Thanks for your responses guys, Alan's seems to be particularly insightful. Just to clear a few things up, I wasn't asking whether you thought the singers on that list were good or not, whether they were folk or not or whatever- I simply chose them because they are amongst the post popular I could think of, within the folk genre. If you don't agree with them; that's fine, just tell me about the singers you do like and why!

Secondly, I wasn't asking for a critique on why I do or don't sing badly. I don't try to emulate others, at this point, because I am only just used to getting myself in tune and in time; that is enough for me. I am simply interested in what it is, generally, that makes a good singer. However, I do think learning to imitate others is a great way of exercising your skill, learning new skills and finding your own style- in whatever you're trying to do, whether it be art or sport or anything. Also, I was looking at this from a singing point of view more than a folk point of view. I focussed it more around folk because obviously, this is a folk forum! :)

I have another question now though...what is "soul"? Does the singer need both soul and technique? Or is the soul simply enough?

Quite honestly, I don't think if Sandy Denny or June Tabor or whoever sang flat, with no rhythm and boring ornaments, they'd be half as popular- soul or no soul.

I do agree though that putting some story, some "feel" into a song is very important. I'm not trying to cause an argument, I'm just trying to explore different types of thought.

Thanks :)
S. x