Posted 3:54 PM by Gene

OH oh, I think Pete of Hooverville just made the Swing Era con-SER-va-tive.

We should never take this sort of thing lying down. Great art transcends politics, and the swing era was great art. The only time the names he mentions crossed over into politics was when Satch blasted Perpetually Underrated Ike for his stupidity on civil rights.

Although Glenn Miller and Satch each recorded a scabrous tune called "W. P. A."; Glenn never released his version, apparently under pressure from John Hammond and the then-powerful Musicians' Union. Then again we wonder if con-SER-va-tives would call Glenn a COMMIE for having recorded an Irving Berlin tune celebrating FDR's birthday. (It was a fundraiser for the March of Dimes.) As we said, who cares? These were great musicians in any language and beyond politics. Moreover Glenn gave his life for his country, which is a big reason this music lover reverences his name, and that's more than most conservative pundits can claim.

(Via the usual Corner)