One problem I have with most (not all) modern singer/songwriters is that a lot of their songs are as if they're reading their sappy diaries to the public. With few exceptions, diaries are meaningful only to their authors (unless of course they contain some really titilating stuff - just kidding). The songs may be meaningful to the songwriter but very few songs can strike a universal emotional chord - for lack of a better expression. I think the traditional songs that survive have lasted so long because they have accomplished this one way or another. One evening this week I went to a local place where it was singer/songwriter open mike night. All the songs were basically similar - angst and relationship woes, etc. One girl started off with "When I wrote this song I was MAD!" and then started wailing something like "I'm mad....oh I'm so angry....". I just couldn't make myself care!