The Thirties was the decade when popular music took off. Big Bands boomed. Swing played in all dance halls and ballrooms. Jazz was soaring. Couples danced to music all the time to have fun, and to forget their troubles throughout the Depression.
The Radio became extremely popular. Almost 80 percent of people owned one. This is how most people heard the news. People listened to comedians, and loved laughing at what they did. Some people even listened to soap operas.
A very popular song from the thirties is "It Don't Mean a Thing" (If It Ain't Got Swing), which sums us the "in" songs of the thirties. Some other popular songs are "Brother, Can You Spare A Dime", and "My Heart Belongs to Daddy."
Broadway produced some of the most famous lasting American musicals. "Strike Up the Band", "Girl Crazy", and "Of Thee I Sing." Cole Porter wrote "Anything Goes", and "Jubilee". Songwriters composed melodies that are still sung and played today.