MUSIC AT THE FRONT

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 59, 9 March 1940, Page 9

MUSIC AT THE FRONT

THE BROADCASTS

WHAT THE MEN PREFER

The men of the 1940 Royal Air Force and British Army prefer the songs of 1940. This was one of the things told to Mr. F. W. Ogilvie, director-general of the 8.8.C., when he toured units of the British Air Force in France. Mr. Ogilvie was asking the men what kind of programmes they wanted to hear on the new 8.8.C. wavelength, which is intended mainly for broadcast to the troops.

He learned that dance music, variety, and'news are the biggest attractions, and that the men like light, cheerful music when they are sitting or moving about in their billets.

The general opinion about songs was that there had been too much "Tipperary," and that the new tunes like "Roll Out the Barrel" were much preferable. Long plays were thought to be difficult to listen to, as there was s6 much movement in the billets, but a suggestion that short thrillers should be given was welcomed. Mr. Oglivie, who talked to large numbers of the men, made notes of his conversation, and said on leaving each unit: "Don't forget to write and tell us what you think."

The 8.8.C.'s director-general had plenty of indications of the men's preferences for the light music, apart from anything they told him. Wherever he called unannounced the wireless was tuned in to either popular orchestral music or dance music.