What songs can you sing in a folk club?

Subject: RE: BS: What songs can you sing in a folk club?
From: Steve in Idaho
Date: 17 Oct 01 - 05:08 PM

I play a lot of old time fiddle stuff. These old guys get upset if anyone even thinks about changing a note! Has to be their way or the highway!!

Saturday night at one of the local pickin sessions a young banjo picker from the Carolinas turned to a near 90 year old fiddler and asked him, "When the heck are you going to learn to play that thing?" We all nearly fell off our stools laughing so hard!!

Ya gotta have fun with this stuff!!!!

Steve

McGrath has it dead on!! My hero for the day!

Subject: RE: BS: What songs can you sing in a folk club?
From: GUEST,greenmantwo
Date: 17 Oct 01 - 05:57 PM

The bottom line is - sing what ever you like (or can remember ?!?)- my own song selection criteria is based upon the mood of the club that I am attending. If every song has been a "Slit your wrists" type then I will try changing the mood by singing something funny, likewise if all the songs are humorous - then I'll sing a "hanging" song (eg."McPhearson's Farewell")

ALWAYS SING SONGS THAT YOU LIKE !!!

The most outrageous song that I sing is [to a very mixed response ?!?] "Benny the Bouncer" by Emerson, Lake & Palmer, from the album "Brain Salad Surgery" - If I can get away with that one - then anything is possible !!

PS. - Try singing "Hangman/Prickly Holly Bush" in calypso style, it's easier than you'd think, it's a joy to sing and the folkies love it (and it is Traditional) !!

Subject: RE: BS: What songs can you sing in a folk club?
From: Jim the Bart
Date: 17 Oct 01 - 06:18 PM

The older I get, the more I realize that it really doesn't matter what you play and sing, if you do it well and it comes from the heart. The rest is just tricks and show biz.

Subject: RE: BS: What songs can you sing in a folk club?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 17 Oct 01 - 07:29 PM

And hey, if Lyle can cancel with only days notice.......

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: What songs can you sing in a folk club?
From: Mudshark1
Date: 18 Oct 01 - 12:09 AM

I do a lot of solo work now that it's hard to play with bands.Unfortunately DJ's are winning the war.SOOOOOOOO' I decided to buy a 12 string Rickenbacker,along with my electrics and acoustics and do things my way for a change. Honestly,Roger Mcguinn,Jimmy Buffet,Paul Simon, Kenny Loggins and James Taylor still go over well.I did a rendition of "Daylight Again/Find The Cost Of Freedom " by CSandN.Jackson Brown is excellent.Of course I'm 40 something so I come from many directions with experience.Hope this helps you out.All Thee Best,Mudshark1

Subject: RE: BS: What songs can you sing in a folk club?
From: Mudshark1
Date: 18 Oct 01 - 12:28 AM

In August,I sang a John Sebastien song"She's a Lady".I made eye contact with this sweet lady about 40 I would say.I feel in love with her as the song touched her heart. It was kind of like"Good Vibrations".I did all I could from going over to introduce myself but rememberd that I am married.Unhappily mind you but married.I need to be loved so bad that it hurts.Now I'm forty something and shouldn't be thinking of these things. I usually have a lot of chances but I stop myself. This time I really regret talking to this lovely woman.I think about it day and night. Sort of Mesmirized by her.In a way sorry I didn't do something.She left by the time I finished the next set but managed to sing a song by England Dan and John Ford Coley"It's sad to belong".That did it.I sang it with tears in my eyes as she left the room to go home. Thanks for listening,Mudshark

Subject: RE: BS: What songs can you sing in a folk club?
From: Sir Roger de Beverley
Date: 18 Oct 01 - 11:41 AM

I've always believed it to be a self evident truth that a good song is a good song whatever tradition it comes from. You can't tell me that "I don't like Mondays" isn't just as valid social comment as "The Trimdon Grange Explosion" or that "Let him go let him tarry" isn't a put down of a lover in the same way as "That'll be the day" is.

My attitude to this probably stems from the fact that I have been going to folk clubs since 1964 and was exposed to Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley and the Beatles shortly before encountering traditional and contemporary folk. Also in 1964/5 I would see, say, Ewann Macoll on Thursday night at the folk club and then, 500 yards away in another pub The Rats(who became The Spiders From Mars) on the Friday and then go to listen to some jazz on the Monday in yet another pub.– ah, those were the days.

