Good insights. There probably is no real answer to that question since it is so subjective. I might not always be able to say exactly why I like a particular singer - I think it's just a question of whether they connect with the audience or not.

I am curious about how the traditional singing contests are usually judged. I sometimes see in the instructions, for example "Choose two contrasting Scottish songs". Does that mean, for example, a Bothy Ballad and a Border Ballad, an up tempo song and a slow song, a happy song and a fast song?????