We have had a community sing here that meets over the noon hour once a week. It is lead by two experienced and talented folk musicians who also provide the "house band" with their instruments. For almost a couple of years now it has been a lot of fun. I often bring a new song to the group, but mostly it is songs in a loose-leaf notebook - a wide range from pop to Beetles, to Hank Williams, to folk, and everything in between. Recently there have been some who insist that every song be a "happy song." For example, we sang 'Where Have All the Flowers Gone' and then someone pointedly said "now let's sing a HAPPY SONG!" (this sort of response has occurred several times recently). The next time all the "sad songs" were taken out of the notebook. And I was told that the people who came were not used to singing "folk songs" - whatever that term means - and were just there to be happy. That struck me as very strange, and took most of my enjoyment out of coming. And I certainly didn't want to be the one who might bring a somewhat sad folk song (Utah Phillips' "Orphan Train" was considered too sad) to the group, or try leading a song that they had already thrown out of the list. I don't know what to make of this. It's not something I want to continue to do. It was a good while it lasted, but not now. So I guess I will try something else. Still I'm puzzled and... bewildered, S. in Seattle
|