One of my current party pieces is to play a medley of "Diamonds on the soles of her shoes"(Paul Simon) and "Words of love"(Buddy Holly) as an example of the folk process – try it and see how you can interchange verses or even alternate lines without breaking rhythm.

Roger

Subject: RE: BS: What songs can you sing in a folk club?
From: GUEST,KingBrilliant
Date: 07 Nov 01 - 11:56 AM

Stand by.... Hammerite is planning to do "Pretty Vacant" complete with electric guitar tonight at the open mic. I'm drafted in to help (but only allowed accoustic guitar). We plan to sing the first verse very sweet & folkie, then THRASH....
Then I'll take her home & tuck her into bed - it's school in the morning.

Kris

Subject: RE: BS: What songs can you sing in a folk club?
From: lady penelope
Date: 07 Nov 01 - 12:18 PM

At the Wareham wail, someone sang Sting's "Fields of Gold" and it worked beautifully. I think the main thing to take note of, is what the session is actually like. Is it rabidly traditional, is there a general sense of humour about the place, what have other people been singing, how bored do people look, has any body actually fallen asleep yet ( not including Bob at the wail, it appears he really can sleep through anything ).

I agree, never bother sining songs you don't like. But do pay attention to what your voice is like and what it can handle. I'm an alto and there are some songs I adore but they don't sound all that when I bring them down to my pitch. I would love to do some of the talking blues type stuff but I just sound stupid trying to do an american accent and they don't even sound funny when performed with a thames estuary accent.

TTFN M'Lady P.

Subject: RE: BS: What songs can you sing in a folk club?
From: GUEST,JohnB
Date: 07 Nov 01 - 12:42 PM

Surely this is what seperates the greats from the also rans. If you are losing the audience, you don't do 347 verses of Robin Hood and Friar Tuck, you don't do Somewhere over the Rainbow either. You may win them back with a 60's Rock'n'Rolly thing though. You have to read the audience to see what you can get away with, by all means stretch the boundaries from end to end. Try 53 Vincent Black Lightning in a really Trad club, it has All the elements of a Ballad, or Martin Said to his Man in a contemprory environment. I remember a guy back in England years ago who threw in a few Buddy Holly songs now and again, always went down well. Boldly go where no folk have been before. Good Luck, you may need it. JohnB

Subject: RE: BS: What songs can you sing in a folk club?
From: gnomad
Date: 07 Nov 01 - 05:47 PM

Not a hard line trad joint, but the Tap at Whitby UK open session on Sunday managed a decent performance of what I understand was Mustang Sally (new to me I'm afraid) performed by 4 roaming Goths in full regalia. The point for me was that they performed for the joy of the thing and the pleasure of those there. The regular musicians seemed to be enjoying the change of pace/style.

Was it folk? Not by my reckoning. Was it fun as a novelty item? You bet!

Subject: RE: BS: What songs can you sing in a folk club?
From: 53
Date: 07 Nov 01 - 08:21 PM

why don't you sing them some john mellencamp that'll get em moving. BOB

Subject: RE: BS: What songs can you sing in a folk club?
From: GUEST,KB
Date: 08 Nov 01 - 05:02 AM

Bah! Hammerite wimped out. She decided bed looked more inticing than the pub, so she didn't come out. That was lucky though as the organiser didn't turn up, so we had no PA.
We had a lovely night just all singing & playing together though. We had everything from classical guitar to a group rendition of Doh a Deer (accompanied by a lecture on how all music comes from the Sol Fah..)
Folk - innit wonderful?

Kris

Subject: RE: BS: What songs can you sing in a folk club?
From: Uncle Steve
Date: 08 Nov 01 - 12:08 PM

Hey, Landola... I've lately been doing this sort of odd Lou Reed type treatment of "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend" with the guitar all choked down and a low speaking voice, then sneak into "Diamonds on the Souls of Her Shoes" and gradually opening it up. Kinda fun, quirky, get's a couple of smiles from the listeners paying attention.

