We who are interested in traditional song are always being told that it is dying out and 'no longer relevant' (whatever that means!). Back in the 1880s (I think) Flora Thompson, in her book 'Lark Rise to Candleford' wrote of how the singers of the old songs were being rapidly phased out by singers of music hall songs (the 'pop' songs of that era). Nevertheless a singer who she called 'Old David' was always rolled out to sing 'The Outlandish Knight' on special occasions.
Just last week (Nov 2004) a mate of mine stood up and sang a version of the 'Outlandish Knight' that I had never heard before - and it still gave me a buzz, even though I have heard many versions and know the story backwards. Such songs have tendency to endure, whilst music hall and punk and other such commercial fodder for sheep-like fashion victims pass rapidly into oblivion. At the end of the day its quality that counts - ephemeral popularity means very little - 'eat s..t - 10 million flies can't be wrong'!