Customer Reviews

German Propaganda Swing 1941-1942

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I guarantee that you will never come across a stranger piece of World War Two ephemera than this. Jazz was frowned upon by the Nazis, but sometime in 1941 a group of musicians hit on an ingenious scheme to keep playing this "degenerate" music. They rerecorded swing classics of the era, substituting with "humorous" propaganda lyrics. The results are jaw-dropping: much of the intended humour is about as subtle as a flying bomb, and the rampant anti-Semitism mught be too much for some people (although my sax teacher, who is not only Jewish but lived through the war, thinks it's the funniest thing he's ever heard).

One to slip on unannounced during a dinner party methinks.

"Who likes bombing?"
"We like bombing!"

World War II was perhaps radio's heyday as the medium for propaganda. The Nazis were fond of trying to wipe out jazz at home, but used big band and swing as a vehicle for delivering their anti-semitic messages to allied troops abroad. A Brit named Norman Baille-Stewart broadcast under the name Radio Charlie, expounding the Nazi party line to the popular big band melodies of the day. This CD gathers 22 of Radio Charlie's records, and also includes a broadcast excerpt from his radio show with the legendary "Lord Haw-Haw." In numbers like "You're Driving Me Crazy," Charlie sings one verse of the original lyric, then launches into rhyming Nazi diatribes against Roosevelt and Churchill before singing a celebration of Japan's entry to the Axis. The band is surprisingly competent.

Like the swing music! Interestingly, the singer went on immigrating to the USA and making a good career. Many of the WWII "enemy" came here and did alot of great things after the war.

These albums get a bit boring if listened to for too long, but they are a super example of the Nazi propoganda of the day. Ignore the lyrics and just enjoy the music..