'Owned' songs

Subject: RE: 'Owned' songs
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 20 Jan 18 - 06:14 AM

i suppose you could practise it in private and then wait for the singer to die, before trespassing on his territory.

you might have to wait a while. if you really didn't want to hurt their feelings, but you were desperate to sing the song - you could murder him.

there are several quite effective poisons available in most English gardens or on the shelves of your local hardware store.

Subject: RE: 'Owned' songs
From: GUEST,Fyldeplayer
Date: 20 Jan 18 - 06:12 AM

Over christmas we performed the Innocents. Turned out a local performer has family connections to the poem writer. They were very kind to give us an ok even though they sing it ( we didn't know ). Slightly different 'own'. When you find a professional has covered a song you have also 'discovered ' - Downeaster by Billy Joel that I found on cassette many years ago and Reunion Hill by Richard Shindell from a CD lent by friend. Nice to know I share musical tastes but the constant " you nicked that from SOH " is annoying. I now check on youtube what has been 'folked' .

Subject: RE: 'Owned' songs
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 20 Jan 18 - 05:26 AM

Another aspect of this is from the question of what to do when someone sings a song that your own group normally does, in particular the fact that you have to listen to their version before joining in the chorus with your "normal" harmony. It may not fit with their interpretation, or it may enhance it.
Happened last night for me when Gary and Vera sang "Icy Acres"; I just had to change one note.

Robin

Subject: RE: 'Owned' songs
From: GUEST,SteveT
Date: 20 Jan 18 - 05:15 AM

I wouldn't dream of singing a song I knew was a "party piece" of another member of a session I was at, it just seems to be bad manners to me. Of course, I learn all my songs by ear so I must have "stolen" them from someone at some time but I wait until I'm in a different location from the original singer before I air them in public.   (Luckily I seem to have moved about every 10 years or so making this feasible - I don't know what would have happened if I'd lived in the same place all my life.)   As for what to sing when you go to a session/location new to you; I tend to have a set of songs that I know are not commonly sung, some I've made up myself and some are just less well-known songs.

Subject: RE: 'Owned' songs
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 20 Jan 18 - 05:08 AM

I guess when visiting a different club, if asked if you want to perform, you should perform whatever song you feel happy doing at the time. Even if the song you sing is done there regularly, they will recognise that you are not aware of that and make allowances. If your version is not as good as the other persons, people will still applaud you with encouragement because that is 'the thing to do'. If in a club you regularly attend a particular singer is missing and you want to sing one of his/her songs... why not~? Of course if you're brave enough!!!! . I accept that certain members of some clubs become entrenched in their own 'routines' and 'traditions' but I believe that most 'Folkies' are generous with their patience and understanding.

Subject: RE: 'Owned' songs
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 20 Jan 18 - 03:54 AM

Nothing new in this
Among traditional singing circles it was a common courtesy not to sing the songs os certain respected local singers
Both Harry Cox and Sam Larner referred to this practice - Harry Cox described how he didn't sing some songs he had known for a long time until the 'owner' died
Walter Pardon held the opposite view - he was reproached by a local man one for 'giving his songs away' to collectors
He replied, "they're not my songs, they're everybody's - if you don't let others have them they'll die with you"
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: 'Owned' songs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 19 Jan 18 - 08:05 PM

Here in our song circle in California, we have one singer who was born in Scotland, and one who was born in Kent. Both of them (Holdstock and MacLeod) are excellent singers - and both are very supportive of us younger American singers (Well, not so young). BUT - Despite their support, I'm apprehensive about singing English and Scottish songs, particularly the songs that they sing.

Sooooo - I save those songs up for the times when they're not there, although sometimes I'll sing one of "their" songs to honor them and show off what I've learned from them. But when I sing one of "their" songs, I make a point of saying that I'm singing it for them, to show that I'm learning. I think that both of them enjoy being recognized as mentors for the rest of us. And both of them are so darn nice.

I also seem to like songs sung by Judy Cook of the Folklore Society of Greater Washington. Her songs fit my vocal range very well, and I like her taste in music. Since she's moved to Ohio, I don't see her as often, but we still end up at camp together sometimes. Same thing. I don't usually sing "her" songs when she's around, but sometimes I sing them to show what I've learned from her. That seems to work well.

-Joe-

Subject: 'Owned' songs at folk clubs
From: Andy7
Date: 19 Jan 18 - 06:49 PM

In many folk clubs, there are songs that are, in a certain sense, 'owned' by one of the regular members.

Not songs that they've composed themselves - these are self-evidently 'owned' by the people that wrote them - but traditional or popular songs that they've sung so often, and usually so well, that other members would feel very awkward about trying the song themselves, especially if the song 'owner' is present.

I've sometimes wondered, what is the protocol here?

If I fancy singing, say, 'Rose of Allendale' one evening, but it's always been sung (really well) by Gillian at least once a month, and no one else ever sings it, could I give it a go? And could I give it a go if Gillian is actually there?

Suppose I mess it up, and at the same time stop her sharing with everyone her version, the one that everyone always enjoys? Or suppose, maybe even worse, I do it well, and some people actually prefer my rendition of the song?

And in another situation entirely ... what should I do if, maybe during a holiday in a different part of the country, I take in a session of a folk club that I've never been to before?

Should I be wary of singing any song, unless it's really obscure or self-penned, just in case I take away an 'owned' song from a regular folk club member?