Nah, not really. Christy has this soft Kildare lilt; he's always had it. But back in the '70's he had more 'attitude' (for want of a better word) in his singing, and that I think, was what people tried to copy. His 'soft Kildare' was often thus transposed into 'plastic Dublin' (again, for want of a better description), paving the way for all the 'Christy-ites'

Hands up all those who sing 'Lanigan's Ball'? *BG*

B.