Sunday, September 14, 2014

SINGING IN THE RAIN---AND BOOKS, BOOKS, BOOKS GIVAWAY





ANNE GREENE here. HOORAY, hooray, hooray! We launched our brand new web site! To CELEBRATE we have a series of GIVEAWAYS by our fantastic authors. MANY books will be given away by the end of the month. YOUR PART: Leave a comment every day on every post. The more comments you leave, the greater your chances to win!

I’m giving an autographed copy of my latest Scottish historical romance, MARRIAGE BY ARRANGEMENT. So be certain to comment at the end of this post for your chance to win! And I’ll chat with you as well.

I’m writing today about events during World War II. You’ll discover so much more in my book Angel With Steel Wings which will release soon. Angel is the first in my Women of Courage series. Angel is about women test pilots. You didn’t know America had women test pilots in 1944? You’re not alone, most people didn’t. But those were exciting, innovative years.

During World War II the American people kept their spirits and hopes high with the many new songs that blossomed during the first dark years of the war when America was losing the battle to Hitler’s Germany and Japan’s Hirohito.

World War II was the first conflict to take place in the age when almost ninety percent of American households had radio. Never before had it been possible for songs to be so widely available to the population. Never before had the number of listeners been so high.

And overseas, American troops had regular access to radio in all but the most difficult combat situations. American troops listened to popular music between bouts of combat on Armed Forces Radio.

The song, They’re Either Too Young or Too Old took a light-hearted look at the men left for the women on the home front while American Troops were off fighting the war.

Popular songs like Sentimental Journey, I’ll be Seeing You, Moonlight Serenade, and I’ll be Home for Christmas, all spoke of women’s longings for loved ones overseas and the troops longing to be home. Those songs gave society’s blessing that it was okay to miss your man because he was fighting for the good of Americans everywhere. And the many patriotic songs brought smiles to faces and pride to the hearts of Americans on the home front and abroad.

Earlier in the century big band music had become wildly popular and still was in the 1940s. Some of the more popular songs were:

There’ll Be Bluebirds Over The White Cliffs of Dover by Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra.

Be Careful It’s My Heart by Irving Berlin. 1942

Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy by the Andrews Sisters 1941

Comin’ In On A Wing and A Prayer by The Song Spinners

Don’t Get Around Much Anymore by Duke Ellington & His Orchestra

Don’t Sit Under The Apple Tree With Anyone Else But Me by 1942 by Stept, Brown, and Tobias.

Every Time We Say Goodbye by Cole Porter 1944

GI Jive by Johnny Mercer

I Don’t Want To Walk Without You by Harry James & His Orchestra 1942

I’ll Be Seeing You by Bing Crosby

It’s Been A Long Long Time by Harry James

I’ll Get By As Long As I Have You by Harry James & His Orchestra

Kiss The Boys Goodbye by Frank Loesser 1941

Praise The Lord and Pass The Ammunition by Frank Loesser 1942. I understand many people sang this song during church services.

People in the USA held the same desires as their leaders, and the government counted on popular music to reflect the same war aims that Franklin Delano Roosevelt wanted. Everyone hoped for a quick final victory over the Axis, and the songs about a world after the war with the boys coming home met those wishes.

This unity gave the USA an enormous energy that allowed the nation to accomplish far more at less human cost than the other major powers in the war. So in the driving rain of war where almost every citizen lost a loved one, music kept spirits high.

Have you heard any of these popular songs, and if so, which is your favorite?

COMMENT: Leave a comment and one lucky winner will win an autographed copy of my book, Marriage By Arrangement. Please leave your email address so I can contact you for your address. Don't forget to comment on all posts for more chances to win.

BIO: ANNE GREENE delights in writing about wounded heroes and gutsy heroines. Her second novel, a Scottish historical, Masquerade Marriage, won the New England Reader Choice award, the Laurel Wreath Award, and the Heart of Excellence Award. The sequel Marriage By Arrangement recently released.  A Texas Christmas Mystery also won several awards. Her World War II novel, Angel With Steel Wings, about WASPs, women test pilots releases soon. Be sure to look for it on Amazon. Anne makes her home in McKinney, Texas. She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Literary Studies from the University of Texas. Tim LaHaye led her to the Lord when she was twenty-one, and Chuck Swindoll is her Pastor. View Anne’s other books, her blog, travel pictures, and art work at http://www.AnneGreeneAuthor.com. Her highest hope is that her stories transport the reader to an awesome new world and touch hearts to seek a deeper spiritual relationship with the Lord Jesus. Buy Anne’s books at http://www.PelicanBookGroup.com. Or at http://www.Amazon.com. Learn to write award-winning books by visiting Anne’s blog at http://www.anneswritingupdates.blogspot.com.

Don’t forget to leave a comment. Anne loves to talk with her fans.

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40 comments:

  1. I enjoy listening to songs from earlier eras! I think it's because I grew up listening to the "Oldies" station on the radio :)

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    1. Heidi, good to see you here. Yep, you learned to love the good songs!!!

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  2. I know for certain that I've heard "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boys". Thanks for the giveaway. Sounds like a fun month.
    bcrug(at)myfairpoint(dot)net

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    1. Hi Connie, On the oldies I think you can hear each of these songs! Thanks for visiting.

