During the dark days of World War II, when Britain was experiencing the greatest threat it has ever faced, a pretty young woman by the name of Vera Lynn - who was 22 years old when the war started - kept the nation's morale up (and with cities being bombed to rubble and the threat of a German invasion, we sure needed it), particularly that of the young men who had been sent to fight Hitler.
Her songs, which included "We'll Meet Again" and "The White Cliffs of Dover", were popular with British soldiers, and she became known as "The Forces' Sweetheart."
In 1940 she began her own radio programme, Sincerely Yours, sending messages to British troops serving abroad. She and a quartet would perform songs most requested by the soldiers. Vera also visited hospitals to interview new mothers and send personal messages to their husbands overseas. During the war years she would tour Egypt, India, Burma, giving outdoor concerts for the troops.
In 2005, she said: "These boys gave their lives and some came home badly injured and for some families, life would never be the same. We should always remember, we should never forget and we should teach the children to remember."
Vera was appointed an OBE in 1959 and was made a Dame in 1975.
Now, at the age of 92, Dame Vera Lynn is in the charts again.
To mark the 70th anniversary of the start of WWII, Dame Vera has released a Best Of album.
She has become the oldest person ever to have a Top 20 album
Amazon has alreasy said she is at Number 3 in the album charts, but it might not be long until she knocks The Arctic Monkeys off top spot, whose new album, Humbug, went straight to Number One.
No 1 at 92! Now Dame Vera Lynn is set to TOP the charts with her Best Of album
By Liz Thomas
02nd September 2009
Daily Mail
Dame Vera Lynn's new album is riding high in the UK album charts
She has already broken records as the oldest person to have an album in the Top 20.
But it seems Dame Vera Lynn could now be in with a chance of topping the album charts.
The 92 year-old’s record We’ll Meet Again – The Very Best of Vera Lynn has leapt from number twenty to number four in the mid-week charts.
No 1 at 92: Dame Vera Lynn last month
Online giant Amazon put her at number three on their album charts, while Tesco have said her albums are selling as strongly as the Arctic Monkeys, who are currently number one.
The album was released earlier this week to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the declaration of war and could yet reach number one.
Back in the day: Dame Vera entertained British soldiers during the war
Dame Vera has already made history this week as the oldest living artist to make it into the Top Twenty, after her album entered the chart ahead of U2, the Stone Roses and Eminem.
A spokeswoman for her record company Decca said: 'This shows that her wartime songs of hope and bittersweet nostalgia have well and truly stood the test of time.
‘It would be wonderful if Dame Vera Lynn topped the charts on the 70th anniversary of the start of World War II.’
Dame Vera may knock the Arctic Monkeys off the top of the albums chart, whose new album Humbug went straight in at Number 1
The album features 24 songs from Dame Vera's golden years, including We’ll Meet Again, As Time Goes By and Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart, which was a number one hit in the US in 1952.
A spokesman for HMV said: ‘To be in the top five is a fantastic result. Dame Vera is ahead of modern stars such as Calvin Harris, the Black Eyed Peas and even the late Michael Jackson, who’s albums have been enjoying a resurgence in popularity since his death.’
‘She came into the charts at number 20 and is now number four – that is a hell of a rise in just a matter of days.’
He added that the increased public interest and coverage about the 70th anniversary of the start of World War II was also helping sales.
Only Arctic Monkeys, Kings of Leon and dance act David Guetta are currently ahead of her in the midweek charts.
The Forces' Sweetheart: Singing to the troops in 1940 at an army base in England
Born on March 20, 1917 in London she began singing aged just seven and her career was already flourishing when the war broke out in 1939.
The Forces Sweetheart kept up the spirits of millions of Britons with her songs and personality during the Second World War.
She travelled thousands of miles - often at great personal risk - to entertain the troops.
Dame Vera also had a BBC radio show on which she performed songs such as We'll Meet Again, I'll Be Seeing You, Wishing, and If Only I Had Wings.
She said earlier this week: 'I am extremely excited and delighted to be back in the charts after all these years.'
