If a song any song from any culture gives the artist some joy and maybe some others what does it matter. If a fake accent ruins the song, so be it don't listen .... that is what I do, walk away.    I am on record I hate rap but I spent hours in my office a month ago helping a young guy record a demo on my home recording software because some folks in the industry were interested. I didn't even know the young man but the Chamber of Commerce in my small town knew I could at least help him get a workable demo for free because he had no money and no friends and just moved into the town.   

I guess it is really good Rap .. I don't know anything about Rap but I helped him because he was a good and decent person from what i can see and wants to make his type of music. I don't have to like it, he liked it and others liked it. Would I tell a Scots he could not make a Street Rap song because he is not American ... gimme a break

Who appointed any of us on Mudcat become the authority to tell others what cultural songs people can or cannot sing.   Maeve got it right! Don't you think there is enough of this stuff already in the world.

People hate my singing and playing. Other think the songs I write are decent. It is all a matter of the listener but I can say I do it for me ... not for the public because if I like a song I don't care if it is American, Scots, Irish or from India

No we will never be able to sing a native song like a native. But absolutely saying that only a native is allowed to sing a native Folk song is like saying you better not try doing the old Blues unless you are an African American and felt the pain ...

MUSIC you see cuts through all cultures ... I like Opera also ...
I am not Italian, I learned it to understand what they were singing because the Aria's were so beautiful to me ...

I also listen to the English translations of many Aria's ... still beautiful ... but telling people that they could not sing it unless they were Italian is hate mongering and this world has enough of it to fill the seas

Thank you Maeve, as always your gentle way can make this Irish American cool down a bit

Anyway to each their own, I have ranted enough. I just wanted to bring some nice music for people to hear. I won't make that mistake again