We don't all remember the war

[seashaken]

I've just been for a walk and passed a pub with a notice up about a lunch with entertainment for the over 60s. The entertainment is a crooner singing a selection of wartime favourites. Now I'm 66 and the cultural movements that informed my youth were hippies, glam rock and punk. For people 10-20 years older than me it would've been Elvis, mods and rockers, the Beatles and there can't be many people in the target age group with clear memories of the war, many wouldn't have been born. Obviously I realise the audience will be self-selecting and anyone who prefers Led Zeppelin will give it a swerve, but I did find it depressing that this is still considered appropriate entertainment for people my age. I don't want to find myself in a care home in 20 years time being forced to listen to Vera Lynn.

I'm 71 and I don't remember the war! And I don't like wartime music. It's Queen, Slade, Dr Hook, ELO, Roy Orbison, etc. for me plus a lot of modern stuff.

I'd probably go to something like that. I love those wartime songs because they remind me of my grandparents (who'd all be in their late 90s if they were still alive). I'm 43.

Wonder if lockdown classics will feature in 70 years …

The landlord is running a business, he wants people to spend while they reminisce. You exercised your right not to join them. What don't you understand?

The landlord is running a business, he wants people to spend while they reminisce. You exercised your right not to join them. What don't you understand?
Probably that thewar song theme was aimed at the over 60 demographic when tbe 60-80 year olds who are likely to go drinking are too young for war songs. OP was saying the pub was off the mark.
Now if they had been 80s classic songs it would probably be a popular choice for many people, including the younger people who weren't born in the 80's!!

I know people, in their early 60s, who were ravers in the early years of the rave scene!

I have a horrible feeling Adele will be the Vera Lynn of my generation.

I remember in my teens thinking that by the time I had kids old enough to sing ‘Streets of London’ at old folks’ tea parties, it wouldn’t be ‘Streets of London’ but the Who’s ‘Hope I die before I get old’ and it wouldn’t be tea and biscuits, but wacky baccy and beer.

Of course, as my DM points out, other drugs tend to be available in care homes…

I’ll be 60 in four years and my musical heroes were The Smiths, New Order and The The.

I just hope there will be gin and not just tea.

In four years time you'll be ordered by law to give up all your Smiths and New Order CDs and playlists and replace them with Vera Lynn and The Andrews Sisters. Morrissey will understand.

Its mad, I'm 60 and I was born 17 years after the war ended. I grew up in punk/new romantic era.
If they play me God save the Queen or Don't you love me baby I'll slash my wrists.

I did my nursing Prac in an old folk’s home and a group of well-meaning young folks came in and sang torch songs, and this old bloke said rather loudly “Oh, FFS, They’re thinking we listened to Vera bloody Lynn and we were listening to The Rolling Stones and Metallica. LADY, we fought in Vietnam, not the fucking Somne!” (A bit Katherine Tate, but true…)

we fought in Vietnam

Are you in the US?

They had an Elvis impersonator go into my Dad's are home and do a sing a long. I thought that was a bit more relevant than Vera Lynne!

Care home!

That's what I was going to say. Korea or the Falklands but not Vietnam.

My MIL (91), has recently attended a Showaddywaddy event at her friends retirement village.
Her favourite band however is Queen.

OP I'm also 66 and totally agree! My cousin was born in 1940. He's 82 and would tell them to change the bloody record! He has never once talked about the war as he doesn't really remember it.

I think one problem with this country's attitude to WW2 is that it is considered to be our finest hour and many people can't get over that. We need to move on.
(That doesn't mean not honouring those who fought or died, like my uncle, at appropriate times. )

I don’t think anyone is suggesting that there should never be anything about the war or from that era but it shouldn’t be the default for events / entertainment - which is what it seems to be in many places

Oh yes, I agree

In four years time you'll be ordered by law to give up all your Smiths and New Order CDs and playlists and replace them with Vera Lynn and The Andrews Sisters. Morrissey will understand.

There'll be fighting on the beaches in that case !

This over 60 yr old was into punk and I can't stand Elvis !

This reminds me of the tasks in The Apprentice TV show, where the contestants are tasked with organising an event, or creating a product, for the over 50s and always come up with something more suited to the over 80s!

Shoot me now!

This is why I left the village singing group. We used to visit care homes to sing for an afternoon but the group leader insisted we had to sing Vera Lynn style etc Nightingale in Berkeley Square, and other 1940s music but the people in the homes wanted more modern stuff from the 70s and 80s. When the audience dwindled, the care homes just didn't book again. The groups is still going (just) but they've one booking between now and new year because of this. That woman's intransigence is shutting the group down. ☹️