Edie Daponte will take Parksville back in time with her musical homage to the men and women of the Second World War on Nov. 11.
Her ‘We’ll Meet Again’ concert will honour veterans at Knox United Church (345 Pym St.).
The 2 p.m. show includes version of songs made famous by Vera Lynn, Edith Piaf and Marlene Dietrich, whose voices cheered up Allied soldiers fighting in foreign lands.
The concert’s title comes from Lynn’s version of ‘We’ll Meet Again’, written by English songwriters Ross Parker and Hughie Charles. It was one of the most well-known songs of the war and captures the feelings of soldiers separated from their sweethearts.
“I just think it means so much to everyone,” said Daponte. “Whenever I sing that song I encourage everyone to sing it along with us and it’s very emotional and rewarding to hear us all come together.”
In between songs, Daponte enjoys sharing the historical significance of the music, as well as stories about the women who sang them.
Dietrich’s version of ‘Lili Marleen’, a song about a soldier thinking of his girlfriend back home, first received radio play in German, but quickly became popular with British soldiers who listened to it during their fight with the Axis powers in North Africa.
“They were humming along to it, and of course lyrics were made. They thought, ‘we’d better make some lyrics in English’,” said Daponte.
“So all the soldiers were singing this song about their girlfriend back home that they can’t wait to return to. And it’s just ironic because they’re fighting each other and singing the same song.”
Dietrich, who became an American citizen in 1939, went on to entertain soldiers long after the end of the Second World War. “She’s fun to emulate, because she has a really deep voice and she’s kind of whimsical and sexy,” said Daponte. “But at the same time there’s a couple of songs like ‘Where Have All the Flowers Gone’ which she recorded in French, German and English, and I’ll be singing that song.”
‘Where have all the Flowers Gone’, written by Pete Seeger, is about the sadness and futility of war, Daponte added.
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Daponte sings in multiple languages, including French, the language of Piaf, another person whose voice is emblematic of the era.
When the war broke out in Europe, Piaf was 25 years old and within a year her country was occupied by Germany.
She was instrumental in helping a number of Allied prisoners of war escape, during performances at POW camps in Germany, according to an account by her secretary Andrée Bigard, a member of the French Resistance.
Daponte will be joined by Attila Fias on piano, Joey Smith on bass and Damian Graham (originally from Parksville) on drums.
Smith, who has toured with the famous Glen Miller Orchestra, has collaborated with Daponte for approximately 10 years, both as a duo and in a big band.
Special guest vocalist Gina Allan, from Qualicum Beach, will perform some opening songs.
The show is dedicated to veterans, including Daponte’s father-in-law, who served in the Second World War with the Canadian Army as a young man.
He was wounded in action while fighting in northern Germany, Daponte said.
“I always think about him when I’m singing those songs, especially the Vera Lynn song. When he was alive he would come to all my shows that he could attend,” she said. “What I’ve noticed is when I perform the show, there’s usually some spouses of veterans and family members of veterans.”
During a performance, Daponte will ask if there are any veterans in the audience, which is how Daponte met Allan and her mother — Allan’s father was a veteran of the Second World War.
“We hope it’s a good tribute to help people remember,” Daponte said.
“Sadly we know that there’s still war, but this one was the big one. We don’t ever want to see that again”
Tickets are available in advance for $30 online via Eventbrite and with cash at Parksville retailers Close to You Ladies Fashions and Fireside Books.
Daponte will also perform the show at Hermann’s Jazz Club in Victoria on Nov. 10 and at St. Paul’s United Church in Sidney on Nov. 18.