As for singing live being "utterly bogus" and "reductive," that perspective misses the point of live singing, especially group singing. A live singer tends to involve the group more actively than recorded music, plus the act of singing per se has many healthful benefits and singing together with other people has even more.

(Shudders in deep dread of the horrors to come).

Storytelling with kids is one thing; with adults its quite another, and with our elderly Mothers and Fathers it's a privilege beyond knowing. In such situations I've always found the best thing to do is to listen because what they have is real...