I too believe in singing with conviction- for those moments I will be in happy love or devastated with loss or looking forward to heaven where all will be well through eternity.

Some years ago a band formed in Juneau, Alaska, that featured country music. Problem was that they performed tongue in cheek, and I didn't like it.

I spoke to their lead singer about it and she said that in Juneau their approach was the only one that would work in Juneau, a town and community that tends toward jazz and rock and a *little* folk.

I still disagree with that view.