Girly Music, Part 1: The 1940s
Posted by ToddIn honor of Women’s History Month, the Post-Rockist is taking a journey through time to examine over 70 years’ of music made by broads, dames, ladies, chicks, gals, and dolls. Or, better yet, women. This is by no means an attempt to capture every important contribution over the years; instead, it’s more a review of some of the kitschy, poppy, and girly music variety I have found myself enamored with recently. Some beauteous, some blemished. All women. We start then, in the 1940s.
The Andrews Sisters - Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
The Andrews Sisters - Gimme Some Skin, My Friend
(from The Andrews Sisters’ Greatest Hits)
Chances are, if you’ve heard any kind of World War II-era music, even in passing or in movie soundtracks, then you’ve heard the Andrews Sisters. They are three sisters from Minnesota, whose rise to fame singing patriotic, upbeat swing songs like “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” kept spirits high during the undoubtedly frightening early 1940s. Even when Patty, Maxene, and LaVerne are singing together it sounds like a single voice until they break into unique harmonies. The syncopated, jazzy rhythms make it impossible to not tap your toes. The Andrews Sisters’ popularity exploded across the Atlantic from the United States to Europe, and legend has it that despite being banned by the Third Reich, the Andrews Sisters were so popular that their albums were smuggled into Germany labeled as “Hitler’s Marching Songs.”
Their music is quintessential of their time – blatantly racist at times, a bit rough around the edges but so girly and sweet it’s hard to hold it against them. In the song “Give Me Some Skin, My Friend” they instruct their listeners on how to give high fives: “If you want to shake my hand like they do in Harlem, stick your hand right out and shout, give me some skin, my friend.” In “Rum and Coca Cola,” an unbelievably catchy song, they sing about going to Trinidad with fake Caribbean accents. At one point in the songs between verses one of the sisters moans, “Oh, you vexed me, you vexed me,” in a subtle reference to voodoo stereotypes of the region.
Racism aside, The Andrews Sisters are power singers and would put any of today’s girl groups to shame (Pussycat Dolls, I’m looking at you!).
Peggy Lee - I Love Being Here With You
(from Six Feet Under: Soundtrack)
Peggy Lee - Mañana (Is Soon Enough For Me)
(from The Best of Miss Peggy Lee)
I’ll admit that I first noticed Peggy Lee’s music on the Six Feet Under soundtrack. The album included only one song by her – “I Love Being Here With You.” It was such a powerful song that I couldn’t help but listen to it over and over. The music is layered with different elements of percussion, a compelling horn section, and Peggy Lee’s sultry voice, sense of humor, and impeccable timing.
Peggy Lee is best known for her hit “Fever,” sung by Americal Idol hopefuls everywhere. I can assure you that none of those wannabes have ever been able to hold a candle to the impeccable Ms. Lee. The key to Peggy Lee is her ability to know when to hold back and when to belt it all out. She has great instincts and makes the songs interesting, always leaving the listener wanting more. She was never pigeon-holed into one genre of music, singing jazz, blues, showtunes, and swing over her 50-year career.
“Mañana (Is Soon Enough For Me)” is an unforgettable song. It is so unabashedly racist that in recent years there has been criticism about including it on her Best Of album. It is difficult to reconcile the enjoyment I feel listening to the song, the catchy melody, the toe-tapping beat and the shock and embarrassment I feel listening to the lyrics. It plays on Mexican stereotypes and Peggy sings in a really bad fake accent. It’s so absurd that it’s kind of funny today, but I can imagine how damaging a song like this could really be when it was released in the 1940s.
In the end, I don’t know if it’s possible to excuse the racism inherent in these tunes, or even advisable to attempt a defense. Still, these women were outstanding singers and entertainers, and I don’t know if it’s fair to discount their entire catalogue based on a few extraneous examples. Maybe you can only look on these songs as historical artefacts, or maybe you can laugh at their own silliness and take the songs as songs. Whichever the case, feel free to discuss your opinion in the comments.
Next week we move forward to the 1950s.
-Posted by Kim
David Benson wrote:
Lovely appreciation of one of my favourite singers. I just stumbled upon it by chance whilst googling The Andrews Sisters! The only thing that trips me up is your perception of racism in the work of these artistes. To me this is entirely missing the point. I think racism would be an appropriate accusation if it were clear that the songs in question (here, Manana and The Sisters’ Rum and Coca Cola) were deliberately intending to undermine or denigrate the cultures or Peoples their songs pastiche. I hear them as inviting an affectionate and entirely sympathetic response from the listener, albeit with an old-fashioned, even quaint lack of awareness of of possible offense. I say, don’t let all that stuff get in the way of enjoying performers, particularly Miss Lee, whose spirit is good. You can put a Peggy Lee record on anywhere and people will know she’s the real thing.
Posted on 13-Jul-07 at 11:04 am | Permalink