Dame Vera Lynn, 103, says ‘keep smiling and keep singing’

Dame Vera Lynn, 103, says ‘keep smiling and keep singing’

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norman lebrecht

March 22, 2020

She saw us through the second world war, she will see us through the plague.

Dame Vera turned 103 on Friday.

Watch to the end.

Comments

  • Brian v says:

    Vera lynns father in law taught Ronnie Scott who said it was his claim to fame.

  • Willymh says:

    I took my mother to her last appearance at the Canadian National Exhibition in 1981 – I believe it was. One of the headlines heralded the fact that there were only four policemen visible for a crowd of 17,000. And I would dare say that there were very few dry eyes in that crowd when we joined her in “We’ll Meet Again.” Pretty sure that she’s the photo beside “uplifting” in the dictionary.

  • Simon A Bird says:

    Oh for God’s sake…!!?

    • Steven Holloway says:

      No, Simon. For your sake.

    • Jan says:

      This is one of the greatest songs of WWII. Don’t you know your history, don’t you like music? Especially Patriotic uplifting songs. Those voices singing along with her are WWII servicemen. Simon, I feel sorry for you if you don’t know the significance of this song.

  • Cynical Bystander says:

    Best wishes to Ms Lynn and all the others who have lived to a ripe old age.

    However, this is not a plague and hyperbole like that does not help at a time when many are fearful of what may happen to them. How did it go? “Careless words cost lives”

    • Joe. Pearce says:

      Semantics be damned. If it looks like a plague, smells like a plague, and is treated by politicians and news media alike as a plague, then it must be somewhat analogous to a plague, and that’s enough for me.

  • Robert Scrymgeour says:

    Vera music inspired my grandparents generation at the darkest movements. Allowed people to smile and dream of better days ahead. Come on Vera your doing it again.

  • Glazunov Fan says:

    LOVE HER SPIRIT!! Happy Birthday, Dame Vera Lynn….We need more sunshine like her to share with others….

  • Patti says:

    Happy Birthday Dame Vera from one of your greatest admirers (in absentia). Sir Jack

  • Joe Pearce says:

    I am, if anything, the Total Opera Lover of My Time, but there were four popular singers, all female, whose records I collected – Dame Vera Lynn, Judy Garland, Shirley Bassey and Janice Harper (bet the last one stopped you!), the first being Dame Vera, my earliest record by her having been acquired 70 years ago. Recently, I came across a CD by her of an LP she made for the German market back in, I think, the 1950s, and even in German she sounded totally and proudly British! Happy Birthday, Dame Vera.

  • laraine says:

    Happy Birthday Dame Vera Lynn!
    Canadian admirers Grace & Vance Gibson..posthumously

  • Greg Bottini says:

    I love you, Dame Vera!! For me, you are the voice of the WWII era.
    Happy birthday and many more!!
    (And please keep washing your hands.)

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