"Lots of definitions exist Jim."
None that are widely accepted or documented - any half with can make up a definition to suit themsselves
That you were not around at the time and have shown little interest is obvious - the name is Sharp - not Sharpe
The fact that this definition is old is the point surely - if we discarded definitions because we were "not around" we would burn every single dictionary on the shelves
I really am not interested in continuing this dialogue with you Muskett - you have shown your contempt for both the tradition and the older "tit-trousers" in the past and I have no intention of giving you a platform to repeat your performance.
You want to show Bob Geldof can write folk songs, give us an accepted definition that covers that imaginative phenomenon
The question here is "What is Happening to our Folk Clubs" - I would say without hesitation that your input is a pretty good representation of what is happening - the club scene has lost its way and "folk" has ceased to be a factor in what is happening in many clubs.
Add to that, Al's earlier point that people find folk songs too hard to sing and you have a scene that if heading for the buffers at high speed
We had no trouble singing our way though long ballads in the past, ornamentation came when we worked at it and interpretation was a formality to many singers
I've seen club audiences down in the bar arguing about the merits and demerits of one version of a ballad compared to another - the scene both from the performers and the audiences point of view, appeared to be going somewhere - but we did have a level of agreement as to what we meant by "folk song" then and we did set an acceptable standard of performance for our clubs
There is no need for the clubs to die if they respect the music and set standards - not doing so is self-harm
Al
Every song you write is subject to PRS and is protected by copyright should you wish to register it.
Up to now, folk song proper is immune to that law but if the term "folk" continues to become meaningless every club in the land with have to stump up the cash to pay the PRS and IMRO sharks for the right to sing the songs that are our heritage
Most of us are not in it for the money and the few that are have created the sword of Damocles that hangs over the clubs
I asked about Geldof - you didn't reply
How about putting out "Monday" on a commercial disc and see whether your feet touch the ground.
The law actually says that a song is protected by law for 70 years after being first made public - that we should all live so long!!
Jim Carroll