Look, there is nothing wrong with contemprary music simply because it is contemporary. Some of it of course is crap and some is excellent.

But the context of the question is "why should we sing FOLK music", not "why should we sing" so it necessitates a distinction between folk music and other music.

I am happy to see you here, Gene Burton, and I don't want to stop you performing contemporary music (nor do I want to stop you performing traditional music). But you are talking nonsense.

"Folk" music must have a meaning synergetic with "folk arts" and "folk lore". I happen to think that the 1954 definition is very close to right for that purpose, but whatever defintion you wish to apply, there has to be one for the purpose of the thread and it has to work consistently. If you think you can formulate one,please do so.

Your music, Al, excellent though it is (and I mean that most sincerely, folks), is based more closely on the practices and in some cases folk traditions of the USA than England. That is why your assumption that something is "folk" music just because it happens to be a war-chant on the association football terraces is inappropriate. If you want to be colonised (as in "colonies", not "colons" nor "Co-Lin Powell") feel free, but I don't.