Of course performers should be free to interpret a song as they wish, but that doesn't prevent their audience from having preferences.

I think I know what Norma was getting at: it's possible to spoil a traditional song by overdoing the interpretation of it, and sentimentalising it. Norma herself is enormously expressive in the way she sings, but that's not the same thing. It's difficult to put your finger on what the difference is, but I know it when I see it. I think maybe the songs themselves carry so much of the feeling that to add too much in the way of acting just gets in the way. The singer needs to be totally engaged with the song, but this doesn't need to be demonstrated in an over-enthusiastic way. It depends partly on the singer's own style and personality, too - look at Norma and Martin for a very contrasting pair of singers.

It's a bit different when we move into the music-hall repertoire, or some comic songs, but many of the straight traditional songs and ballads just don't benefit from too much embellishment by the singer.

Marje