American music during World War II
American music during World War II was considered to be popular music that was enjoyed during the late 1930s (the end of the Great Depression) through the mid-1940s (through the end of World War II).
Radio and accessibility
By 1940, 80% of American households would own a radio;[1] making American music far more accessible to civilians and soldiers alike. Although the radio could be used to boost American morale, the American Government censored radio channels in fear that enemy agents may be sending coded messages through song requests on the stations.[2]
Popular songs
Unlike many World War I songs, many World War II songs focused more on romance and strength instead of propaganda, morale, and patriotism.[3] Songs that were overly patriotic or militaristic were often rejected by the public.[4]
Popular singers of the era included
Songs that ridiculed the Axis Powers were also popular. These songs include "
Swing music
References
- ^ a b c d e f g "Pop Culture Goes to War in the 1940s". Living History Farm. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-08.
- ^ Crossen, Cynthia (19 March 2003). "In Every War but One, The Government Had Media Under Control". Wall Street Journal. New York, N.Y.
- ISBN 0-8131-2256-2.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-313-33891-5.
- ISBN 1-58465-443-0.
- ^ "Boogie Woogie Reveille". Billboard. Vol. 55, no. 14. Billboard. 1943-04-03. Retrieved 2010-03-28.
- ISBN 978-0-313-33891-5.
- ISBN 0-8019-5681-1
Further reading
- Bell, David H. ; Carnelia, Craig ; Terkel, Studs. The good war : a musical collage of World War II. New York : Theatrical Rights, [2008]. OCLC 399720803.
- Bloomfield, Gary L. ; Shain, Stacie L. ; Davidson, Arlen C. Duty, honor, applause : America's entertainers in World War II. Guilford, Conn. : Lyon's Press, 2004. OCLC 57168649.
- Bolden, Tonya. Take-off! : American all-girl bands during WW II. New York : Knopf, 2007. OCLC 70836679.
- Braverman, Jordan. To hasten the homecoming : how Americans fought World War II through the media. Lanham, Md. : Madison Books, 1996. OCLC 32591261.
- Ciment, James ; Russell, Thaddeus. The home front encyclopedia : United States, Britain, and Canada in World Wars I and II. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 2007. OCLC 80728071.
- Erenberg, Lewis A.; Hirsch, Susan E. The war in American culture : society and consciousness during World War II. Chicago : University of Chicago Press, 1996. OCLC 32894116.
- Fauser, Annegret. Sounds of war : music in the United States during World War II. New York : Oxford University Press, [2013]. OCLC 819383019.
- Heide, Robert ; Gilman, John. Home front America : popular culture of the World War II era. San Francisco : Chronicle Books, 1995. OCLC 31207708.
- Jones, John Bush. The songs that fought the war : popular music and the home front, 1939–1945. Waltham, Mass. : Brandeis University Press, 2006. OCLC 69028073.
- Krummel, Donald William. Resources of American music history : a directory of source materials from Colonial times to World War II. Urbana : University of Illinois Press, 1981. OCLC 6304409.
- Lee, Vera. The black and white of American popular music : from slavery to World War II. Rochester, Vt. : Schenkman Books, 2007. OCLC 78774666.
- Recorded Anthology of American Music, Inc. Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition : Songs of World Wars I & II. Recorded Anthology of American Music, 1977. OCLC 221633326.
- Root, Deane L. Voices across time : American history through music. [Pittsburgh] : Center for American Music, University of Pittsburgh, 2004. OCLC 71030740.
- Sforza, John. Swing it! : the Andrews Sisters story. Lexington, Ky. : University Press of Kentucky, 2000. OCLC 40755241.
- Sullivan, Jill M. Bands of sisters : U.S. women's military bands during World War II. Lanham, Md. : Scarecrow Press, 2011. OCLC 720635040.
- Young, William H. ; Young, Nancy K. Music of the World War II era. Westport, Conn. : Greenwood Press, 2008. OCLC 232574299.
- Young, William ; Young, Nancy K. World War II and the postwar years in America : a historical and cultural encyclopedia. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 2010. OCLC 720585980.
Winkler, Sheldon. "The Music of World War II: War Songs and Their Stories," Merriam Press, Hoosick Falls, New York, 3rd edition,