There are a million "attitudes and latitudes" to this thread and they're all different - and each as valid as the other.

My feeling is that by the grace of God I have been given a voice and the ability to play an instrument (no matter how poorly!) which allows me to put smiles on the faces of people, most of whom I don't really know - and that's a good thing; but, personally, I don't think it is about "me" when I'm on stage - it's about the communion between the singer and the audience that is bridged by the song. So,
from my perspective it is the song, and the sharing of the emotion it generates when performed, that really matters.

I just did a Celtic festival recently and on the tent stage, the pub stage, one of the main stages and the children's stage I asked for requests if the audience members "knew" or "thought" that I might know the song they wanted to hear - and it worked out just fine.

It is certainly true that I'd much rather sing, "Fires of Calais" than do another round of "Wild Rover," or "Whiskey In The Jar," but when a little six-year old charmer comes up to request "Whiskey...," well, I just cannot refuse. Nor can I refuse the guy who always makes it to my stage and wants to hear Irish "rebel" songs; as long as it won't upset the show flow and the audience (a judgement call here) will buy it - I'm good for it.

Besides, I've got songs on my only solo disc that I'm not so fond of anymore, but folks still want to hear them and do request them; and, if I do one of those songs as a request, why who knows, maybe I'll sell another - Lord knows I have enough laying around. How about a few words from someone else now? Cheers,.................mwh