I love my long ballads.

In a world where everybody has barely enough time to listen to three verses and a chorus they are such marvelous time-sinks.

In a world of Priuses they are Oldsmobile Delta 88's.

They are behemoths from another world.

What's not to like?

I can't explain my love, just acknowledge it.
But that's what makes it love.

I am not a performer.

Even if I were a performer I probably wouldn't do my long ballads.
Everything that I love about them would be viewed negatively by a ballad-averse audience.

So I sing them to myself. They're much better than radio when I am driving.

I am lucky enough to have a small circle of like minded friends
We call ourselves the ballad addicted.

We meet irregularly.
Our motto is more is better.

We're happy to sing three or four different versions of the same ballad back to back.
We once sang the same 30 verse ballad 3 times in three different keys to determine once and for all which key we preferred.

I should mention that I don't learn ballads. I learn specific versions.
I have found that if I love a version, it is not a big deal to learn it.
But, since I learn specific versions I am reluctant to make any changes.
I am not one for "improving".
However, problems occur when I mix my versions.

Don't let the nay sayers get you down.

Russ (Permanent GUEST)