Agree with Doug on original post, and will take it one step further: people who think they can improve on the simplicity of ANY melody by adding frills to it. One night Mister and I went to see Peter Rowan down at the Ryman, and it was a real fine show... except his fiddler played Ashokan Farewell with all manner of cuts and turns and other things that did nothing but clutter it up. I know a lot of you are dang tired of that tune, but the beauty of that melody is in its simplicity. And the Star Spangled Banner is hard enough to sing without muddying the waters.

Generally speaking, I think a little bit of embellishment is okay, because that's what keeps us from all sounding a alike. But too much is distasteful, at least I think so.

Also it bugs me when fiddlers think they have to play Orange Blossom Special at breakneck speed.

I used to sing with a girl who said "acapello." It was especially amusing because she thought she was The Shit because she had a cut on somebody's album and got royalty checks. I haven't seen her in years, and gosh, I have my own songs on my own recording now. (smug little grin)