I guess the real question is what makes a song appealing to us in the first place? For me, honesty is a big factor. Library of Congress field recordings often appeal to me though I don't often try to interpret that material for an audience. When I do decide to learn a song to perform, it's often because I've been attracted to a particular performance of the song by someone else. When that is the case, I usually try to come as close to that performance as I can when reinterpreting the song.

songs like “Lazy Bones” and “Polly Wolly Doodle” never appealed to me until I heard them done by Leon Redbone. I don't sing those but I do still enjoy hearing them. Don Redman's “Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You” wouldn't have made my list until I heard it done by Jim Kweskin's Jug Band and Kweskin's arrangement was actually pretty close to Redman's.

In addition to honesty and presentation, the way a song expresses it's message is often important to me. I've always been drawn to the archaic modes of expression found in Southern Appalachian music some of which has carried over into bluegrass. But I'm also drawn to humorous expression of pain found in the blues.

Musically, I'm drawn to blues, bluegrass, traditional jazz and bebop; music with interesting rhythm and scales. I really don't like new age or any songs that are just too pretty or too cute. I never learn pop material, or even listen to it for that matter. When I see the names of current pop singers I'm reminded that I can't name a single one of their songs and wouldn't even recoginze their voices over a radio. I'm not opposed to what they do, I simply have no interest.

As a consequence, the songs I sing come from all over the map, both musically and geographically. Each one is chosen for a different reason: musical appeal, poetic expression, historical or cultural importance and sometimes just because it worked its way into my head a very long time ago and is one I can still remember.

      - Mark