Guest Musket, you clearly have problems with all sorts of aspects of traditional singing - the age of the singer, their professional background, whether they're in a pub or not, whether they use a book or not ... there are numerous other threads where you can read more about these and other aspects of the subject if they interest you, and add your comments there. We're talking here about whether it matters to sing with belief in your song.

You have some doubts about this issue, but picking an argument with one of the most respected and knowledgeable contributors to this forum really doesn't impress. I can't see that Jim is "setting himself up as an authority", as you claim, or pulling rank in any way, but he knows and understands more about traditional song than most of us put together. I don't always agree with him but I read his comments with interest becase he knows what he's talking about. Being wise and well informed, or even taking an academic interest, doesn't conflict with appreciating songs or knowing what makes them enjoyable.

And when Jim says, above: "What makes traditional song accessible (IMO) is the universality and timelessness of the themes - love, injustice, anger, pride... it is this fact that moves both singer and (if it is done proficiently enough) audience and has made them last as long as they have." he absolutely nails it. If the singer is convinced and moved, the audience will be too.

Marje