Underneath the lantern, by the barrack gate

Today is Remembrance Day (Armistice Day) - and yesterday (coincidentally) it would have been the birthday of one of WW2's greatest (and possibly less remembered) singers, Miss Anne Shelton.

By the tender age of twelve, in the early days of pre-war mass-entertainment, Miss Shelton's admirable (and remarkably mature) vocals had already landed her a slot on the BBC Home Service radio show Monday Night at Eight - and by age 15 she had a recording contract. She was a top entertainer all through WW2, performing with the likes of Ambrose and his Orchestra, Glenn Miller and Bing Crosby, and was the very first person to sing the English translation of the now-legendary wartime classic Lili Marlene. Her star was somewhat eclipsed by the likes of Vera Lynn, unfortunately, as well as by the influx of "Americana" that came during and just after the war. However, to us here at Dolores Delargo Towers, hers is the voice of that era - that should never be forgotten...

I think, as a mark of respect on all counts, we should revisit some of that lady's classics from all those years ago.

First up, her most rousing of wartime numbers:

Bert Ambrose & His Orchestra with Anne Shelton - Coming In On A Wing And A Prayer

That aforementioned première of Lili Marlene:

Anne Shelton - Lili Marlene

Accompanied by a typically weird'n'wonderful clip from Dennis Potter's Lipstick On Your Collar (the series during which I, and so many others, first fell in love with Mr Ewan McGregor), Miss Shelton's biggest commercial hit:

Anne Shelton - Lay Down Your Arms (And Surrender To Mine)

And finally, my particular favourite. Can't imagine why.

Anne Shelton - Kiss The Boys Goodbye

Daddy, let me stay out late
For tomorrow is our wedding date
Let the Baby kinda celebrate
Kiss the boys goodbye

Daddy, let me wear the mink
What's the difference what the neighbours think
Let the Baby linger on the brink
Oh, kiss the boys goodbye

And while I'm kissing them sentiment'ly
Keep the liberal point of view
Because I'm breaking it to them gently
That my heart belongs to you

So, Daddy, please remember this
That tomorrow starts a life of bliss
Let me show them what they're gonna miss
Kiss the boys goodbye!

Anne Shelton OBE (born Patricia Sibley, 10th November 1923 – 31st July 1994)

Armistice Day

And the world will be better for this

Today is Remembrance Sunday, in the centenary year of the outbreak of The Great War. It is also a quarter of a century since another world-changing event: the fall of the Berlin Wall.

And here's today's birthday boy, the awe-inspiring Bryn Terfel, to sing a rather apposite number for today:

Bryn Terfel with the Amsterdam Concertgebouw - The Impossible Dream

To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go

To right the unrightable wrong
To love pure and chaste from afar
To try when your arms are too weary
To reach the unreachable star

This is my quest
To follow that star
No matter how hopeless
No matter how far

To fight for the right
Without question or pause
To be willing to march into Hell
For a heavenly cause

And I know if I'll only be true
To this glorious quest
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm
When I'm laid to my rest

And the world will be better for this
That one man, scorned and covered with scars
Still strove with his last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable star

Bryn Terfel Jones CBE (born 9th November 1965)

Lest we forget: read more about "the moat of poppies" at the Tower of London on my other half Madam Arcati's blog Random Jottings.