I admit to the finger in the ear. (it's cheaper than an feedback loudspeaker as someone above remarks).

Singing through the nose however... I got choral training at school and sing from somewhere much lower! Yes I do posess and play a Bodhran. Welsh tunes mostly!

The trick of English music and indeed any song is the moment when someone under the age of say, 20 says "thats a good song, can i have the words." Then the tradition will go on