Being an authentic form of American music, jazz has undergone several transformations. From classic jazz to swing and bebop, the genre has simply wowed generations after generations of music lovers with its extraordinary appeal. However, in this blog, we have chosen the subgenre of swing for detailed discussion. So, it was in 1920, when swing was slowly and steadily becoming a part of every American’s life. Further, the advent of radio during this time propelled the popularity of swing music in the USA. Through the 1930s and till the mid of 1940, swing was at the peak of popularity without any worthy rival. Moreover, with the rise of talented musicians, artists, bandleaders, and vocalists, swing captured everyone’s heart in a short span. But, the end of World War II put the nail in the coffin of swing music. Want to know it all in detail? Here, we shed light on several interesting facts about the swing. So, let us start.
Swing promoted racial harmony – Considered to be the creation of the African-American community, swing helped to ease the tension between the whites and blacks to a great extent. Not only did the white people love and accept swing, but several of them became swing artists themselves. Given the popularity of swing, black musicians performed in elite night clubs and music halls overcoming the racial barriers. In short, people from all walks of life loved swing music as though it infused a new spark into the lives of Americans. We would not go to the extent of claiming that swing helped vanish the racial tension, but it did open the doors for blacks in the American aristocratic society.
Swing gave solace to helpless people – Yes, you read that right. What do you think is the reason that pushed people to love and accept swing? Of course, its captivating appeal was one of the reasons, but there were deeper socio-economic implications. So, at a time when The Great Depression ruined the lives of thousands of people, they simply turned to this new form of music to distract themselves from the hardships of life. Also, embracing this music helped them to some extent to forget the misery that World War I had brought. In fact, there were so many swing artists that delved into music to escape from poverty and difficulties of life.
Swing artists boosted morale during World War II – Do you know the names of swing artists that played a huge role in boosting the morale of soldiers during World War II? One of the popular big bandleaders of that time, Glenn Miller joined the Band of Army Air Force to encourage and entertain the tired soldiers of his homeland at the war front. Also, a very famous women group, The Andrews Sisters performed at various shows to boost the collection of funds for the war. There were so many other big personalities like them who had committed themselves to the war effort. Feel free to tune into the jazz music radio station in the USA to listen to your favorite tracks and enjoy more of these background stories.
Swing music lost its popularity soon after the war – As soon as the war ended, people refused to accept swing because it reminded them of the time before this belligerence shocked them. Also, measures like the Musician Union’s Strike and Cabaret tax relegated swing music to a subservient position. Further, with new generations embracing new listening habits, swing lost its ground and paved the way for bebop and rock n’ roll in the 1960s. All of these factors contributed to the downfall of swing significantly. But, even today, swing is still regarded as the most authentic form of American music
The way forward – With interesting history and background, swing music gives us a glimpse into the socio-cultural developments in early to mid-twentieth-century America. Do you feel fascinated with this rich, appealing, and influential genre of music? How about learning more while listening to it? Tune into Swing Street Radio and enjoy the greatest hits by the best swing music bands the USA. Download the app today!
