Ever heard the joke: What's the difference between a singer/songwriter and a puppy? Answer: The puppy eventually stops whining.

My take on the singer/songwriter issue is that it is not a simple black and white situation. Obviously there are excellent singer/songwriters out there but some of them are so wrapped up in themselves that it makes them uncomfortable to listen to. Some of them try hard to be unique but end up uniquely boring.

The reason traditional music is so good is the old folk process. Every song had an author at some point but as it passes from person to person and gets changed here and there the end result is the best of the best, the survival of the fittest, so to speak.

Of course, the other side of the coin is that we envy the singer/songwriter because we wish we could write songs too. And, I suppose, the process of learning to write music means that some of your creations will be less than perfect, if not downright awful.

I also feel that, especially here in the States, there is too much focus on the individual. Everyone wants to be uniquely different and there is sometimes little attention payed to tradition. I see that sometimes in Irish instrumental music, for example. Some Americans who compose Irish music use the wierdest progressions and note movements in an attempt to be different instead of writing within the tradition. I'm not saying that new is bad but there's a range of what works and what doesn't.

Oh, well, enough of my ramblings. I hope I've added something to this discussion.

Regards to all,
radriano