Earlier this year, speaking of her role during the war she said: 'My songs reminded the boys of what they were really fighting for.
'Precious personal things rather than ideologies. I brought home a little nearer for them.’
dailymail.co.uk
Her songs, which included "We'll Meet Again" and "The White Cliffs of Dover", were popular with British soldiers, and she became known as "The Forces' Sweetheart."
In 1940 she began her own radio programme, Sincerely Yours, sending messages to British troops serving abroad. She and a quartet would perform songs most requested by the soldiers. Vera also visited hospitals to interview new mothers and send personal messages to their husbands overseas. During the war years she would tour Egypt, India, Burma, giving outdoor concerts for the troops.
In 2005, she said: "These boys gave their lives and some came home badly injured and for some families, life would never be the same. We should always remember, we should never forget and we should teach the children to remember."
Vera was appointed an OBE in 1959 and was made a Dame in 1975.
Now, at the age of 92, Dame Vera Lynn is in the charts again.
To mark the 70th anniversary of the start of WWII, Dame Vera has released a Best Of album.
She has become the oldest person ever to have a Top 20 album
Amazon has alreasy said she is at Number 3 in the album charts, but it might not be long until she knocks The Arctic Monkeys off top spot, whose new album, Humbug, went straight to Number One.
No 1 at 92! Now Dame Vera Lynn is set to TOP the charts with her Best Of album
By Liz Thomas
02nd September 2009
Daily Mail
Dame Vera Lynn's new album is riding high in the UK album charts
She has already broken records as the oldest person to have an album in the Top 20.
But it seems Dame Vera Lynn could now be in with a chance of topping the album charts.
The 92 year-old’s record We’ll Meet Again – The Very Best of Vera Lynn has leapt from number twenty to number four in the mid-week charts.
No 1 at 92: Dame Vera Lynn last month
Online giant Amazon put her at number three on their album charts, while Tesco have said her albums are selling as strongly as the Arctic Monkeys, who are currently number one.
The album was released earlier this week to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the declaration of war and could yet reach number one.
Back in the day: Dame Vera entertained British soldiers during the war
Dame Vera has already made history this week as the oldest living artist to make it into the Top Twenty, after her album entered the chart ahead of U2, the Stone Roses and Eminem.
A spokeswoman for her record company Decca said: 'This shows that her wartime songs of hope and bittersweet nostalgia have well and truly stood the test of time.
‘It would be wonderful if Dame Vera Lynn topped the charts on the 70th anniversary of the start of World War II.’
Dame Vera may knock the Arctic Monkeys off the top of the albums chart, whose new album Humbug went straight in at Number 1
The album features 24 songs from Dame Vera's golden years, including We’ll Meet Again, As Time Goes By and Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart, which was a number one hit in the US in 1952.
A spokesman for HMV said: ‘To be in the top five is a fantastic result. Dame Vera is ahead of modern stars such as Calvin Harris, the Black Eyed Peas and even the late Michael Jackson, who’s albums have been enjoying a resurgence in popularity since his death.’
‘She came into the charts at number 20 and is now number four – that is a hell of a rise in just a matter of days.’
He added that the increased public interest and coverage about the 70th anniversary of the start of World War II was also helping sales.
Only Arctic Monkeys, Kings of Leon and dance act David Guetta are currently ahead of her in the midweek charts.
The Forces' Sweetheart: Singing to the troops in 1940 at an army base in England
Born on March 20, 1917 in London she began singing aged just seven and her career was already flourishing when the war broke out in 1939.
The Forces Sweetheart kept up the spirits of millions of Britons with her songs and personality during the Second World War.
She travelled thousands of miles - often at great personal risk - to entertain the troops.
Dame Vera also had a BBC radio show on which she performed songs such as We'll Meet Again, I'll Be Seeing You, Wishing, and If Only I Had Wings.
She said earlier this week: 'I am extremely excited and delighted to be back in the charts after all these years.'
Earlier this year, speaking of her role during the war she said: 'My songs reminded the boys of what they were really fighting for.
'Precious personal things rather than ideologies. I brought home a little nearer for them.’
dailymail.co.uk
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