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  3. I love those songs, there were a few I'd not heard of but most of them I even love singing (to myself, lol, don't want anyone getting sick from hearing me sing, lol) to this day.

    wfnren(at)aol(dot)com

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    1. Hi Wendy, fun to talk with you here! I'll bet you sing well if you love these old songs.

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  4. Don't sit under the apple tree, Boogie Woogie Gugle Boys, were a couple of my favorites. I remember my Mother
    playing all of these on the 'record player'...
    dkstevensne at outlook.com

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    1. Hi Deanna, my Mom loved Don't sit under the Apple Tree. She also loved to dance boogie woogie! Thanks for visiting with me here!

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  5. I love big band jazz! It also keeps me awake on long car road trips. My favorites from the list would be I'll be home for Christmas and Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.

    lindajhutchins@gmail.com

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    1. HI Linda, both songs are favorites of mine as well. Do you boogie?

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  6. Loved the post, Anne. I grew up listening to my parents play, or sing most of these songs. My favorite, though, is Boogie Woogie Bugle boy.

    sandy.kirby.q@gmail.com

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    1. Hi Sandy, You were so fortunate to grow up hearing those songs. I wish I had. Seems Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy is an all-time favorite. I hear it on-line.

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    2. Hi Friends,
      It would be so appreciated if you'al (I'm from the south, Texas that is) would tweet, facebook, or just tell your friends about this opportunity to read fun posts and win great books. And with my post here, you can sing these songs to them!!! LOL.

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  7. I love all those old songs - My favorite was probably I'll be seeing you especially sung by doris Day. Enter me for the book! truckredford(at)gmail dot com...Love the new site too!!! =)

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    1. Hi Eliza, I think I'll be Seeing You is one of my all time favorites! Good to see you here again Eliza!

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  8. I love to hear old songs, but can only recall a few of those that I might have heard before. I love the tidbit about the women test pilots!
    I already have your wonderful story, so please leave me out of the drawing. :)

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    1. Thanks, Susan, if your name is drawn, I'll send you one of my other books.

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  9. Love Don't sit under the apple tree! Though it was more my moms era. Love your blog too!
    Blessings
    ibjoy1953@yahoo(dot)com

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    1. Thanks for your lovely words! I love having you visit with me here.

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  10. Remember to comment on all the posts for the best chances to win!

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  11. Of the songs you listed, I'll be Seeing You is my favorite.

    Fun post today. Congrats on your new website!

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    1. Thanks, Jackie! I love I'll Be Seeing You as well. Wish we had songs like that today. Nice to meet you here and thanks for your comment.

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  12. fave song of the list is Dont sit under the Apple tree...mom sang this to me

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    1. Hi Dawn, I'd love to hear that song. It was also my Mom's favorite, but I've never heard it. The song had to be uplifting for those dark days of war.

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  13. Favorite song is easy - The Duke! "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" was a favorite tune back when I played in a Big Band Jazz band. Still love it. :) Still dig the saxophone out every now and then.
    twinwillowsfarm at gmail dot com

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    1. Hi Pegg! I'm so impressed. You played in a Big Band Jazz band!! How fun! How exciting! I do know that song, Don't Get Around Much Anymore. Its a super song and yet so sad that it was true in those dark days of war!. Thanks for tuning in. You should dig out that saxophone and play your heart out. I love the sax.

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  14. It's so good to visit with all of you readers. I hope you will continue to read my blog each 14th day of the month. also be sure to look for ANGEL WITH STEEL WINGS on Amazon. It will soon release!

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  15. I'll be Seeing You tugs at my heart big time.
    Blessings, Janet

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    1. Hi Janet, Thanks for stopping by. I love that song too.

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  16. Thanks for the trip down memory lane. As a young girl during WWII, I heard, learned and sang all of these songs. My sister and a cousin pretended many times we were the Andrews Sisters. What a wonderful time of love, unity, and patriotism we had in those days. My all time favorite is "I'll Be Seeing You." I still get tears in my eyes when I think about the circumstances and the meaning behind those words and that haunting melody. The same thing happens with "White Cliffs of Dover."

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    1. Hi Martha, I so agree with you on all counts. Just think how many women sang I'll Be Seeing You and waited and waited, but never saw their loved one again! So sad.

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  17. My favorites are I'll Be Seeing You and Coming In On a Wing and a Prayer. I listen to a lot of WWII songs as I write because that's the era I write.

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    1. I listen to those songs as well when I write and yet our books will be so different. Isn't God wonderful!

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  18. Wonderful trip back in time. Those are still some beautiful songs.

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    1. For a long trip back in time, Janet, be sure to look for my book ANGEL WITH STEEL WINGS, when it release soon. I love nostalgia and romance, don't you!

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  19. I enjoy the old songs and still listen to some radio. sm wileygreen1(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. I find the old songs difficult to find, but love to hear them. Some I remember from my grandmother singing them. They sound sweeter in my ears because of her dear voice.

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  20. Bonnie Traher won the raffle and will receive an autographed copy of Marriage By Arrangement. Congratulations, Bonnie!

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