SONG THAT IS BEATING ALL RECORDS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2285, 20 October 1914, Page 7

SONG THAT IS BEATING ALL RECORDS

"IT'S A LONG WAY TO TIPPERAUY." In' matters musical the public is as fickle as spring weather. It only needed a couple of cable messages from London to say that the British troops sang "It's a. Long Way to Tipperary" when marching through the streets of Boulogne and on the trains when off to the firing line to create a vogue for a eong such as has never been known- before in the history of the sone business of Australasia. Not that there is any conspicuous musical quality, in the song. It has_ a good swing, and tie most 'conventional of music-hall airs that catch the ear for a week or two "and then are heard no more." Among the best war-time sellers of the South African campaign were "The Soldiors of the Queen, "It'e tho Navy," "Goodbye, Dolly Gray," and very much after those mentioned, "The Abent-minded Beggar," which caught Sullivan without his Gilbert, whoso inspiration should not be under-rated. "Tipperary" is a tripping lilt that everyone "with an ear" can pick up in fivo minutes, a virtue which, in nine cases out of ten, condemns any a;r to a short life, if a gay one. It has, however, according to Sir. Hornor, manager for Bogg and Co., put up a unique record. So far in his shop alono in Wellington 4000 copies of the song have been purchased, and thoy still have orders on their books for IGOO moro copies—and that all within three weeks. Mr. Horner states that not during the whole of Ilia twenty-one years' oxporiouce in the music has there been such a run on a song in peaco or war as there has been for "It's a Long, Long Way to Tipperary," and orders nro still coming in from all parts of tho country.