Well Santa, if you come down my chimney this Christmas you'll go straight back up it with your mince pie and Rudolph's carrot shoved firmly up your arse for that crock of shit.

Unlike you, I had absolutely no intention whatsoever of insulting anyone - I was merely expressing my view (as I'm perfectly entitled in this free forum) that a song is a song, period, and that just because it may have been composed by A. Non several centuries ago doesn't mean its any more or less relevant that some (and I repeat, some, not all by any means) of the songs that have been written in the past forty years.

However, I do confess to introducing an element of drift into the thread, so abuse me for that if you like, but don't abuse me for having an opinion.

I have no personal preference for either 'Traditional' or 'Contemporary' songs, I listen to and perform songs of both genres with equal enjoyment and respect for those whose work they are (including those by A. Non). Neither do I sneer at those who do have a preference - it's their right.

As regards the 'current songwriters whose material has been declared Traditional already... I don't think that they're best pleased generally', I suspect that one of them is a fine writer and performer from Grimsby whom I know personally, and I feel pretty confident that he, at least, doesn't give a bugger as long as his songs are performed and heard.

Happy Christmas.
Johnny