Jack the Sailor,

I think your opinions are fine. My opinions are fine. The idea that you are asking me to "justify" my opinions to you, in order to "prove" my authority to you, by revealing my job status to you, is ludicrous.

If I said I was Tommy Thompson or Condoleeza Rice, would you agree with me? I don't think so.

So let me ask you this: How does being a sailor qualify you to speak with authority about songwriting, poetry writing, or Ani's song?

"Because it sells" is NOT the standard by which I decide what is a good or great song.

Test of time, how many artists cover the song, how well it speaks to universal human experiences (rather than nagging rants to a converted choir, which is what a lot of Ani's songs do) are the standards *I* use to judge a song.

If going by units sold is your standard by which you judge a song, then I'm sure this song will evenutally work well for you.

Caveat: the public is not known for being excellent arbiters of taste.