with life, passion and genuine emotion

Life I can understand. Passion I can understand. I do wonder about the "genuine emotion", though. I think if you've written a song about your own personal experiences or beliefs, or if you've personally experienced them in other songs, then genuine emotion? - fair enough. I also understand the possibility of empathy.

I could probably sing an old ballad (short one for me, though) with life and gusto, but it would necessarily be as an impartial narrator. If there was "emotion", it would be that of an actor, and I'm no actor.

Just me being an old nit-picker, Banjiman - enjoy your ballads and political songs!