How cheering to see the white cliffs of Dover lit up with the image of Dame Vera Lynn, to mark her 100th birthday. In her honour, I went and bought her “new” CD, Vera Lynn 100, just issued by Decca at £9.99.
She is the first artiste ever to have a CD issued on her 100th birthday, but wisely Dame Vera has not chosen to sing for her centenary – even the greatest voices must deteriorate with age. The “new” CD is really a remastering of Dame Vera in her prime, but supplemented by some fine orchestration, and sometimes accompanied by other singers. Alfie Boe duets with the wartime recording of Dame Vera in We’ll Meet Again. Aled Jones is her singing partner in As Time Goes By and Cynthia Erivo joins her in When You Wish Upon a Star. Alexander Armstrong accompanies her in the celebrated (There’ll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover.
