Compliment or put down?

Subject: Compliment or put down?
From: GUEST,FloraG
Date: 14 Apr 19 - 05:00 AM

We were in a session while on our hols and one singer started a sea shanty. The 4 of us of us and one other person joined in - the others didn't seem to know it - and the comment was made we sounded like Fisherman's friends.
So should we be pleased or otherwise?
FloraG.

Subject: RE: Compliment or put down?
From: Reinhard
Date: 14 Apr 19 - 05:10 AM

Did they say it smiling or with a scornful face?

Having no context of the situation and considering the fine reputation of Fisherman's Friends, I think it was a compliment.

Subject: RE: Compliment or put down?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 14 Apr 19 - 05:22 AM

Is there another group by that name, maybe?

Always loved the line in the Paul Simon song (where those lozenges are, or were then, unknown):
"My father was a fisherman / My mother was a fisherman's friend..."

Subject: RE: Compliment or put down?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 14 Apr 19 - 05:25 AM

Fisherman's Friends (the shanty group) are brilliant. Went to see them last month and watched the film about them shortly after. I like the lozenges as well :-)

Subject: RE: Compliment or put down?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 14 Apr 19 - 05:30 AM

Ahhh, there's your answer, Flora - it's clearly a compliment.

Subject: RE: Compliment or put down?
From: GUEST,bignige
Date: 14 Apr 19 - 05:46 AM

Are there real fishermen?

Subject: RE: Compliment or put down?
From: GUEST,bignige
Date: 14 Apr 19 - 05:47 AM

That should read "are they real fishermen"

Subject: RE: Compliment or put down?
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 14 Apr 19 - 05:52 AM

Playing mainly for tourists in Casey's Cabin in Baltimore, I was once told by a well-known uilleann piper that I was playing 'St Patrick's Day' wrongly. I explained that my version was as Leo Rowsome played it- he had a very distinctive version.
After a short chat about the 'tradition' we begged to differ- then he said 'well anyway, you're an entertainer, not a traditional musician'.

   I.ve never claimed to be either, but surely it's possible to be both?


I took it as a compliment anyway, even if it was meant as a put down!

Subject: RE: Compliment or put down?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 14 Apr 19 - 06:12 AM

I remember one tape op saying of Martin Carthy's voice, is that the bloke who plays Walter Gabriel...?

Subject: RE: Compliment or put down?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 14 Apr 19 - 06:13 AM

A number of the lads, the majority I'd say, are or have been involved in fishing but some are in other trades. The name of the band doesn't insinuate that they're all dyed-in-the-wool fishermen if you think about it. Port Isaac, their patch, is an important Cornish fishing village as well as a deserved tourist magnet (we avoid it in peak season though it's lovely on a nice day in April or May). What is true about them is that they're as nice and jolly a bunch of chaps as you could wish to met, and if you get two or three of them in your pub it doesn't take much to get 'em going (well, a pint of Tribute, maybe!)

Subject: RE: Compliment or put down?
From: Marje
Date: 14 Apr 19 - 09:18 AM

I'd take it as a compliment, Flora! It's quite possible that the person who said it wasn't very familiar with shanties, and FF was the obvious point of comparison, but they've done alright for themselves, so you must have been doing something right.
Marje

Subject: RE: Compliment or put down?
From: meself
Date: 14 Apr 19 - 01:41 PM

They didn't say you sounded like fishermen's enemies, so .....

Subject: RE: Compliment or put down?
From: Helen
Date: 14 Apr 19 - 03:47 PM

Hi FloraG, have you thought about joining Mudcat? I've noticed that you have posted here before.

Mudcatters are good people, mostly, except when they argue the toss about things that they get passionate about, but that is usually in the below-the-line threads, aka the BS section, aka the Breeze Shooting section.

If you would like to join, just go to the Membership link at the top of the page, just below the Quick Links box.

I've been a Mudcatter for over 20 years. It's a good, friendly music-based community.

Helen, in Australia

Subject: RE: Compliment or put down?
From: Mo the caller
Date: 14 Apr 19 - 04:11 PM

I've been wondering how the break went Flora? Which folk events did you get to. And which session was it?


There has recently been a film made about Fishermen's Friend, they were talking about it on the radio the other week.

Subject: RE: Compliment or put down?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 14 Apr 19 - 04:23 PM

The only reason most people will have heard of Fisherman's Friends, or of any living shanty singers, is because of that film. It's the only comparison they could have made.

Subject: RE: Compliment or put down?
From: GUEST,Jerry
Date: 14 Apr 19 - 06:33 PM

Yes, surely a compliment, from someone with no idea that there are plenty other shanty groups around, and arguably just as good. Whether they are fishermen or not hardly matters; I’ve sung songs about mining but have only been down a mine once, and not to earn a living.

Subject: RE: Compliment or put down?
From: Elmore
Date: 14 Apr 19 - 09:50 PM

Thought it was a cough drop.

thought it was a cpugh drop.

