The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #29310   Message #371176
Posted By: GUEST,Mark. West Sussex. UK
08-Jan-01 - 06:43 PM
Thread Name: Essential Robbie Burns
Subject: RE: Essential Robbie Burns
Careful Eric-o. Doing a Burns Night can be tricky. The Scots are just about the most compicated audience what with Highland/Lowland and Clan complications. Avoid political songs like "Ye Jacobites by name" and its converse "Cam ye oe'r frae France". You'll have both parties in your audience. I would avoid "Parcel o' Rogues" for the same reason. Tug at the heartstrings with old favourites like "Leezy Linday", "The Weavin's no for you", "Land o' the Leal", "Mingulay Boat Song", "Jock Stuart" and such. (Ok so we've bought in the likes of Lady Nairn and such there, but it is the songs they love. There is now a superb CD collection by great Scots artists of the complete Burns Collection. Check out Dick Gaughan's and the McCalman's Web sites if you need lyrics etc. Listen to Crobh Rua's version of "A man's a man.." before daring to sing it. Finally, you will be plied with endless drams from audience. Find a way of politely and discretely disposing of them. Do not refuse them or drink them. Either way you won't finish your set intact. Good Luck Hin!