I think I've guessed who The Observer is...

But anyway - one point I fear is forgotten more often than it should be. The people who wrote the things we now call folk songs were certainly aiming to entertain, albeit on a domestic scale. There is no other reason to write songs - even angry and sad ones.

And though some might deliberately sing a weak song purely for demonstration purposes, most people usually sing to give pleasure.

So the Spirit of Entertainment is always present, welcome or not, even in dull songs and performances.

Tom