Subject: RE: Compliment or put down?
From: GUEST,FloraG
Date: 15 Apr 19 - 04:17 AM

Hi Mo
We made the Shroppy Fly twice and moored up at Middlewich to find out about the boat and Folk fest in June. Thanks for the tips.
The Shroppy fly on a Monday night was lovely. The new people have the lease for 5 years so there should be some continuity there. My fiddle played up - wouldn't hold its tuning on one of the pegs - but I was lent a lovely fiddle by one of the other customers.
We went to Chester and found they are quite amenable to buskers.
Middlewich was the disappointment as no one seemed to know much about any folk apart from' it happens in the peripheral pubs' ' we think there might be an open mike session'. The pub nearest to the canal had 10 bands on - none of which seemed folky. Going to try today to get a my fiddle re pegged or I'll have to bring a different instrument in June, but not sure we will bother with the canal fest.
FloraG.

Subject: RE: Compliment or put down?
From: Andy7
Date: 15 Apr 19 - 05:46 AM

This is my own personal all-time favourite compliment.

Many years ago, I was drafted in by a friend who belonged to an amateur dramatic and operatic society for their upcoming performance of 'Bless the Bride' - they needed a second footman for the drawing room scenes, as well as an additional male voice to add a bit more weight to the chorus songs. The acting required of me as a footman was mainly standing still at the back of the stage, and occasionally opening the door for one of the principals when they left the scene.

Another friend came along to watch one of the performances. When I met him for drink afterwards, he was obviously trying to think of some compliment he could give me; and eventually, he came up with:

"I thought you were the better of the two footmen."

Subject: RE: Compliment or put down?
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 15 Apr 19 - 05:48 AM

Subject: RE: Compliment or put down?
From: GUEST,Jim Knowledge
Date: 15 Apr 19 - 05:58 AM

I `ad that Flora G in my cab the other day. She `ad a very puzzled look on `er face, just as if she didn`t know what to do with a drunken sailor.
I said , " Morning Flo. I see you `ave been on that Mudcat again. All about whether you was given a compliment or not for your singing."
She said, " That`s right Jim. We didn't know whether they were taking the rise or not."
I said, " Was you all girls singing?"
She said, "Oh yeah, Jim. There was me, Annie, Jean and Kath."
I said, " Well Flo, if they thought you sounded like "Fisherman`s Friends" I recommend you all take some throat pastels!!"


Whaddam I Like??

Subject: RE: Compliment or put down?
From: GUEST,Jerry
Date: 15 Apr 19 - 06:28 AM

I had a similar early drama experience as a footman in Measure for Measure, but removing the Duke’s chair, after he had vacated it, that is. Father said I was very good, but each time I slowly and carefully lifted the chair, the audience could read ‘Scout Troop Property’ emblazoned in white paint on the underside.

Subject: RE: Compliment or put down?
From: Mo the caller
Date: 15 Apr 19 - 07:37 AM

Flora, I thought the same about Middlewich FF in the past, OK if you want to go to 'big name' concerts, or watch Morris dancers. There may be sessions but not always easy to find out about, and you can hang around in a pub with one guitar strumming singer song writer, when you really want to play tunes.
Glad you enjoyed the Shroppie, did the other fiddler also play hurdy gurdy? They are a nice crowd there.

Subject: RE: Compliment or put down?
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 15 Apr 19 - 08:53 AM

My favourite compliment/put down was from my Greek guitarist friend Yorgos who said: "Roger don't sing so good but he sing with feeling" ,which he regarded as a good thing. I'll take that!
RtS

Subject: RE: Compliment or put down?
From: beachcomber
Date: 15 Apr 19 - 12:09 PM

Andy 7 my sides are still hurting !!!

Subject: RE: Compliment or put down?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 15 Apr 19 - 07:27 PM

Roy Bailey came to Bude one night to play what was a very poorly-attended gig. We'd all dutifully done our floor spots before his set (which, it needn't be said, was totally magnificent). Later, he said to one of my mates, "Why isn't Steve playing the harmonica on lots of people's' records!"


Oh, oshkosh, thought I! ;-)

Subject: RE: Compliment or put down?
From: Mr Red
Date: 16 Apr 19 - 03:21 AM

I sang a new song wot I wrote in Wellington NZ. It was a plea to a friend in the UK to keep going. She had tried to commit suicide a couple of times, and I was 11,000 miles away. I had sent it back to her.

Eilidh

Two lassies came up to me afterwards and said the song was right. Just that, not good or such. Believe me that was a real compliment.

We lost touch after I came back to the UK, I represent a phase in her life she has left behind. But I like to think my song did its small but important duty..

Subject: RE: Compliment or put down?
From: GUEST,FloraG
Date: 18 Apr 19 - 02:38 PM

I think I was mostly surprised at how few of the folkies joined in. Are there some clubs/ sessions where shanties are not sung? ( Known)
I didn't think we sounded anything like Fisherman's friends - 3 female voices in a chorus of 6
I think I am a bit prejudiced against female voices singing shanties anyway - even if we could all sing. I think of it as a ' man thing' - this is from someone who used to ride a motorbike and always supported equality. The last of my prejudices?
FloraG

Subject: RE: Compliment or put down?
From: Mo the caller
Date: 18 Apr 19 - 05:17 PM

Well, some of the words of some shanties sound a bit off to my ear, coming from a woman's mouth (though I suppose I should be more offended at them sung by a man).

Subject: RE: Compliment or put down?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 19 Apr 19 - 05:16 AM

My husband comes from a large family, where giving one kid praise would be seen as showing favouritism. The best compliment I or either our 2 offspring can ever get from him is - very grudgingly - "Well, that wasn't bad".