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User Name Thread Name Subject Posted
GUEST,Anne Neilson Can a pop song become traditional? (679* d) RE: Can a pop song become traditional? 30 Nov 15


To answer the original question -- probably not, 'in my life-time' IMHO.

To address some of the more recent concerns, I'm very aware of the current wrangling about the introduction of source singers to the scene. Maybe we were luckier in Scotland (perhaps because we are a smaller community) but when the Folk Revival hit us in the early '50's, I imagine it as a great gift from a very knowledgeable Santa Claus!

My English teacher in 1956 was Norman Buchan (later a Labour MP and author of two significant books of traditional Scottish song). Norman had been involved politically with the people who put together The People's Festival in Edinburgh in 1951, as an antidote to the over-priced and 'high culture fixated' official Festival -- and during that event, he was in the audience for the first People's Festival Ceilidh which was put on by Hamish Henderson.

Hamish had begun to collect songs for what became The School of Scottish Studies (in Edinburgh University) and, as was his wont, generously shared his recorded material with other enthusiasts -- so, when Norman started his Ballads Club in Rutherglen Academy in 1957, we had access to recordings of source singers like Jimmy McBeath, Jeannie Robertson, Lucy Stewart et al along with Pete Seeger, The Weavers etc.
Our club members sang a great range of songs -- from The Twa Corbies via The Bleacher Lassie o Kelvinhaugh to Rothesay Oh, and as we approached the 60's we added We Shall Overcome, Blowing in the Wind and Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound.

But the point is that I think all the Club members knew the difference between a song like The Plooman Laddies and Masters of War -- in terms of their origins. And there was also an acknowledgement of the skill of a maker in creating a new song that spoke to current concerns. (I remember the impact of Tom Paxton's Vietnam songs 'Lyndon Johnston told the Nation' and - specifically - 'Jimmy Newman')

So, my bottom line is that a traditional song (handed down orally etc.) is a special thing, particularly when it has come from performers of the calibre of Jeannie Robertson etc. -- but there is no bar to another song becoming equally significant….

Provided it has significant emotional content, narrative strength and appropriate melody.

(I'll be interested to hear proposals)


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