The 1940’s Come Alive with the Swing It Girls!

When was the last time you attended a live musical performance with talented singers, great harmonies, upbeat energy and words you understood? I got that and more when I recently heard The Swing It Girls. Brought to our community by Entertainment Events, Inc., it is their third event I have attended, and it was by far my favorite.

EEI is a production company based in NY City, but the president and COO just happen to live in our neighborhood. For many years, they have been bringing high-caliber productions to venues throughout the US, Canada, Europe, and Asia, but now they are also bringing these closer to home.

I was not familiar with EEI until I heard about The Spouse Whisperer coming to a local venue near me. Since it was so convenient, I thought the program would be an amusing, nontraditional way to celebrate Valentine’s Day and it was! Mark Cordes, a seasoned comedian with impeccable timing and rich material, kept us laughing for almost two hours as he shared advice and observations about the unpredictable state of matrimony. What a hilarious evening…almost as good a box of dark chocolates!

Now to the Swing It! Girls: These three talented young women who have performed on Norwegian Cruise Lines and locations throughout Nevada and Louisiana brought to the Anthem stage their boundless energy and passion for music of the 30s, 40s and 50s. Plus their simple, understated choreography and halter top, polka-dot dresses added to the ambiance. With their first song, “Oh Johnny Oh,” I immediately felt the 40’s swing vibe and imagined my parents, “cutting the rug” at their favorite dance joints in Knoxville, Tennessee. Most of the songs they sang were made popular by the Andrews Sisters. Their hits such as Don’t Sit under the Apple Tree, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, I’ll be with You in Apple Blossom Time, Straighten up and Fly Right along with Ac-Cent-tchu-ate the Positive, and Rum and Coca Cola told stories about life, love and longing during the war years. As I listened to their music, I was pulled back into that period. I heard the words as if I were a young woman dancing with my sweetheart on a short leave from the army. I knew I would be swinging my worries away with him on the dance floor. Plus, I would be swaying in the comfort of his arms while praying for his safe return. These songs and other music from the big band era would help all couples through the rough years of separation and sacrifice.

When the Swing It Girls started to sing, Goodnight Sweetheart, Goodnight, I knew the evening was winding down but none of us wanted it to end. During the past ninety minutes we had all been transported to another world-one where our parents had lived, loved and served valiantly. With my thoughts on my own parents and their sacrifices, I suddenly heard the familiar sounds of one of the most patriotic songs today, God Bless the USA. Quietly everyone in that large room stood and allowed its emotional words to fill us with the same patriotic spirit that our parents had displayed. God did bless the USA. We did win World War II. But not everyone came home to sing or dance again. Thank you Swing It Girls for your soothing harmonies and nostalgic music that still moves us 78 years later.

Hear the Swing It Girls singing their final song, God Bess the USA, https://www.dropbox.com/s/39ayfw97e1j5ouu/IMG_2044.mov?dl=0