Music that saved the world

Music that saved the world
by Donna Teresa

For anyone who ever served in the armed forces, one comfort was a constant friend to many of the soldiers far from home. Historically, music has been an important part of the lives of American soldiers, dating to the American Revolution. Those magical sounds have played on the airwaves to the welcoming ears of soldiers in times of great loneliness and uncertainty.

One local historian is making sure that the popular music during World War II doesn’t fade as the years go by. Air Force Capt. Michael Hemp hits the airwaves on KRML, 1410 AM and 92.5 FM, playing the music that rekindles the memories of thousands of veterans. He was inspired at an early age to appreciate the sounds of Glenn Miller, Harry James, the Dorsey brothers and Benny Goodman.

“I grew up listening to my dad and mom’s music. My uncle Chuck Anderson played base and was a crooner for Buddy Melville’s Orchestra at the Hotel Del Monte. I fly a B-17 back to the ’40s every Friday from 1 to 3 o’clock, dedicated to the 30,000 airmen that lost their lives in the air over Europe and the Pacific in the 1940’s,” says Hemp…

His tribute to “the music that saved the world” can also be found at www.bombardierslounge.com. Listening to Capt. Mike’s music, it’s easy to imagine how soothing it must have been to hear a song from home, and at the same time to feel so incredibly homesick.

Yet music changes with every generation. In the 1960s, music fans were searching for a band that was feeling the anguish and uncertainty of the social and political unrest related to the war in Vietnam. American soldiers far from home embraced the lyrics of Eric Burdon and The Animals as a messenger of their war experience.

“Music gave soldiers a welcome break from the tedium and sometimes horror of being in a combat zone. Eric Burdon and The Animals recorded what would became a Vietnam anthem, ‘We Gotta Get Out of This Place’ and for anybody in ‘Nam, the refrain of this song really hit home,” says Lee Andresen, teacher of history and political science at Lake Superior College in Duluth, Minn., and author of the book “Battle Notes.”

Burdon echoes the sentiment when he hears of his large following of fans who are veterans.

“I consider it compliment, knowing what the music meant to those guys. It is my job to enlighten the public and provide them with pure entertainment… it’s responsible for waking people up. We can change what we learn from it,” he said in a recent interview.

Judging from the audience’s reaction to his sold-out concert a few weeks ago, his current music and message remain as powerful today as 40 years ago.

Since World War II, Armed Forces Radio Network has provided entertainment to military personnel and their families, now including TV programs, motion pictures and popular sports events.

Today, songs of protest can still be heard from Green Day; songs of patriotism are sung by Toby Keith, among others. Whatever a soldier is listening to, one thing is certain: Popular music has been a bridge of understanding to people all over the world, whether soldier or civilian.

If only we all could share one universal airwave, and share the sentiments from the 1972 song by The O’Jays, “People all over the world join hands, start a love train…”