Songs Of The British Music Hall (2013 Revised Edition) - Softcover

British Music Hall was born in the mid-1850s and flourished until the Second World War when it suffered a fatal decline, soon to be eclipsed by movies, radio and gramophone records. At its best the Music Hall could be exuberant, ribald, satirical, maudlin or witty. Its performers were a motley bunch stretching from penniless one-hit wonders to lavishly-rewarded professional entertainers. Theirs was the popular entertainment of the day, reflecting its audiences hopes, dreams and foibles back to them, often with a saucy wink or a rude joke.Today the Music Hall has receded into the history books of popular culture, yet many of its songs have retained a vivacious life of their own. Some of the very best have been collected in this book, making it a timeless celebration of a uniquely colourful form of live entertainment50 Songs from the British Music Halls, including old favourites such as: My Old Man (Said Follow The Van); It's A Bit Of A Ruin That Cromwell Knocked About A Bit; Daisy Bell (A Bicycle Made For Two). All songs are accompanied by insightful commentaries and analysis.