I once played at a (what I think is fairly snooty) rabid "acoustic only, preferably traditional" coffee house, where I pulled off a decent rendition of Bruce Cockburn's reworking of Blind Willie Johnson's "Soul of a Man." Now, even given that last sentence and the concept that it was two or three iterations away from the "original" it is still a damned good tune and takes some effort to play well. Anyway, the audience was polite but subdued, and last nail in the coffin was that I was followed by a regular favorite who sang an original tune consisting mostly of coyote howls over a I-IV-V waltz. Crowd went nuts.

Go figure.

Subject: RE: BS: What songs can you sing in a folk club?
From: SharonA
Date: 08 Nov 01 - 04:23 PM

Way up there somewhere in the thread, Cas asked, "Now what do you do if you have NEVER sung before???"

I'm not sure how to interpret the question (which, of course, affects the answer!): do you mean "if you have never sung at the particular folk club before", "if you have never sung at any folk club before", "if you have never sung in public with everyone else listening before" or "if you have never sung any song in your life before, even alone in the shower"?

Subject: RE: BS: What songs can you sing in a folk club?
From: Micca
Date: 08 Nov 01 - 07:43 PM

Cas, if it is from SharonAs list ", "if you have never sung at any folk club before" ah av a change of underwear and alemon handy,, habving only crossed this particular bridge earlier in the year.. The change of shreddies is obvious, the lemon is th wipe the smile off your face!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: What songs can you sing in a folk club?
From: Suffet
Date: 08 Nov 01 - 09:14 PM

David Kleiman, the MC at the New York Pinewoods Folk Music Club's monthly traditional music open microphone likes to say, "Anything goes, as long as it's legal." We offer a venue where traddies are both welcome and appreciated, but we in no way insist that all songs be traditional. In fact, we are surprised if we don't draw a decent share of singer-songwriters.

The one time my wife and I went to the singers' open night at Sharp's Folk Club in London, we had a great time. I did a song I wrote myself to a traditional Irish tune, a Woody Guthrie song ("Hard Traveling"), and a traditional American song ("In the Pines" or "Black Girl"). All were really well received.

--- Steve

Subject: RE: BS: What songs can you sing in a folk club?
From: Wotcha
Date: 08 Nov 01 - 09:54 PM

When you are stuck in the middle of the desert with a bunch of expats with diverse musical talent, you get a wonderful variety of songs. In Kuwait, we had everything from manic accordian to Beatles and of course, sea chanteys. We had songs in Greek, Gaelic, and Afrikaans. Depending on the setting some songs go over better than others.
Just to liven up our local chantey sings, I am working on a song of the sea set to the tune of "Dominque" (the Singing Nun/Soeur Sourire) ... I've got the chorus down, just need some verses:

Jacque, Jacque, Jacques Tar
He is a sailor blue,
He sails the seven seas
He drinks his grog,
Before he's outward bound
And likes his women round

[I know ... don't quit my day job...]


Cheers,
Brian

Subject: RE: BS: What songs can you sing in a folk club?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 09 Nov 01 - 02:50 AM

Micca - it won't work, Cas eats lemons like they were oranges.... She would drink vinegar for a laugh and likes weirder stuff than I do!!

Cas, whatever you sing, be happy about it. They will know if you don't like the song you are singing. And you can have one of mine if you like...

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: What songs can you sing in a folk club?
From: Ralphie
Date: 09 Nov 01 - 03:57 AM

After the week I've just had...
This thread has just confirmed my belief in the (in)sanity of people.
I haven't laughed so much for a long time. Thank you all!
Conclusions?....We are all human, and we are all still here. Let's be grateful for that.
Yes, we'll fight, moan, love, hate, cheer, cry....etc.
But
We all still care about humanity, long mat it continue
Love Ralphie...xx
PS...Jury's still out on Achy Brakey Heart though...

Subject: RE: BS: What songs can you sing in a folk club?
From: Ralphie
Date: 09 Nov 01 - 04:03 AM

Memo to Self...
Go to typing school..."Long Mat??"
At least it wasn't " Long Lankin"
R x

Subject: RE: BS: What songs can you sing in a folk club?
From: Jingle
Date: 09 Nov 01 - 06:58 AM

Hi gnomad - I was there too at the Tap on Sunday night and I thought the Goths were great. It didn't go down well with everyone present but I for one was belting out "ride Sally ride" with them. It's a great compliment when you sing to people and then they in turn sing to you.