Certainly it depends on lots of factors like age, nationality, background etc.

But bear in mind many in an audience will not know a good number of the songs in any list bar a small of the number of totally universal songs in the lists people have submitted.

In England many of the US titles above have a lot less weight; just as 'Streets of London' and 'Dirty Old Town' might have little weight in the US. But I would consider these two essential for a general non folk audience in England.

The other thing from the likelihood that a number of people in many audiences would struggle on some titles is that they would nevertheless try on an inherently good chorus song - so why not add some of your own if you write genuinely good chorus songs?   

To non folk audiences I always do this. Indeed, in the days when I went busking I found my best money earner was a song of my lyrics with a superb melody written by a friend. This was counter to all the advice that I was given by a very experienced busker friend - but I concluded that when busking its just as important to sing something happy as something the punters know.

I would emphasise that your own should be genuinely good chorus songs - and well tested. I've just had the recurring vision of days when I used to go to Guest based folk clubs - where the featured artist used to finish on a chorus song which few but his sycophants thought was worth joining in with!


Ian Fyvie