Fate of Swing Music

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 132, 7 June 1939, Page 5

Fate of Swing Music

‘‘ As far as pictures are concerned, and radio as well, for that matter, I believe that in 1939 swing music will have a definite old fashion flavour.” Authority for this statement is Dave Dreyer, head of the music department of RKO Radio Pictures, who currently is directing the music for “The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle” in which Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers are starred, and who handled a similar task on “Love Affairs” with Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer.

“Public taste has swung back to the music of twenty years ago,” said Dreyer. “By the time ‘The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle* and ‘Love Affair’ have been released, along with the musicals now in production in other studios, swing music will be a memory. Right now, films and radio programmes are in the centre of a cycle revolving around the songs of almost three decades ago, and it is a grand relief from the crash, bang of the music of the past two or three years. The reason all the old songs are coming back and still are top favourites, is because they were great songs. There are about 200 of them that never will die. I look to seo composers and song writers swing back to modern adaptations of these type songs, instead of striving for some new musical form. Each generation revives these old songs, not because they are a novelty but because they were great songs, with genuine melody and beauty. Old fashioned dance music will follow the old time songs, and I look to see the waltz climb to top popularity.”