The Show Must Go On! Popular Song in Britain During the First World War

by John Mullen, Derek B Scott, Stan Hawkins

Overview

Using a collection of over one thousand popular songs from the war years, as well as around 150 soldiers' songs, John Mullen provides a fascinating insight into the world of popular entertainment during the First World War. He considers the position of songs of this time within the history of popular music, and the needs, tastes and experiences of their working-class audiences. He assesses the different genres of musical entertainment which were common in the war years and presents a subtle and nuanced approach to the nature of popular song, the ways in which audiences related to the music and the effects of the competing pressures of commerce, propaganda, patriotism, social attitudes and the progress of the war.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781472441614
Publisher:	Ashgate Publishing Ltd
Publication date:	08/28/2015
Series:	Ashgate Popular and Folk Music Series
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

John Mullen is senior lecturer at the University of Paris-East Créteil. He has published widely on the history of British popular music. Articles include a reflection on 'ethnic' music festivals and immigrant identity (1960-2000), and a piece on racial stereotyping in music-hall songs from 1880 to 1920.

Table of Contents

Introduction; Chapter 1 Portrait of an Industry; Chapter 101 A Star in Focus 1; Chapter 2 A Patchwork of Genres; Chapter 102 A Star in Focus 2; Chapter 3 The Songs and Their Content; Chapter 103 A Star in Focus 3; Chapter 4 ‘If you were the only girl in the world’; Chapter 104 A Star in Focus 4; Chapter 5 Songs about the War; Chapter 6 ‘I want to go home’; Chapter 105 Conclusions;

Editorial Reviews

'This wide-ranging and sensitive book demonstrates a deep understanding of the byways of British wartime society and the complex but fascinating ways in which popular song and star performers were commoditized and enjoyed by millions.' Paul Watt, Monash University, Australia

From the Publisher