Guess we'll have to agree to disagree on this one. I've lost track of the times an audience member puled me over after the gig and thanked me for playing that song they carried with it some heavy emotion to it. They usually have a story to tell and while they often say "it was our song" hearing it allowed them to revisit the power and the meaning of a distant part of their life. I've often asked do you wish I hadn't played it? And every time, I've been told absolutely not. One lady recently said to me "I forgot how much I miss my husband (who'd been killed near the end of WW2)...hearing you play it brought it all back to me, for the first time in a long time...thank you."

I've got several letters from family members of deceased residents who had commented how much they enjoyed my playing certain songs.

I will say I don't usually play a specific song if I know ahead of time its "that special song" unless I ask them first. Usually, I just pick an old War tune or sometimes a Hymn and it will effect someone that way.

I will also allow that this area of song selection also is an individual thing. If you as a performer don't feel comfortable playing these kind of things, then you shouldn't.

I can only imagine how effective either Fran or Joe would be singing a tune like that for someone. It would be powerful...

Cheers!

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Bill in Dayton