People often describe certain songs as being the "soundtrack" of their lives. Although Mom became a huge fan of Elvis Presley and his music when she moved to America, during her childhood and young adulthood, the soundtrack of her life was American Swing and Big Band Jazz as well as songs sung by popular vocalists.
The songs and instrumentals selected below were released either prior to WWII, during WWII, or during the Occupation years with exception of one: "April in Paris" by Count Basie and His Orchestra. Basie's version was released in 1955 but since the song first became a hit in 1933, it has been included here.
At the very least, these songs will give you, the reader, a sense of what the music was like during the World War II era. Look them up on iTunes or YouTube if you are curious. Add them to your playlist. Enjoy!
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Childhood:
"In the Mood" - Glenn Miller Orchestra (1939)
"On the Good Ship Lollipop" - Shirley Temple (1934)
"Take the A Train" - Duke Ellington and His Orchestra (1941)
"Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" - Judy Garland (1944)
Fairy Tale Witch:
"April in Paris" - Count Basie and His Orchestra (1955)
"(I've Got A Gal in) Kalamazoo" - Glenn Miller Orchestra (1942)
"Swinging on a Star" - Bing Crosby (1944)
"Ain't Misbehavin' "- Fats Waller (1936)
School Days:
"Pennsylvania 6-5000" - Glenn Miller Orchestra (1937)
"I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire" - The Ink Spots (1941)
"Orange Colored Sky" - Nat King Cole (1950)
"Glow Worm" - Mills Brothers (1952)
Wartime:
"Moonlight Serenade" - Glenn Miller Orchestra (1939)
"I'll Never Smile Again" - Frank Sinatra with Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra (1940)
"Someone to Watch Over Me" - Ella Fitzgerald (1950)
"Over the Rainbow" - Judy Garland (1939)
Escape to Kyushu:
"Nature Boy" - Nat King Cole (1948)
"I'll Be Seeing You" - Billie Holiday (1944)
"One O'Clock Jump" - Count Basie and His Orchestra (1937)
"Begin the Beguine" - Artie Shaw and His Orchestra (1938)
Return to Tokyo:
"Stompin' at the Savoy" - Benny Goodman and His Orchestra (1937)
"Stardust" - Artie Shaw and His Orchestra (1940)
"Woodchopper's Ball" - Woody Herman and His Orchestra (1939)
"Straighten Up and Fly Right" - Nat King Cole (1943)
The Occupation:
"Sing Sing Sing" - Benny Goodman and His Orchestra (1937)
"Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" - The Andrews Sisters (1941)
"The Trolley Song" - Judy Garland (1944)
"Wheel Of Fortune" - Kay Starr (1951)
YOU ARE READING
Forged In Fire: Stories of wartime Japan
Non-FictionForged In Fire is the true story of a young girl's childhood in pre-WW II Tokyo; her schoolgirl dreams; the violence, starvation and desperation of wartime that drove her family out of the city; and the American Occupation that shaped Japan's future...
