The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #126930   Message #2825696
Posted By: Marje
30-Jan-10 - 02:09 PM
Thread Name: Songs you shouldn't sing in UK folk club
Subject: RE: Songs you shouldn't sing in UK folk club
I'd also be wary of doing any "funny" song if you're not in familiar surroundings. If it happens to be one that's been done regularly by a local singer, it won't be funny to the listeners now, just boring.

I think it's very sensible and sensitive, autoharpbob, to ask this question rather than waste your efforts on a song that's just too familiar and tired to appeal to your audience. The list you have would be valid in most folk clubs; they're not "banned" but probably not very welcome in many places where they've been done to death. I'd add "Streets of London", "Cockles and Mussels", "Leaving of Liverpool" and "She Moved Through the Fair" - none of them bad songs, but all a bit over-exposed in many areas.

Having said that, if you should find yourself in a public bar where singing takes place in the presence of non-folkies, most of the "don't sing" songs are the ones they'll ask for and enjoy most.

Marje