Ron S

When singing those old songs, do you prefer to sing them the way they sound on old recordings or do you prefer to annunciate the words? What sounds best in your opinion?

Wojapi4Me

Older word songs are slurred a lot more than today's word songs. The newer words songs gained popularity in Canada back in the 1980s and are much more enunciated. I like both equally, but when singing old songs I sing them the old way. Sing the songs the way they were composed.

__________________
If pro is the opposite of con, then wouldn't progress be the opposite of...lol

Ron S

Agreed Singerdad. I much prefer the sound of the old songs when somewhat slurred.

Having said that, even the old songs have changed some over time. Case in point: When Earl Fenner recorded his interviews with Harry Buffalohead back in the 80's, Harry stated on several occassions that some songs are now being sung differently from the way the old people sang them. In one case he stated that a word being used made no sense and in a couple others the language had changed since the time of his grandfather. So even if we sing in the original style, in some cases we may still not be singing the songs as originally composed. Sorry, I think I just drifted into a whole new thread.

tsuj510

Old way. Period.

I try to get ahold of a recording and then search for lyrics amoung other singers, then translate it, so I know what I am singing. I should state that I never sing a song without permission and that I was raised to stick to the old ways, only..

Wojapi4Me

First off...let me apologize for even posting to this thread...I didn't even realize it was in the southern singing thread...something I know very little about. My reply was based on northern singing. With those songs, the languages are still intact so they haven't changed.

__________________
If pro is the opposite of con, then wouldn't progress be the opposite of...lol

suthernwaterbird

I agree. Songs were made a certain way, to mean certain things, and as we all know any given language has enough dialects in itself to create an entirley diferent language. So one word could mean good, and then be mispronounced as a word that means somthing bad. But not as much that as, when the composers made those songs, them old ones put a certain feeling into that song, and if we lose that, we lose the song in whole. There were events that happened that caused them old ones to make these songs. And when they hear their songs sung right, they feel it. Them songs bring them old ones back to life.

__________________
WhY yOu AsK? bEcUz We CaN!

LSS

Dad,

No apologies needed. Your experiences say enough...

Having said that, I think Ron S made a valid point when referring to the recordings of Harry Buffalohead. What I have found around the drum is the attempt to keep the old ways. Now, this is not to say that some people (I'm not calling any names) do not try to become particular with the words. Those Ponca, Pawnee and Comanche boys I sing with from time to time always tell me "Thats it! Just make sure you keep that slur like the old guys!"

Personally, I find more guys pullin' up a chair when I start up a good "soulfull" song.

__________________
To get a true picture of your purpose in life, you only get the whole picture when you listen with your mind, your ears and your heart. This way The Creator has a direct connection with you and only you...no outside interference.

When you follow the will of IT that created you, understanding that your purpose is not for you...but for IT and all that IT has created, there can be no wrong except failure to be obedient. Only then do we jeopardize the gifts we are given.

Its not the final destination that defines us, rather the journey taken!