Flanagan and Allen

Flanagan and Allen were a popular Wartime singing and comedy double-act, comprising Bud Flanagan and Chesney Allen.

Related Topics:
Flanagan and Allen - Wartime - Bud Flanagan - Chesney Allen

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As music hall comedians, they would often feature a mixture of comedy and music in their act and this led to a successful recording career as a duo and roles in film and television. Flanagan and Allen were both also members of The Crazy Gang and worked with that team for many years concurrently with their double-act career.

Related Topics:
Music hall - The Crazy Gang

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Flanagan and Allen's songs featured the same, usually gentle humour for which the duo were known in their live performances, and during the Second World War reflected the experiences of ordinary people during wartime. Songs like We're Going to Hang Out the Washing on the Siegfried Line mocked the German defences (Siegfried Line), while others like Miss You sang of missing one's sweetheart during enforced absences. Other songs such as their most famous Underneath the Arches (which Flanagan co-wrote with Reg Connelly) had universal themes such as friendship, which again, helped people relate to the subject matter. The music was usually melodic, following a binary verse, verse chorus structure, with a small dance band or orchestra providing the backing. The vocals were distinctive because while Flanagan was at least a competent singer and sang the melody lines, Allen used an almost spoken delivery to provide the harmonies.

Related Topics:
Second World War - Siegfried Line - Dance band

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Flanagan and Allen remain popular as recording artists and are frequently impersonated by professionals and amateurs. Royal Variety Performances often feature people 'doing a Flanagan and Allen', notably Roy Hudd and Christopher Timothy, Bernie Winters and Leslie Crowther.

Related Topics:
Royal Variety Performance - Roy Hudd - Christopher Timothy - Bernie Winters - Leslie Crowther

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