Why do well known songs get sung slower?

Subject: RE: Why do well known songs get sung slower?
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 28 Sep 04 - 05:08 AM

PB, I discovered years ago (when I was learning to frail) that you can play slow: you just have to play twice as many beats. It still sounds fast, but everyone has to sing really slow. The overal effect is pretty awful, and you'll find that people will actually prefer you to play "properly".

Steve

Subject: RE: Why do well known songs get sung slower?
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 28 Sep 04 - 06:09 AM

'why don't melodeon players give woodwind players time to breathe in sessions?'

Because it messes up the beat!

Actually, the woodwind player should take the time to breathe by shortening a note somewhere. With a really good player the breathing can be used to rhythmically emphasise the tune.

Subject: RE: Why do well known songs get sung slower?
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 28 Sep 04 - 09:49 AM

Woodwind players should learn circular breathing, then there'd be no problem!

Subject: RE: Why do well known songs get sung slower?
From: *Laura*
Date: 28 Sep 04 - 03:55 PM

we'd faint from lack of breath!

Subject: RE: Why do well known songs get sung slower?
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 29 Sep 04 - 04:02 AM

Ah, but you woldn't, *Laura* - that's the whole point of circular breathing!

Subject: RE: Why do well known songs get sung slower?
From: *Laura*
Date: 30 Sep 04 - 01:56 PM

good point. very good point.

i am just a dappy normal-breather. :-)

Subject: RE: Why do well known songs get sung slower?
From: LesB
Date: 30 Sep 04 - 03:27 PM

Whoops! thread creep again. Right at the beginning it was stated that
'a person on the committee of the village hall who doesn't follow folk music at all, but was working behind the bar ' asked the question.
Perhaps the songs he was familiar with, had been performed by Pub singers/Irish pub bands et al, that he had heard in theme pubs / social clubs and the like. Who, in such situations, have a tendency to thrash through the old favorites for the non- folk audiences to clap along with. (usually completly devoid of timing, tempo & any sort of co-ordination).
By the way I completly agree with the previous comments about the benifits of not rushing songs.
Les