So,I am reading this thread, and there is my name - I guess I wrote to this thread about 2 years ago - isn't that a hoot? Also, I still agree with my post -guess things haven't changed that much for me on this topic.

I am writing again because of the mention of Percy French. Last fall I learned a several of his songs, for their crowd satisfaction element. They really strike a chord with our local Irish community. I think he is a great lyricist, but his melodies borrow heavily from the music hall tradition, making them sing-along-able, but pretty vocally uninteresting and melodically uninteresting for a band to back up. Still, Percy French is a big part of the Irish sing-along tradition. Maybe we should start a new category of Irish songs... the sean nos, trad songs, and sing-along trad songs. FYI There is a Percy French site that you can google and there is a Percy French song book too.

Ok, back to work,

Claire Z