured at a small ceremony held at the Imperial War Museum in London where she joined guests in watching a short film about her life.
Katherine Jenkins, a young Welsh singer who has taken over the mantle of unofficial darling of British troops serving abroad, performed two of Lynn's most famous songs -- "We'll Meet Again" and "The White Cliffs of Dover".
Jenkins flew to the southern Iraqi port of Basra to perform for soldiers at Christmas in 2005.
Through her songs, Lynn became a symbol of hope for British and Allied soldiers fighting Nazi Germany and the Axis powers, particularly with her rendition of "The White Cliffs of Dover", as the coastal cliffs facing occupied France lay in the shadow of German bombers and the threat of invasion.
The tall and blonde Lynn was eventually given the title of Dame of the British Empire in 1975, amid disapproval that it had taken 30 years after the end of the war for the symbol of British fortitude to be honoured.
When ? Where ?
She sang "Yours" based on a classical tune and it will rip your heart out if you've ever been in love.
The first time I heard "We'll Meet Again" was at the end of the movie
"Dr. Strangelove".
Great song. And just a sign of what the 1960s were all about when
a movie producer uses it in a show making light of Armageddon.
"Yours" was based on "Quiereme Mucho." Vera Lynn had hits with this tune in 1941 and 1953.
Last fall, they were playing her 1939 recording or We'll Meet Again over the PA system at the close of UCLA football games.
We'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when,
But I'm sure we'll meet again some sunny day.
Keep smiling through, just like you always do
Till the blue skies chase the dark clouds far away.
So will you please say "Hello" to the folks that I know
Tell them I won't be long,
They'll be happy to know that when you saw me go
I was singing this song.
We'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when,
But I'm sure we'll meet again some sunny day.
One of my favourites that both my Mum and Dad would sing it.
Pink Floyd?
That's what I think of when I hear the name "Vera Lynn."
Don't know where, don't know when.
-PJ
Vera Lynn married Harry Lewis, a musician, in 1939 and nas never been divorced.
Vera Lynn also did a great version of "White Christmas."
You can still hear her on Track 4, XM Radio.
Thanks for posting that great clip. I had a close relative who lived in wartime England and sometimes spoke of Vera Lynn, but I have never seen film of her singing. She has an amazing voice. Seeing her in front of about 10000 men in uniform really gives a feeling for that time.
To be honest , I'd never heard of her before , being born in 1952 . But I was fascinated by what I read here so sought out the video . Glad you enjoyed it .
Happy birthday to Miss Lynn.
"My favorite is her rendition of Lili Marlene"
At the risk of being considered a bit senile since I am almost 85, I too will alway have a deep fondness for that WW2 song--after Normandy my Coast Guard Resflo 1 group of 83' wooden cutters were assigned to various duties in the English Channel and French ports as well as the invasion beaches---during winter of '44-'45 most of us (and cutters) were shipped back to USA---I was assigned as CPO of Guard on CG transport USS Wakefield which carried German prisoners---one beautiful, moonlit night at sea the prisoners were playing accordians and singing in their berthing sections below---the sound of hundreds of male voices singing 'Lili Marlene' that flowed up the ladder wells is something I shall never forget and it touches my memories each time it is played---for there, but for the Grace of God, went I
No, I read it, but didn't get the rest of the quote. My memory's fuzzy on it, for some reason. Can't imagine why.
Of all the wonderful songs that Vera sang, I consider Lile Marlene to be her best. Her voice was flawless and full of heart tugging emotion
Happy 95th to her!
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